Thanks, John, for sending me this link - I used Karaoke Version songs for a gig when two of our members were out with Covid but I basically downloaded the entire file sans the main vocal and my guitar parts and it got us thru the gig. I can see doing it right with a DAW is going to take some learning curve with the software. I'll be spending some time on your channel - BTW I'm in CA as well - La Quinta
Very cool Thank you for sharing, We are just getting started and you have made my day, You dont know how many videos I have watched to find this one... Keep them coming.
So happy I have stumbled onto your page, been using backing tracks for 8 years now, karaoke version I actually do have many tracks, just muting the vocal and backing vocals, my thoughts are if the girls are not on stage with me why put them in, I'm a oneman band and I actually do play guitar and keyboards, but my method is muting the vocals leaving the rest and downloading entire song and loading onto my mlive merish plus, never even thought of firstly bringing each part to my DAW, which is Reaper Latest version, and editing in triggers, I'm great for remembering how and where to come in and out, but honestly a few times I did get caught out, I would come in too early or even lose the timing slightly and find I would have to stop singing and come back in again hopefully on time lol, easy enough when one man to a full band, reason I'm here is I'm just looking for something new, a new way around how to run my gigs, some suggest using an ipad to playback live on stage, but honestly how is this going to sound FOH, a tablet straight to the mixing desk, I could go Merish 5, but that's completely overpriced, I'm taking into account your method of running with backing tracks and how to achieve perfection, this clip you explained very well, I'm now subscribed and will be checking out all your other tutorials, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge..
Wow! Thanks Martin! I have transitioned to running tracks from my iPad. The Multitracker app is 28 bucks and an audio interface (if needed) is not that much. I haven't heard of the backing track device you mentioned. I am going to check it out! Again, thanks!
John, great job on this video. Wish I had it five years ago when we started creating backing tracks! ( we are up to 100 tracks now) I use basically the same process you show but you have taken a few challenges ( tempo changes for example) to the next level. Thanks for the insights. Hope we can meet soon ( in the Inland Empire or wherever the opportunity might arise)
Right on Ray! I noticed Apple Valley is a little bit of a trek from the IE, but may be fun to meet you. Sounds like you and I use the same tracks! That is great! I hope many more people learn what you and I already know. Thanks for leaving the comment!
Hi John, when I import the raw tracks from Karoake Version I notice the levels are quite hot. Do you select all and reduce everything so the whole mix comes out of the the red levelling, or do you readjust every tracks so it’s tracking at bout -18db. Considering the raw tracks are possibly mastered already, is it causing a problem with levels reducing the back to -18db and remixing. I’m finding my final levels are quite low so I’m wondering if the last approach (reducing to -18db and remixing) is causing the issue.
Yes, that is true, they are very hot which requires gain fader adjustments at the bottom of the channel faders (scroll down). KV tracks are 320 MP3 and mastered pretty well. MT has two levels (much like a real mixer) where the faders at the bottom are like the gains on a mixing board and the track faders are like channel faders. I have a video on mixing tracks here th-cam.com/video/0kG6p5djn0M/w-d-xo.html Two problems with this video though. Make the FOH gain fader at the bottom to = .50 and not .25 and be sure to use the COPY MIX button so that you don't have to keep mixing each song, you can just paste the mix to subsequent songs (just arrange the tracks in an specific order e.g. click on 1, cues on 2, bass on 3 drums on 4 and everything else on 5 and beyond) Let me know if you have any questions. You can call me for a walk through if necessary by going to my website (google California Creedence), click on the site, go to contacts tab and get the phone number.
Great video John! I appreciate the time you took to explain it. Looking forward to the next video WRT how to deal with tempo that varies. Question: You are over a year into MultiTracker, are you still liking it? Any updates or lessons learned on what's been presented here? All the best!
Hi Eric! Thanks for the question. Since I have been using Multitracker, I have discovered that, for my needs, it is superior to any other app. Even though it has not been updated, I am a little concerned about updates, as it runs smoothly now with low resource use. Since I am not shackled by licenses or subscriptions (like Player, Prime or Ableton), I can back up to multiple iPads. This is a security when performing, also, database structure allows me to configure my iPad to suit any situation, MIDI automation is fully functioning. The User Interface (UI) is excellent, backup procedure is a snap via iTunes, and, lately, I am broaching the integration of a fully functioning DMX show via Multitracker that syncs with tracks perfectly. Unlike StageTraxx 3, Multitracker does everything while using shockingly low resources with no limitations of number of tracks. I love Ableton 11 Standard, it is my "go-to" DAW, but here are my issues. The UI is small on stage, the Laptop is cumbersome, the Licensing is restrictive (very restrictive), no backup laptop allowed if I use Ableton on my studio computer, and having a laptop on stage isn't cool anymore. I am making, and have been making, a good income on shows that rebook due to the freedom I have with Multitracker, so, I am probably one of Sebastian's biggest fans. Thanks for asking! I love this app!
That's great! But how do you get the backing track instrument levels (for instance, the bass) consistent from song to song being that the bass is going to sound different (fatter, thinner, different eq) on different backing tracks. That's the problem I have when I try to do this sort of thing.
In this video at 23:50 I mention the importance of adding a Maximizer on each track to export. The reason for this is to stabilize the track result. The Maximizer is applied to each individual track. This provides level consistency on the resulting respective tracks. Nevertheless, I have been asked this a few times in reference to deployment of the tracks in Ableton or other Players. I am working on a video on how to stabilize and make tracks (including bass) consistent across songs.
Thank you John for the time you took to thoroughly explain this. Better than most Company videos. You showed me tips I've never seen before. Going to try to figure this out on Reaper. One thing I use Roundcue to play my tracks live and I find my levels are all over the place from one song to another. We want all the backing tracks at one volume level for the entire show. Any ideas?
