Playing and Recording Backing Tracks for Live Performance on Apple Logic

[searchingwithinboy]

half an hour and you couldn't even explain how to export the track for use in a live setting... come on!

[cipijazzer]

Great Man! God bless You too... :-)

[synthmandan]

That scale is not really called the "middle eastern scale"... in the world of actual Music Theory, that scale is referred to as a Harmonic Minor scale. The harmonic minor scale is the same as the natural minor but with a chromatically raised (sharped) seventh degree. For example, in the key of A-minor, the harmonic minor scale is: A B C D E F G♯ A

[MultiZandra123]

What speakers are you using?

[MrPhilk89]

Hey man just wanted to say thanks for the vids man! There a HUGE help to my ministry!

[bacupdt1]

hey brother i find your videos very helpful.i have a question i have a mo8 and want to backin tracks but they dnt save to the keyboard any tips on exporting and importing so i can save these tracks?

[edwardsr8176]

Jamal, you are awesome bro,

when you put the MP3 of the original song in apple logic do you keep it in during live shows or do you delete it/ mute it......

[alrightmichelle]

a raver pastor? nice

[soldierbnice]

how did u get the individual intruments in this song into logic? I know how to put the entire audio file in logic, but not the individual tracks.

[GospelMusicians]

@soldierbnice You have to record individual tracks in Logic.

[Mattnification]

00:08 = Super Dog

[Vitico222]

Jamal. I'm trying to back up for the first time in my church, and I'd like u to tell me how do I split . the bip for the drummer and the full sound. should I pan it. If it is so. the main mix is going to be mono? thanx Bro. this is Victor from Venezuela.

[doroteu2003]

Hi.... I am speaking from Brazil and I want to know what software you use to play your backing tracks on stage. Do you use Logic Studio or you have another software ? Thanks and great videos !!!!

[dleblanc]

I think it should be a D# rather than D for your "middle eastern scale". Try it out..

[33babybus]

hey thanks for getting back w/me doc but im not really dat deep into motif as far as using da sequencer on da motif xs7 i want to really start getting into it so i can b ready for a/thing dat comes my way so u sayin dat i can use it either way either n song mode r sequencer mode bc dats where i do all of my tracks but i never used it in church so which do u think would b better for me to use

[33babybus]

hey jamal r any musicians out there i was wondering i dont hv a drum machine r a mac book right now but i hv a mo8 as my main board w/my mks 20 on it and i also hv a motif xs7 on top and was wondering is it possible to run some backing tracks off of it like ur doing w/apple logic for now until i can purchase me a mac book r spds n da future was just wondering if i can do it my band want dat full sound w/horns strings and stuff of dat nature is it possible

[GospelMusicians]

@33babybus Why not use your XS7's sequencer to play the backing tracks? A lot of people forget that the Motif's have sequencers and you can put tons of tracks there to play backing tracks.

[ikfeng]

how do u send ur backing track signal (to mixer) and to the drummer for monitoring ?

[MattxMisfitx]

Hey, cool vid! i just wanted to know, how do you play the click track silently live? Like, I want my drummer to follow the click track (i guess we have to use headphones?)cuz we'll have certain points where strings come in, chorus comes in, etc. but obviously you dont the crowd hearing your click track :P so how do you make the click track listenable to the drummer, and the other tracks listenable to the audience?

[batownsend77]

@MattxMisfitx I had the same problem. We ended up using an RCA cord to split the audio from the laptop (controlled by drummer) into left and right signals, and use adapters to split the right signal back into 2 to go through the PA. Then the left signal we use a few adapters to turn it into a 1/8inch headphone jack for the drummer. So we panned all our backtracks to the right for the PA and wrote a click track panned all to the left for the drummer only. Downside is No panning of PA tracks.

[rayrayeas]

Are you using Logic Express or Logic Studio?

[bebop4u]

nice video! The middle eastern scale sounds great, it is the a harmonic minor.

[YamahaMo8Man]

Hello! I've been trying to find the best way to run backing tracks on Sunday morning and I think I've found it! Have you tried to insert this track into Logic's mainstage 2 to be able to control where the song goes when you want it to?

[wptrackstar]

hey jamal I have a question do know a easy i could learn the bass parts for any gospel song because i feel lik i struggle learning the bass parts of song sometimes

[theapex81]

man I posted that question way before you got to the end of the video... !!! And in the end you said the same thing I did! Where you say you get these VSTs and plugins from again?

also do you trust your computer to actually run Logic during your church service or do you just track it down to a stereo file and run the mp3 from itunes or something.... what if the computer freezes or locks up or something similar...

