The SOS Guide To Playing To A Click

Creating a tempo map in your DAW enables you to introduce small tempo variations, perhaps increasing the speed slightly in a chorus or decreasing in a verse, adding a natural pull and push that playing to a rigid tempo click can remove.

We look at what you need to know to program and play to a Click track.

When it comes to recording music in the studio, one of the most fundamental tools at your disposal is the click track. However, being asked to play to a rigid metronome can strike fear into even the most experienced musician. The idea of adhering to a click while attempting to give your best performance can be quite intimidating, and a stark reminder of your imperfections. So why use one at all?

There are certainly pros and cons to working with a click. It not only helps you stay in time and record tighter performances, it can also streamline the entire production process. From a production point of view, if a song has been played to a click, that allows you to do precise editing, easy looping, accurate drop‑ins and seamless overdubs, especially when collaborating with other band members remotely or over extended periods. It also helps align any pre‑recorded or machine‑based elements such as sequencers, drum machines and loops, which are often a part of many modern productions, as well as ensuring that tempo‑based effects such as delays remain in time.

The other side of the argument is the potential for natural ebb and flow to be eliminated, and for the song to feel sterile and cold. Of course, for some genres, particularly dance music, a strict tempo with each instrument locked to the grid is part of what makes that music sound the way it does, but sometimes using a click really isn’t appropriate. I have engineered several recording sessions where it became obvious within the first few minutes of introducing a click that it really was not going to be a productive method! At that point you must make a choice: can you use other techniques to achieve your production and editing goals, or do the band need to take some more time in the rehearsal room practicing with a click.

For the purposes of this article, we’re going to assume you’ve decided the best option is to use a click. How can you, as a producer or musician, make the process work for you and be as painless as possible?

Clicks & Tones & Metronomes

Not all click tracks are created equal. Different musicians and genres require different approaches, and there are many ways of keeping in time that don’t require a cowbell banging in your headphones at ear‑bleeding volume. Using the click in a way that complements the creative and emotional energy of the song, and choosing the right type of click track, can make a big difference.

1. Standard Audio...