Hi Frank! Thanks for the encouragement you shared. If you want some input on how to stabilize tracks, you may want to check out this video that I did. th-cam.com/video/0kG6p5djn0M/w-d-xo.html
John I love the way you do this and I do it the exact same way for my band with the same source karaoke version tracks. However I find my levels are all over the place not only for the tracks but my guitar and other instruments. Is there an easy way for me to level out everything from song to song? Or does it just take hard work of going through track by track and making sure that the levels are correct in both the monitor mixes and the Mains so nothing has to be changed¿
Hi Leif. Thanks for the encouragement! What I do is put a maximizer on each channel rather than the master bus. Then, when I export the stems, they are all hitting pretty consistently, but maintaining the dynamics. I use the Cubase Maximizer setting "Dynamics are Cool". I stabilize volume in tracks by sight. This is an example of how I do it in Multitracker. If not multitracker, I use the LED display for prefader gain per song to get the same level per song. Yes, it is a lot of work initially, but the payoff is months/years of trouble free performing. Here is my video on track stabilization using Multitracker as a backing track player for iPad th-cam.com/video/0kG6p5djn0M/w-d-xo.html
hi John, your videos are really great. I also have to make music with the multitracker or a similar app. I switched from the Yamaha Motif to the Yamaha Montage M 7. With the motif I still had a fully-fledged sequencer, but not anymore. I create a preset for each song in the keyboard. Is it possible to send program changes to the app via MIDI in this preset. So I mean start, stop and the selection of the respective song in the playlist. If you will, exactly the opposite of what you see in your video. I would appreciate an answer very much. Kind regards from Magdeburg. stay healthy and stuff. maikel.🖐
First, Congratulations on your new Montage M!!! What it sounds like is that you want the Montage to be command central to send out start/stop and song select to Multitracker or another backing track program so that when you call up a performance on the Montage M, the song associated with the Montage Life Set Performance loads and the Montage will also start and stop the song, as well. If that is the case, I will have to look into whether the Montage can send Program Change information. The Start/Stop is no problem to send to MT or another backing track program. You just assign two different MIDI CC to two of the Assign Buttons on the Montage and MIDI learn in MT for start/stop. The program change send to select a particular backing track is more of a challenge since the Montage Program Change Send # may not be possible. I have to look into this. It is funny because just this morning the city of Berlin was on my mind (just remembering 1989).
hi John, thanks for your quick reply. Yes, you understood what I was trying to do. I could also imagine controlling the presets from the assembly via my iPad. Either way, I'm missing the necessary program changes. Many of the settings are the same as on your assembly. But I haven't fully understood my montage yet. I'll keep trying. I would like to wish you a merry and healthy Christmas, a happy new year and, above all, the best of health. Kind regards from Maikel. 👋
@@michaelschaefer919 Thanks Markel! I am off work for a little bit so I can respond quickly for now LOL. The thing to look at is the Many-to-One relationship. Whichever is the Many should be the Master and the One should be the slave. For example, there are many songs that use one preset on the Montage. So the song should be the master and Montage the slave since if you have many songs to one preset/performance on the Montage, that would not be logical to create multiple identical Montage Performances to match Multiple songs. So, using the iPad with the songs on them, and using MIDI communication to the Montage to select the Performances on the Montage would be the best fit. The Montage uses a MSB+LSB+Program# paradigm, but it is not that hard to set up. Select your Performance, Tap on the Name, Select Properties and it will tell you the MSB, LSB and Program#. MSB is CC#0 and LSB is CC#32. Multitracker will select your Montage Performance automatically per song if you enter those numbers. You can either have the Montage Change Performances once you launch the song or Once you select the song. Multitracker will also change your Performances throughout the song if you wish. My email is johnobriend@californiacreedence.com if you would like more in depth ideas on how to set this up.
hi John, as it stands at the moment you can't easily start a playback from the montage without automatically exiting the live set and opening the play/record window. Starting and stopping the multitracker works in this window, but you shouldn't leave the live set. I think I'll try to change the montage from the multitracker for the few songs in which I need a backing track. There's still a lot of work ahead of me, but I've already accomplished a lot. a little every day. Kind regards from Maikel. 👋
Thank you for taking the time and putting such a great videos I really enjoy watching all of them I have a question how do you trigger lights or sections of the song if you want to repeat a chorus are you connecting midi and go back to the verse of chorus sections in the song to improvise with the crowd if you have to. thank you
MT does not have that Ableton feature yet. It has locators that can be programmed but, as a long time Ableton user, it is primitive compared to Ableton.
Hi John …. Thanks for a very helpful video. When I make my backing tracks, I am hoping to use the new Performance page in Studio One. Have you tried that out?
@@CaliforniaCreedence Hi again … I thought I posted a reply to your reply but it seems to have disappeared. Anyway, I came back to add a link to a good video on the Studio One Show page. th-cam.com/video/MNabs8Nz5TM/w-d-xo.html
Great job John, but I do have a question. You mentioned it but did not go into any great detail and that is Routing. What did you mean by that and how do you do it. I understand that one would have to go to Front of House and one to either IEM or Wedges.
Thanks for the kind words Russell! Here is the part on routing from another video. There is an ipad displayed (using multitracker) and a laptop above it (Using Ableton). Your scenario would be Ableton (possibly), but that is not important. The important thing is to endure my slow and wordy description of routing as setting the IEMs as prefader and routing the click to a channel that is muted to the FOH. Here is where that starts. th-cam.com/video/p_WJ3D8gxUc/w-d-xo.html Let me know if you need any additional information. Again thanks!