[GospelMusicians]

@theapex81 The backing tracks are just to make everything sound full, NOT TO DEPEND ON IT SOLEY. So when/if the track stops then we would just play the tracks as if we didn't even have it.

[theapex81]

so what do you do if the spirit takes over and you run out of track? do you just start playing piano live and lose the phatness of the sound? (I guess by this point it would be ok, because by then the people are already SUPER INTO THAT WORSHIP EXPERIENCE!!!!

But for real is that what you do?

[GospelMusicians]

@theapex81 By that time people could care less about the music :). Well to be honest, I do my tracks in such a way that if the track stops all of a sudden or things come out, then the musicians can still come right in and we still don't miss a beat.

[dan122189]

wow thts so cool

[yaboichi]

Jamal, I'm a good keyboard player at the age of 16. I mean im really good especially for my age. But when it comes to things in the studio, im a real beginner. Like when you was saying things you had, i was really lost. do you know any ways that I could become more informed of how studio things work. i need to know because i see live players using laptops and stuff, an im like WHAT ARE THEY DOING? i think knowing how to do things inhance your playing

[promarckfingers]

l have been trying to configure my motif es7 (midi) to logic 9 searched googled bt its not helpin can u help me please jarmal GOD BLESS

[promarckfingers]

l have been trying to configure my motif es7 (midi) to logic 9 searched googled bt its not helpin can u help me

[brobe]

Man great video. You are so right about gospel music not standing up to the standard and being a little 'cheesy.' I have been doing tracks for my choir to sing by and my group and I had been thinking about backing tracks for the band but just never tried it. Now I am moving forward!! Thanks for the encouragement.

[JaystarMusicGroup]

Great Lesson!!!!! I have one question though. I have been thinking about utilizing my skills also in our church services and wanted your thoughts and ideas concerning quantizing. I too use Nova Loops and Addictive Drums for my percussion stems but when I quantize my midi instruments my tracks tend to sound mechanical. Mechanical is good for modern R&B and Hip Hop but for Neo Soul, Jazz and Gospel I find don't like the results. Any wisdom you have I am ready to glean brother. LOL

[miditrax]

@JaystarMusicGroup

You can de-quantize notes like runs and organ glissandos, so the important on-beat notes like bass + drums can still be synched. This will help humanize the track...

[jmakell]

Hey Jamal I'm diving in. One question were do you get your stems or backing tracks.

[GospelMusicians]

@jmakell You make them yourself.

[israelsprince]

Very informative. Thank you, Sir!!

[Chancellor1359]

I like the video.. I always wondered how Music Technology can be used live during church service. I believe it can take things to another level. I like the studio too.. Question about the scales, Are you going to do videos or dvds showing those different scales like the one you did for the Chinese sound? I want to learn as many different scales that are out there. And I like the other dvds you released like the urban and contemporary worship play by ear dvd. Thanks for the video, God Bless.

[MrKMIZZLE]

jamal you are truly a role model, i appreciate what your doing. You continue to give God glory while having fun. Your jam sessions are great, i would love to just sit there and watch yall vibe out.

[exmun]

Jamal,

I enjoyed the video. On thing that I'd like to hear/see is how you personally make transitions between songs. Do you put all songs on one logic file so that they follow each other or are you using something to trigger the start of a new song so that the settings change automatically.

[tipmusic1]

Hey Jamall ! veri good lesson , i like it - God bless you - God Bless Your Churh ! - Igor Tkachuk from Repablic of Moldova

[SoAmazing45]

Jamal is the man..

[listentonoel]

men you are blessed i wish I that I had 10% of you knowledge and talent! you are truly blessed by God! The only question I had is, how do you record you synth sounds? is it audio? because I my timing is sometimes a litte off... and with logic sounds you just sync them... any tips? how to record my synt sounds and make them tite with the rest of the track? Be blessed and greetings from the Netherlands

[maccin64]

Hello:Jamall-check out Spectrsonics you will love.Trillian,Omnisphere.Fat right out the box.

[GospelMusicians]

@maccin64 Oh I know....I have Trillian and had Trilogy too. That's the best bass plugin ever! Omnisphere is just a little too expensive right now for me to shell out for some weird sounds, but I do love the pads.

