A Quick Way to Produce Backing Tracks?

[Richard G]

I’ve been looking recently for a quick way to produce backing tracks. I realise there are many types already available on YouTube but they never appear to be just right for what I want. As I play mainly acoustic guitar I’ve concentrated on two types of backing. Simple percussion type Drum Machines such as ‘Beat Buddy’ or ‘Alesis SR16’ and the fuller sounds against a chord sequence available from ‘Band in a Box’.

I currently use Ableton as a DAW and percussion tracks can be programmed there but it’s extremely time consuming to produce anything useable plus I’d rather spend time playing than programming.

So my question to my friends here at Active Melody, do you have a favourite way to produce backing tracks reasonably quickly?

Richard

[sunjamr]

Here’s what I typically do:

1) Open Logic Pro
2) Choose the tempo and key signature I want, and activate the metronome feature.
3) (Optional) Set up the Arrangement for 12 bar, 8 bar, or ??. But only if a Logic Drummer is to be used.
4) Record a rhythm guitar track, and maybe a Logic Drummer
5) Record a bass guitar track and maybe a MIDI keyboard track (or just use some Apple Loops)
6) Bounce it

All this usually takes me less than a half hour. Or I can do just the rhythm plus Drummer in less than 15 minutes. I usually make at least one backing track per day during my practice sessions.

Option 2: I just make a quick backing loop on my Boss RC-300 loop station. Turn it on, dial-in the tempo, choose a drum beat, lay down the rhythm track, start noodling. Very satisfying.

Sunjamr Steve

[Richard G]

Many thanks for the run-down Steve, sounds as you’ve got it cracked, but I use a PC platform and unfortunately Logic Pro is an Apple product only. So I’m afraid my search continues …….

Richard

[sunjamr]

Well, I also have Ableton and Reaper (there are Mac versions as well as PC) and I could use either of them equally well. I got reasonably competent on both of them at one point. Probably I would choose Ableton over Reaper. Ableton includes a Drum Machine which is fairly user-friendly:

https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/drum-machines/#:~:text=by%20Ableton,Live%209%20Standard%20or%20above.

Or, you can add a virtual drummer plug-in, like Steven Slate Drums or Jamstik:

https://www.rayzoon.com/index.html

Or, if I want a more complex drum track, I just lay down my own drum track using my Yamaha DTX Multi 12 drum pad. It takes very little time to do it. I always lay down my own drum track for reggae, since no drum machine can do it properly.

Sunjamr Steve

[Jean-Michel G]

One easy way to produce backi,ng tracks is to use the Digitech Trio+ looper. It contains a subset of Band In A Box and automatically creates a (genre-compatible) drum and bass track that you can import in your DAW (PC or Mac). You can mix and balance the bass and the drums to your taste.

…and of course, if you are willing to pay the price, Band In A Box is probably the best software out there.

[Richard G]

Yes, I thought the Digitech Trio+ would do the job and I had one for a couple of years. The results always appeared to me to be too harsh and synthetic for acoustic backing. They’re usually demonstrated with hard-driving electric guitars, so the lack of finesse didn’t really matter too much. I finally sold my Trio+
I thought Band in a Box looked better but looks can be deceptive and I wondered if any members here had any success or issues with it.

Thanks for your reply Jean-Michel and I’ll look again at the drum machine in Ableton, thanks Steve.

Richard

[Denise]

Richard, I have the same issue creating percussive backing tracks with Ableton (Standard version).It’s very time intensive to program percussive tracks, there are too many options and to me, the SW is mainly made for techno music. I miss standard Blues shuffle etc rhythms.

That’s the reason I mostly just add a single percussive off beat when creating a rhythm 🤨. I will look a bit into the drum machine when I find the time.

More Blues!

[John H]

Richard
Band in a Box is the ticket. You can create a 4-5 chord song and produce a backing track in any genre with full band backing. For this month’s challenge, I have toggled between:
Classic Rock
Blues
Country
Bluegrass
Campfire Acoustic

It’s pretty powerful and user friendly.

John H.

[Richard G]

Thanks John, I’m beginning to lean the ‘Band in a Box’ way. Out of interest. which version do you use?

Richard

[Alan L]

My go to programs are GarageBand and iReal pro.

GarageBand is Apple, but really any DAW would work. The drawbacks are the learning curve at the beginning, and a bit of equipment to drive it. (USB interface and/or midi keyboard.) the pro for me is the fine level of control and high quality result. I use my bass, but you could certainly put a rhythm track down with guitar too. I no longer use midi keyboard, but that’s a whole other world of control and options you can tap into.

*I’ve used audacity in the past and it’s a simple and easy DAW for PCs. Not sure if there’s built in drums but plenty of Google tutorials for adding them.

IReal pro makes chord charts, and then generates a backing track based on the chart. I use it for jazz style tracks, but there’s an expansion pack that has blues and many other styles. I believe the app costs $25 (one time) and the pack is another 25. I haven’t gotten the pack, but the base program has been more than worth it for me. Drawback here is the end product sounds a little “canned” and less organic.

Granted ive been using DAW for years, but now I consider a backing track “quick and easy.” I real pro is very user friendly. With either option, I can usually knock out a track in 15 minutes.

[Richard G]

Thanks Alan, I’ve not heard of iReal Pro before but from what you’ve described it sounds like a smaller version of Band in a Box.
I’ve just checked out the Drum Loops on Ableton (DAW) and there are certainly many to choose from but they’re harsh and raucous, not really the sort of thing I was looking for.

Richard

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