Hi John, Followed your amazing process. I can monitor a guitar and mic with Garage Band fairly well when testing out IEMs at home. When I try to add an iPad, with backing tracks, the sound gets faint, echoey and clips easily using IEMs through an interface. I'm trying to monitor backing-tracks from iPad-USB out, to a 2 ch interface into XLR 1 and 2, run IEMs from interface stereo phone-jack, play guitar along with, and hear everything through the IEMs, like I was playing on stage, right? Garage band and computer output is set to the usb interface. What's wrong to have some stereo audio parts fall back ( like echoey drums and bass), parts that jump out loud ( like synths) and overall low volume that clips if I turn iPad up past 3/4?
Hi Paul. Thanks for asking! When you get a reduction in volume and an echo type effect when playing back from an audio interface, what you are experiencing is the audio from the USB signal mixed with the slap back latency of the monitor function of the USB signal. Some channels may have Monitor turned on and others may not. That is the reason for the difference. The answer is to turn off all monitoring. These would be in the source program like Garage Band or on any software interface associated with the USB Audio interface. There may be a "MIX" knob on the audio interface. Turning this all the way one direction or the other would fix this, as well.
Thanks for the feedback! About licensing, Karaoke-Version is not as much of an issue as a cover band, in general. With or without backing tracks, cover bands are playing the songs created by other artists. Yes, KV has legal coverage for their patrons much like Spotify or Apple Music if subscribers use Spotify at their venue for background music (as indicated on their website KV has the rights covered). What you may be referring to is the ASCAP/BMI laws. This would not apply to a typical cover band scenario as the violation would only apply to broadcasting to the general public without paying the $30 per song per event/play (I think that is the cost, not sure). Cover bands do not broadcast to the general public, but play specific events (party, wedding, night club, festival, fair etc.). You could argue that a festival or fair would be broadcasting to the general public, but ASCAP/BMI will not descend on a single event like that which occurs with a frequency of annual. A good dip stick is TH-cam. Your TH-cam channel will block your song if it is the actual recording of a song, but if it is a video of your band playing the song, they will not block it! Even though it is broadcasting to the general public! So the lines are very blurred. My rule of thumb is “don’t violate your conscience. If it bothers you, then you may want to stick to playing only originals.” If it violates the conscience of a customer or venue, then I respect that, and we will decline the gig. I know this is long, but here are the scenarios in which I become angry. I have had (only 2) venues who, after we have finished playing, a “manager” starts expressing concern about our band playing other people’s music without licensing. The first thing I do is ask for that person’s first and last name and write it down. Next, I contact the venue and share the person by name and what they had to say about licensing, and let the venue know that we will not return until they address the issue with the individual or with us as a band. Why it angers me is that we are an organized, quality band, and the sentiment of these types of individuals is to treat us as if we were a cheap and lazy “banger band” of insignificance. We are busy enough and get paid very well, and work hard on our shows to sound professional and certainly don’t need the business or alleged “exposure” from such venues/individuals. I am never rude to any patron regardless of their ignorance, but I certainly don’t work with any venue that has any hint of condescension. Our minimum charge is $1,000, and we stay busy. Okay, that’s my rant on those 2 instances LOL! Thanks again for your kind words! Use backing tracks, give audiences a great show and enjoy the universal language of music!
Thanks for the outstanding videos, I have learned more in the last couple of weeks than in many years of trying. One question, where do you get your audio/wav files for the triggers at? Is there a website you'd recommend?
It is an option in Cubase Pro, Ableton Live 11 and Pro Tools when exporting the stems. The sad news is that it will not improve the quality of the original file. I only use .wav because I am under the belief that any processing in my DAW is minimally destructive to the mp3 file. When you choose “export” most DAW’s as if you want to export as several different tracks or just the master fader. Then it will ask you what format, at which time I choose .wav. My projects are always initiated in my DAW at 44khz and 24 bit depth. Then I import the MP3’s into it.
John, I am the process of producing my stems. I noticed Evil ways was on your setlist. Karaoke-Version tempo is “about 118 bpm so… “ after analyzing the song, I have been trying to align the measures to the click and then the outro goes to solo in double time. I figure that I should quit trying aligning the outro and set the end trigger and call it a week :-). I was wondering what was your process with that particular song. I saw your video on songs K-V variable tempos. Very good. I hope in the future of viewing a video on maximizing the stems before importing to MT. Thank you for your videos. Very inspiring!
Hi Richard. I did Evil Ways completely on my own. But I can fix your KV tracks,, easily. I am using Ableton Live 11 now, and am having a great deal of luck with it (I will be doing a video on it). I would be happy to produce the stems for you and share them on One Drive for free since I am on vacation right now. The double time at the end is the same tempo, just render the tempo as the exact same. In fact, I would use a 1/8th note click for the whole song.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Thank you for your response, I am sorry for my tardiness in responding. I use a Win PC. Long time user of Cakewalk (lots of midi in my day). I am now using Studio One for a couple of weeks. It's very similar to the way you setup with Cubase. Drag and drop is so cool. The other day I was able to setup the triggers and click the tempo to the audio. You mentionned Maximize the tracks in your video, I guess that is the same as Gain staging to -12db to prepare the stems? Have a great weekend ;-)
I'm a little confused about why the tracks should be downloaded to center instead of panned L or Right? If I plan to assign L to click and right to FOH...is there a reason not to just download them that way? Also, if I do this...for the tracks that are not a consistent BPM is there a reason to just use the downloaded CLICK Track instead of creating a custom click in my DAW? trying to simplify, but downloading hundreds of tracks will be very time consuming, so don't want to do it wrong.