[TheJosephOrtiz]

God bless. I am thinking about doing this for my church. What i want to ask is who would start the track. The drummer. Or someone else? In other words how would people start in sync. Is there a count off in the headphones (monitor)?And who would give the cue to start the track during service. Like the start. Would the band always start before the singers?If the singers was supposed to start i assume that you would start the track based on a word that is said during praise and worship.

[GospelMusicians]

@TheJosephOrtiz Good Questions man! Here is my rule of thumb: For just a click track, let the drummer run it from his MPC. For live stemming tracks, let the MD run it. It really doesn't matter, as long as the person running it has a good feel for when to start the tracks and paying attention to the singer. My wife is P&R Leader, so she will give me that nod to start the track. Leave enough measures in the beginning for just an intro drum track, then the whole band comes in after that.

[loco46m]

Yea bro, you're right, it's either they're great musicians without the spirit of a levite or they're worshipping with all they can, but don't work on perfecting their craft.

[joker2jynx]

I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to thoroughly explain topics such as playing with backing tracks. Much love and Many blessings to you bruh!

[DanielDavisMusic]

Very insightful. Thank you!

[jcsgroove]

Cool clips my brother!!

[rolandkeys88]

thanks so much for the video! what do you to minimize computer performance issues when playing live? Are all your samples playing through your macBook or an external hard drive when playing live? What specs would you recommend?

[keys816]

two things......

have ever heard of interactive worship live? they sell backing tracks some that are original masters. you should consider selling your backing tracks.

second in response to learn "just like the CD" have you ever used abelton live? i love it! it gives you more flexibility in real time to move around.

[latinpianist]

i feel inspired to do all this!

[TheAnime23]

this is incredible!, im a drummer myself and i always find its better to not limit myself to just the drums itself but everything else that could make the drums sound and make the whole group sound better.Good stuff

[antron30606]

Great Vid!!! In the last track you showed where did the horns and organ come from?

[VoodooRhythmSound]

I always like to see musician studios - very interesting!

[vralex02]

Helpful information!!!

[josephlthompson719]

Hey Jamall great video. I have reason 4 and have'nt even used it yet (shame on me) but my question is when you have finished recording your tracks. what do you use to play them through and how do you run them through your church house system?

[GospelMusicians]

@josephlthompson719 House system and monitor. I use the M-Audio Profire 610.

[7notemode]

Absolutely Fantastic Video Tutorial!!

[GospelMusicians]

@7notemode Thanks ma man!

[dilliot2k]

Yeah, man Es yamahas take eons to load. I once had about a gig of samples and it took forever to load. It's best  just to save midi data. A rode? I thought you would have a Nueman. I did buy some of your DVD's though back in the day. I need to get back on em. Riva Tims, when I lived in florida, I checked out Zachery Tims church a few times. They both got their own church now? How many channels do you output to off of logic at the church?

[GospelMusicians]

@dilliot2k The Nueman is up there on the price. I use my Profire 610 for live and keep my Duet at home, because it doesn't have a MIDI input. Yep they have separate churches unfortunately, but we love it over there.

[dilliot2k]

@GospelMusicians Thats awsome, I'm still looking for a church myself. I currently work at a church as a sound engineer, but because I have to focus on taking care of everyone else, I am unable to really enjoy the service. Do you know any good churches in ATL ?

[abmendoza1]

yeahhh, that duet rocks man,i got mine last week and i love it, i use it with logic too!!

[GospelMusicians]

@abmendoza1 I just wish the duet had the MIDI in and better breakout box.

[abmendoza1]

@GospelMusicians i know,i know,but oh well.

[jusplayinmybass]

Another thing that can make your guitars more realistic is to use amp modeling. I have Guitar Rig and it makes guitars pretty nice.

[GospelMusicians]

@jusplayinmybass That is true....You still can't make a keyboard with samples sound like a guitar. The pedals on the new Logic are awesome too.

[oymeit]

I like all this stuff. What is a simple way to keep the drummer on beat without all this equipment. Do you know of a metronome system that would work through earphones? All we have is the singers and keys,Drums,Bass but we tend to play songs to fast all the time. Any suggestions?

[GospelMusicians]

@oymeit Metronome would help through headphones, but you have to find a way to hear the click track too. Honestly, if the drummer goes too fast, then he needs more training and mentoring. 

[Philtechmedia]

great stuff i was thinking about doing that for an up coming concert ..thanks for the conformation

[famadj]

elxelente video !

[famadj]

wat sup sunny? :P