Hi, and thanks for reaching out. You are correct on both aspects. It would be simpler to use the provided click and pan respectively. My reason for not panning is that the mp3s are stereo, so you may have inconsistencies if you can't summate stereo to mono in a DAW. I am a person who likes to retain as many options as possible. Matching to BPM gives me liberty to easily rearrange song structure. Some drummers, also, do not like the fluctuations in tempo with a click. It would be like a metronome that fluctuates. I really, really need to update this video. I have a streamline process that is way better than this. Only problem is that you must have at least Ableton Live Standard.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Hi John, thanks for the quick response! I would assume that whether I changed the panning from center to right before downloading versus just changing it when I am in the mixer would be about the same amount of work, wouldn't it? Regarding the click, I totally agree that having exact temples would provide a lot more flexibility. Regarding ableton Live, I was hoping to use something a lot simpler because I'm just getting started. Before seen your video, I was downloading various combinations of backing tracks, which gives zero flexibility if my players change, so I love the idea of being able to turn each track on or off in the back track software. I don't really need Midi, but do you want to have track level control. Do you still think that the software you recommended in the video is the best combination of simplicity and flexibility? I was told studio one would be a good alternative, but I don't believe that it has the ability to turn individual tracks on off for different performances.
@@topshelfband-minnesota Here is a link to the vocal triggers (cues) with a couple of examples of completed tracks 1drv.ms/u/s!Am_NYU1HSls-gf49Z0CxyZi7KFXS-Q?e=RZjWtI Also, we only use Multitracker App ($27 and well worth it) for live performances. It is stellar and very flexible. An ipad with a camera connector, or an ipad pro can easily detect any audio interface, and you just assign outputs, or just use the ipad headphone jack.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Thanks so much, I'm pretty sure that although the techniques in your video are time consuming at first, I'm certain that you saved me hundreds of hours down the road vs how I had already started doing it!
hey man I have a quick question! so when creating a click track in cubase ( click hard left - track hard right ) I and my other band mate get click bleed into the right channel (track) im using cubase 11 elements And he is using 10.5 pro we both have the same issue. (happens with a completely dry signal chain) ive seen others have this issue aswell bit never find any answers. if you could point me in the right direction that would amazing 😂🤘🏻 love this vid btw! and the drive file is 👌🏻👌🏻
I would render the tracks n both 10.5 and 11 using the Stereo Flip process. Export your song to a Stereo file with click and tracks panned respectively. Use Audacity, Wavelab Element or Soundforge respectively to cut and paste each side to a mono track. Create two Stereo audio tracks in Cubase. Import the click to one Stereo track and backing tracks to the other. Use Stereo Flip under Audio Processing to summation to the left or right channel respectively. Export mix down as non-interleaved
what if you make your own tracks? Do you have to pan your click track to the left and all the other tracks to the right (or vice versa) in the actual track itself? When you bounce it down? Just need to know how to mix the backing track.
It depends what you are using to play back your tracks. If Ableton, Multitracker or a daw, then no, those are sophisticated enough to route tracks. If using a a simple MP3 player on an iPhone, iPad or Android, then yes. I suggest you use Ableton if using a Laptop or Multitracker if using an iPad. For iPad, I would not use Stagetraxx3. I purchased it, and it is not powerful enough for mulitrack playback. Multitracker is superior for iPad.
I am developing a demo video of running DMX from Multitracker with a midi track. The only use for a midi track that we use is changing patches on an effects channel. That's it. DMX via Midi in MT works stellar.
@@CaliforniaCreedence thanks for the reply. I am looking forward to the video. I am just dipping my toe in the water here so don’t have a lot of knowledge. What interface do you use between your iPad and the midi devices? Thanks
@@oneminuteguitarlessons6060 Hi, there are three avenues for MIDI with Multitracker (MT). One route is MT MIDI track out the Lightning port to the USB "camera" adapter that provides USB connectivity to the Uphoria 1820. MT sees the 5pin DIN port on the Uphoria 1820. MT talks to the Uphoria 1820 which routes incoming MIDI to the 5pin DIN out on the 1820 to the 5 pin DIN on the Studio Quad 4 effect processor. Secondly, For lights, I have a MIDI track that goes from MT through midimitr (an app) to Photon 2 (the DMX app) that sends MIDI wirelessly (WIFI) over the network to the lights. The bridge from the network to the lights DMX is a eDMXking1 Pro. Thirdly, I currently, use CME WIDI Master plugs to go directly from MT to the Studio Quad 4 effect via bluetooth. I use CME products pretty heavily, too. MT has absolutely no problem with CPU load when transmitting and playing MIDI and multitrack audio simultaneously. I know that it sounds complex, but, basically, the rule is that "if you can reasonably think it up, MT can probably do it."
Yes! They get some of the phrases wrong. Like in Love Shack they say "Bam bam bam on the door baby" (instead of bang bang bang) and they say "tin roof rusty" when it should be "tin roof rusted." Super funny. On the song 867-5309 (Jenny), by the end they are saying "Johnny" and not Jenny. English is not Karaoke-Tracks first language LOL.
I appreciate your thorough presentation; straight to the point. We will make use of this right away.
Thanks so much for that Cuilaris!
Thanks, John, for sending me this link - I used Karaoke Version songs for a gig when two of our members were out with Covid but I basically downloaded the entire file sans the main vocal and my guitar parts and it got us thru the gig. I can see doing it right with a DAW is going to take some learning curve with the software. I'll be spending some time on your channel - BTW I'm in CA as well - La Quinta
Thank you so much for the Vocal Triggers and for your videos! Really appreciate it .
This was extremely helpful and really clarified things for me. Thank you for taking the time to do this!
Very cool Thank you for sharing, We are just getting started and you have made my day, You dont know how many videos I have watched to find this one... Keep them coming.
So happy I have stumbled onto your page, been using backing tracks for 8 years now, karaoke version I actually do have many tracks, just muting the vocal and backing vocals, my thoughts are if the girls are not on stage with me why put them in, I'm a oneman band and I actually do play guitar and keyboards, but my method is muting the vocals leaving the rest and downloading entire song and loading onto my mlive merish plus, never even thought of firstly bringing each part to my DAW, which is Reaper Latest version, and editing in triggers,
I'm great for remembering how and where to come in and out, but honestly a few times I did get caught out, I would come in too early or even lose the timing slightly and find I would have to stop singing and come back in again hopefully on time lol, easy enough when one man to a full band,
reason I'm here is I'm just looking for something new, a new way around how to run my gigs, some suggest using an ipad to playback live on stage, but honestly how is this going to sound FOH, a tablet straight to the mixing desk, I could go Merish 5, but that's completely overpriced, I'm taking into account your method of running with backing tracks and how to achieve perfection, this clip you explained very well, I'm now subscribed and will be checking out all your other tutorials, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge..
Wow! Thanks Martin! I have transitioned to running tracks from my iPad. The Multitracker app is 28 bucks and an audio interface (if needed) is not that much. I haven't heard of the backing track device you mentioned. I am going to check it out! Again, thanks!
John, great job on this video. Wish I had it five years ago when we started creating backing tracks! ( we are up to 100 tracks now) I use basically the same process you show
but you have taken a few challenges ( tempo changes for example) to the next level. Thanks for the insights. Hope we can meet soon ( in the Inland Empire or wherever the opportunity might arise)
Right on Ray! I noticed Apple Valley is a little bit of a trek from the IE, but may be fun to meet you. Sounds like you and I use the same tracks! That is great! I hope many more people learn what you and I already know. Thanks for leaving the comment!
Hi John, when I import the raw tracks from Karoake Version I notice the levels are quite hot. Do you select all and reduce everything so the whole mix comes out of the the red levelling, or do you readjust every tracks so it’s tracking at bout -18db. Considering the raw tracks are possibly mastered already, is it causing a problem with levels reducing the back to -18db and remixing. I’m finding my final levels are quite low so I’m wondering if the last approach (reducing to -18db and remixing) is causing the issue.
Yes, that is true, they are very hot which requires gain fader adjustments at the bottom of the channel faders (scroll down). KV tracks are 320 MP3 and mastered pretty well. MT has two levels (much like a real mixer) where the faders at the bottom are like the gains on a mixing board and the track faders are like channel faders. I have a video on mixing tracks here
th-cam.com/video/0kG6p5djn0M/w-d-xo.html
Two problems with this video though. Make the FOH gain fader at the bottom to = .50 and not .25 and be sure to use the COPY MIX button so that you don't have to keep mixing each song, you can just paste the mix to subsequent songs (just arrange the tracks in an specific order e.g. click on 1, cues on 2, bass on 3 drums on 4 and everything else on 5 and beyond)
Let me know if you have any questions. You can call me for a walk through if necessary by going to my website (google California Creedence), click on the site, go to contacts tab and get the phone number.
Great info!
Great video John! I appreciate the time you took to explain it. Looking forward to the next video WRT how to deal with tempo that varies. Question: You are over a year into MultiTracker, are you still liking it? Any updates or lessons learned on what's been presented here? All the best!
Hi Eric! Thanks for the question. Since I have been using Multitracker, I have discovered that, for my needs, it is superior to any other app. Even though it has not been updated, I am a little concerned about updates, as it runs smoothly now with low resource use. Since I am not shackled by licenses or subscriptions (like Player, Prime or Ableton), I can back up to multiple iPads. This is a security when performing, also, database structure allows me to configure my iPad to suit any situation, MIDI automation is fully functioning. The User Interface (UI) is excellent, backup procedure is a snap via iTunes, and, lately, I am broaching the integration of a fully functioning DMX show via Multitracker that syncs with tracks perfectly. Unlike StageTraxx 3, Multitracker does everything while using shockingly low resources with no limitations of number of tracks. I love Ableton 11 Standard, it is my "go-to" DAW, but here are my issues. The UI is small on stage, the Laptop is cumbersome, the Licensing is restrictive (very restrictive), no backup laptop allowed if I use Ableton on my studio computer, and having a laptop on stage isn't cool anymore. I am making, and have been making, a good income on shows that rebook due to the freedom I have with Multitracker, so, I am probably one of Sebastian's biggest fans. Thanks for asking! I love this app!
@@CaliforniaCreedence Thank you for the response John. Very helpful. Keep on Keepin' on!
Thank you very much ... appreciate you sharing ...
That's great! But how do you get the backing track instrument levels (for instance, the bass) consistent from song to song being that the bass is going to sound different (fatter, thinner, different eq) on different backing tracks. That's the problem I have when I try to do this sort of thing.
In this video at 23:50 I mention the importance of adding a Maximizer on each track to export. The reason for this is to stabilize the track result. The Maximizer is applied to each individual track. This provides level consistency on the resulting respective tracks. Nevertheless, I have been asked this a few times in reference to deployment of the tracks in Ableton or other Players. I am working on a video on how to stabilize and make tracks (including bass) consistent across songs.
Thank you John for the time you took to thoroughly explain this. Better than most Company videos. You showed me tips I've never seen before. Going to try to figure this out on Reaper. One thing I use Roundcue to play my tracks live and I find my levels are all over the place from one song to another. We want all the backing tracks at one volume level for the entire show. Any ideas?
Hi Frank! Thanks for the encouragement you shared. If you want some input on how to stabilize tracks, you may want to check out this video that I did. th-cam.com/video/0kG6p5djn0M/w-d-xo.html
John I love the way you do this and I do it the exact same way for my band with the same source karaoke version tracks. However I find my levels are all over the place not only for the tracks but my guitar and other instruments. Is there an easy way for me to level out everything from song to song? Or does it just take hard work of going through track by track and making sure that the levels are correct in both the monitor mixes and the Mains so nothing has to be changed¿
Hi Leif. Thanks for the encouragement! What I do is put a maximizer on each channel rather than the master bus. Then, when I export the stems, they are all hitting pretty consistently, but maintaining the dynamics. I use the Cubase Maximizer setting "Dynamics are Cool". I stabilize volume in tracks by sight. This is an example of how I do it in Multitracker. If not multitracker, I use the LED display for prefader gain per song to get the same level per song. Yes, it is a lot of work initially, but the payoff is months/years of trouble free performing. Here is my video on track stabilization using Multitracker as a backing track player for iPad th-cam.com/video/0kG6p5djn0M/w-d-xo.html
hi John, your videos are really great. I also have to make music with the multitracker or a similar app. I switched from the Yamaha Motif to the Yamaha Montage M 7. With the motif I still had a fully-fledged sequencer, but not anymore. I create a preset for each song in the keyboard. Is it possible to send program changes to the app via MIDI in this preset. So I mean start, stop and the selection of the respective song in the playlist. If you will, exactly the opposite of what you see in your video. I would appreciate an answer very much. Kind regards from Magdeburg. stay healthy and stuff. maikel.🖐
First, Congratulations on your new Montage M!!! What it sounds like is that you want the Montage to be command central to send out start/stop and song select to Multitracker or another backing track program so that when you call up a performance on the Montage M, the song associated with the Montage Life Set Performance loads and the Montage will also start and stop the song, as well. If that is the case, I will have to look into whether the Montage can send Program Change information. The Start/Stop is no problem to send to MT or another backing track program. You just assign two different MIDI CC to two of the Assign Buttons on the Montage and MIDI learn in MT for start/stop. The program change send to select a particular backing track is more of a challenge since the Montage Program Change Send # may not be possible. I have to look into this. It is funny because just this morning the city of Berlin was on my mind (just remembering 1989).
hi John, thanks for your quick reply. Yes, you understood what I was trying to do. I could also imagine controlling the presets from the assembly via my iPad. Either way, I'm missing the necessary program changes. Many of the settings are the same as on your assembly. But I haven't fully understood my montage yet. I'll keep trying. I would like to wish you a merry and healthy Christmas, a happy new year and, above all, the best of health. Kind regards from Maikel. 👋
@@michaelschaefer919 Thanks Markel! I am off work for a little bit so I can respond quickly for now LOL. The thing to look at is the Many-to-One relationship. Whichever is the Many should be the Master and the One should be the slave. For example, there are many songs that use one preset on the Montage. So the song should be the master and Montage the slave since if you have many songs to one preset/performance on the Montage, that would not be logical to create multiple identical Montage Performances to match Multiple songs. So, using the iPad with the songs on them, and using MIDI communication to the Montage to select the Performances on the Montage would be the best fit. The Montage uses a MSB+LSB+Program# paradigm, but it is not that hard to set up. Select your Performance, Tap on the Name, Select Properties and it will tell you the MSB, LSB and Program#. MSB is CC#0 and LSB is CC#32. Multitracker will select your Montage Performance automatically per song if you enter those numbers. You can either have the Montage Change Performances once you launch the song or Once you select the song. Multitracker will also change your Performances throughout the song if you wish. My email is johnobriend@californiacreedence.com if you would like more in depth ideas on how to set this up.
hi John, as it stands at the moment you can't easily start a playback from the montage without automatically exiting the live set and opening the play/record window. Starting and stopping the multitracker works in this window, but you shouldn't leave the live set. I think I'll try to change the montage from the multitracker for the few songs in which I need a backing track. There's still a lot of work ahead of me, but I've already accomplished a lot. a little every day. Kind regards from Maikel. 👋
hi John, I also wrote you an email but it came back. is your address correct?
Thank you for taking the time and putting such a great videos I really enjoy watching all of them I have a question how do you trigger lights or sections of the song if you want to repeat a chorus are you connecting midi and go back to the verse of chorus sections in the song to improvise with the crowd if you have to. thank you
MT does not have that Ableton feature yet. It has locators that can be programmed but, as a long time Ableton user, it is primitive compared to Ableton.
Quite amazing John!
Hi John …. Thanks for a very helpful video. When I make my backing tracks, I am hoping to use the new Performance page in Studio One. Have you tried that out?
I have not heard of that! I have Studio One 5 Artist. Is this a Pro Feature? I need to look into this! Thanks for the heads up.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Hi again … I thought I posted a reply to your reply but it seems to have disappeared. Anyway, I came back to add a link to a good video on the Studio One Show page. th-cam.com/video/MNabs8Nz5TM/w-d-xo.html
Great job John, but I do have a question. You mentioned it but did not go into any great detail and that is Routing. What did you mean by that and how do you do it. I understand that one would have to go to Front of House and one to either IEM or Wedges.
Thanks for the kind words Russell! Here is the part on routing from another video. There is an ipad displayed (using multitracker) and a laptop above it (Using Ableton). Your scenario would be Ableton (possibly), but that is not important. The important thing is to endure my slow and wordy description of routing as setting the IEMs as prefader and routing the click to a channel that is muted to the FOH. Here is where that starts.
th-cam.com/video/p_WJ3D8gxUc/w-d-xo.html
Let me know if you need any additional information. Again thanks!
Hi John, Followed your amazing process.
I can monitor a guitar and mic with Garage Band fairly well when testing out IEMs at home.
When I try to add an iPad, with backing tracks, the sound gets faint, echoey and clips easily using IEMs through an interface.
I'm trying to monitor backing-tracks from iPad-USB out, to a 2 ch interface into XLR 1 and 2, run IEMs from interface stereo phone-jack, play guitar along with, and hear everything through the IEMs, like I was playing on stage, right?
Garage band and computer output is set to the usb interface.
What's wrong to have some stereo audio parts fall back ( like echoey drums and bass), parts that jump out loud ( like synths) and overall low volume that clips if I turn iPad up past 3/4?
Hi Paul. Thanks for asking! When you get a reduction in volume and an echo type effect when playing back from an audio interface, what you are experiencing is the audio from the USB signal mixed with the slap back latency of the monitor function of the USB signal. Some channels may have Monitor turned on and others may not. That is the reason for the difference. The answer is to turn off all monitoring. These would be in the source program like Garage Band or on any software interface associated with the USB Audio interface. There may be a "MIX" knob on the audio interface. Turning this all the way one direction or the other would fix this, as well.
is this legal to use these for live paid performances for the $3 versions , great vid though very helpful
Thanks for the feedback! About licensing, Karaoke-Version is not as much of an issue as a cover band, in general. With or without backing tracks, cover bands are playing the songs created by other artists. Yes, KV has legal coverage for their patrons much like Spotify or Apple Music if subscribers use Spotify at their venue for background music (as indicated on their website KV has the rights covered). What you may be referring to is the ASCAP/BMI laws. This would not apply to a typical cover band scenario as the violation would only apply to broadcasting to the general public without paying the $30 per song per event/play (I think that is the cost, not sure). Cover bands do not broadcast to the general public, but play specific events (party, wedding, night club, festival, fair etc.). You could argue that a festival or fair would be broadcasting to the general public, but ASCAP/BMI will not descend on a single event like that which occurs with a frequency of annual. A good dip stick is TH-cam. Your TH-cam channel will block your song if it is the actual recording of a song, but if it is a video of your band playing the song, they will not block it! Even though it is broadcasting to the general public! So the lines are very blurred. My rule of thumb is “don’t violate your conscience. If it bothers you, then you may want to stick to playing only originals.” If it violates the conscience of a customer or venue, then I respect that, and we will decline the gig.
I know this is long, but here are the scenarios in which I become angry. I have had (only 2) venues who, after we have finished playing, a “manager” starts expressing concern about our band playing other people’s music without licensing. The first thing I do is ask for that person’s first and last name and write it down. Next, I contact the venue and share the person by name and what they had to say about licensing, and let the venue know that we will not return until they address the issue with the individual or with us as a band. Why it angers me is that we are an organized, quality band, and the sentiment of these types of individuals is to treat us as if we were a cheap and lazy “banger band” of insignificance. We are busy enough and get paid very well, and work hard on our shows to sound professional and certainly don’t need the business or alleged “exposure” from such venues/individuals. I am never rude to any patron regardless of their ignorance, but I certainly don’t work with any venue that has any hint of condescension. Our minimum charge is $1,000, and we stay busy. Okay, that’s my rant on those 2 instances LOL!
Thanks again for your kind words! Use backing tracks, give audiences a great show and enjoy the universal language of music!
Thanks for the outstanding videos, I have learned more in the last couple of weeks than in many years of trying. One question, where do you get your audio/wav files for the triggers at? Is there a website you'd recommend?
Thanks Kale! Here is where you can download them. drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1xxLUK3AHRc8c7Cj3BtmWceLUlcyiAooF '
loopcommunity.com/en-us/shop/band-cues-3
@@CaliforniaCreedence Awesome, thank you very much!
Great video. I'm using a Mac. How did you convert files from mp3 to wav files?
It is an option in Cubase Pro, Ableton Live 11 and Pro Tools when exporting the stems. The sad news is that it will not improve the quality of the original file. I only use .wav because I am under the belief that any processing in my DAW is minimally destructive to the mp3 file. When you choose “export” most DAW’s as if you want to export as several different tracks or just the master fader. Then it will ask you what format, at which time I choose .wav. My projects are always initiated in my DAW at 44khz and 24 bit depth. Then I import the MP3’s into it.
Audacity opens Mp3 and can store it in Wav
VERY GOOD = ALOT OF INFO...........
John, I am the process of producing my stems. I noticed Evil ways was on your setlist. Karaoke-Version tempo is “about 118 bpm so… “ after analyzing the song, I have been trying to align the measures to the click and then the outro goes to solo in double time. I figure that I should quit trying aligning the outro and set the end trigger and call it a week :-). I was wondering what was your process with that particular song. I saw your video on songs K-V variable tempos. Very good. I hope in the future of viewing a video on maximizing the stems before importing to MT. Thank you for your videos. Very inspiring!
Hi Richard. I did Evil Ways completely on my own. But I can fix your KV tracks,, easily. I am using Ableton Live 11 now, and am having a great deal of luck with it (I will be doing a video on it). I would be happy to produce the stems for you and share them on One Drive for free since I am on vacation right now. The double time at the end is the same tempo, just render the tempo as the exact same. In fact, I would use a 1/8th note click for the whole song.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Thank you for your response, I am sorry for my tardiness in responding. I use a Win PC. Long time user of Cakewalk (lots of midi in my day). I am now using Studio One for a couple of weeks. It's very similar to the way you setup with Cubase. Drag and drop is so cool. The other day I was able to setup the triggers and click the tempo to the audio. You mentionned Maximize the tracks in your video, I guess that is the same as Gain staging to -12db to prepare the stems? Have a great weekend ;-)
I'm a little confused about why the tracks should be downloaded to center instead of panned L or Right? If I plan to assign L to click and right to FOH...is there a reason not to just download them that way? Also, if I do this...for the tracks that are not a consistent BPM is there a reason to just use the downloaded CLICK Track instead of creating a custom click in my DAW? trying to simplify, but downloading hundreds of tracks will be very time consuming, so don't want to do it wrong.
Hi, and thanks for reaching out. You are correct on both aspects. It would be simpler to use the provided click and pan respectively. My reason for not panning is that the mp3s are stereo, so you may have inconsistencies if you can't summate stereo to mono in a DAW. I am a person who likes to retain as many options as possible. Matching to BPM gives me liberty to easily rearrange song structure. Some drummers, also, do not like the fluctuations in tempo with a click. It would be like a metronome that fluctuates. I really, really need to update this video. I have a streamline process that is way better than this. Only problem is that you must have at least Ableton Live Standard.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Hi John, thanks for the quick response! I would assume that whether I changed the panning from center to right before downloading versus just changing it when I am in the mixer would be about the same amount of work, wouldn't it? Regarding the click, I totally agree that having exact temples would provide a lot more flexibility. Regarding ableton Live, I was hoping to use something a lot simpler because I'm just getting started. Before seen your video, I was downloading various combinations of backing tracks, which gives zero flexibility if my players change, so I love the idea of being able to turn each track on or off in the back track software. I don't really need Midi, but do you want to have track level control. Do you still think that the software you recommended in the video is the best combination of simplicity and flexibility? I was told studio one would be a good alternative, but I don't believe that it has the ability to turn individual tracks on off for different performances.
excuse me, i meant 'within the DAW (Logic Pro), not 'mixer'.
@@topshelfband-minnesota Here is a link to the vocal triggers (cues) with a couple of examples of completed tracks 1drv.ms/u/s!Am_NYU1HSls-gf49Z0CxyZi7KFXS-Q?e=RZjWtI
Also, we only use Multitracker App ($27 and well worth it) for live performances. It is stellar and very flexible. An ipad with a camera connector, or an ipad pro can easily detect any audio interface, and you just assign outputs, or just use the ipad headphone jack.
@@CaliforniaCreedence Thanks so much, I'm pretty sure that although the techniques in your video are time consuming at first, I'm certain that you saved me hundreds of hours down the road vs how I had already started doing it!
hey man I have a quick question! so when creating a click track in cubase ( click hard left - track hard right ) I and my other band mate get click bleed into the right channel (track) im using cubase 11 elements And he is using 10.5 pro we both have the same issue. (happens with a completely dry signal chain) ive seen others have this issue aswell bit never find any answers. if you could point me in the right direction that would amazing 😂🤘🏻 love this vid btw! and the drive file is 👌🏻👌🏻
I would render the tracks n both 10.5 and 11 using the Stereo Flip process. Export your song to a Stereo file with click and tracks panned respectively. Use Audacity, Wavelab Element or Soundforge respectively to cut and paste each side to a mono track. Create two Stereo audio tracks in Cubase. Import the click to one Stereo track and backing tracks to the other. Use Stereo Flip under Audio Processing to summation to the left or right channel respectively. Export mix down as non-interleaved
I am not certain this will work. But I am confident that interleaved is the issue.
awesome! thanks for the info! I'll check back on with you soon with conclusion haha! cheers!!
what if you make your own tracks? Do you have to pan your click track to the left and all the other tracks to the right (or vice versa) in the actual track itself? When you bounce it down? Just need to know how to mix the backing track.
It depends what you are using to play back your tracks. If Ableton, Multitracker or a daw, then no, those are sophisticated enough to route tracks. If using a a simple MP3 player on an iPhone, iPad or Android, then yes. I suggest you use Ableton if using a Laptop or Multitracker if using an iPad. For iPad, I would not use Stagetraxx3. I purchased it, and it is not powerful enough for mulitrack playback. Multitracker is superior for iPad.
Do you use the midi feature of Multitracker?
I am developing a demo video of running DMX from Multitracker with a midi track. The only use for a midi track that we use is changing patches on an effects channel. That's it. DMX via Midi in MT works stellar.
@@CaliforniaCreedence thanks for the reply. I am looking forward to the video. I am just dipping my toe in the water here so don’t have a lot of knowledge. What interface do you use between your iPad and the midi devices? Thanks
@@oneminuteguitarlessons6060 Hi, there are three avenues for MIDI with Multitracker (MT). One route is MT MIDI track out the Lightning port to the USB "camera" adapter that provides USB connectivity to the Uphoria 1820. MT sees the 5pin DIN port on the Uphoria 1820. MT talks to the Uphoria 1820 which routes incoming MIDI to the 5pin DIN out on the 1820 to the 5 pin DIN on the Studio Quad 4 effect processor. Secondly, For lights, I have a MIDI track that goes from MT through midimitr (an app) to Photon 2 (the DMX app) that sends MIDI wirelessly (WIFI) over the network to the lights. The bridge from the network to the lights DMX is a eDMXking1 Pro. Thirdly, I currently, use CME WIDI Master plugs to go directly from MT to the Studio Quad 4 effect via bluetooth. I use CME products pretty heavily, too. MT has absolutely no problem with CPU load when transmitting and playing MIDI and multitrack audio simultaneously. I know that it sounds complex, but, basically, the rule is that "if you can reasonably think it up, MT can probably do it."
Thanks for the very helpful answer. And, as always, thanks for the videos
@@CaliforniaCreedence I am not sure I ever thanked you for this reply. I appreciate your response.
Last question...you mentioned the importance of Q Tracks (spelling?) in the video...didn't find info. What is this, and why important?
Oh yes. That directs the band on in ears where the song is ("Intro! 1-2-3-4") for example. I can give you a download of Cues that you can drop in.
1drv.ms/u/s!Am_NYU1HSls-gf49Z0CxyZi7KFXS-Q?e=RZjWtI
@@CaliforniaCreedence I guess I already got those..thought maybe it referred to the name of a software plug-in or something! Thx!
Some Multitrack files has vocals with strong Dutch accent.
Yes! They get some of the phrases wrong. Like in Love Shack they say "Bam bam bam on the door baby" (instead of bang bang bang) and they say "tin roof rusty" when it should be "tin roof rusted." Super funny. On the song 867-5309 (Jenny), by the end they are saying "Johnny" and not Jenny. English is not Karaoke-Tracks first language LOL.
Or in a German Schlager they sing wrong lyrics.