BACKING TRACKS for LIVE PERFORMANCES - COMPLETE Step by Step Guide

In today's video, I'm going over a complete step-by-step guide for creating and running backing tracks for your live performances. This is the actual method that I use when making backing tracks for my bands that I perform in. I've done over 200 backing tracks with this method. I also go into detail about why I do things the way that I do and give you options for what might work better for your band. Enjoy my longest video I've ever made so far :)

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0:00 - Intro
1:57 - Need help?
2:23 - Getting Started
3:34 - Downloading Stems
6:09 - Guitar Stems
7:23 - Piano/Violin/Solos
7:59 - Tempo
8:18 - Importing into DAW
9:10 - Panning
10:10 - Splitter Cable
11:28 - Mono v Stereo
12:47 - Click Track Setup
15:48 - Backing Track Setup
18:43 - Editing Tracks
19:10 - Lining Up to Measures
19:35 - Intro Click
20:07 - Mixing Tracks
21:35 - Pitch Reference
22:53 - Cues for Structure
23:20 - How Many Cues?
24:17 - My Cue Philosophy
26:48 - Cue Examples
27:09 - Lead Vox for References
28:40 - Keep Cues Rhythmic
29:17 - Don’t Talk Over Vocals
30:11 - Recording Cues
31:11 - Count In Cues
32:06 - Pickup or Slow Count In
33:07 - Cleaning Up Audio
34:22 - Lyric Cues
36:27 - Exporting
38:20 - Some Options
39:05 - Failsafe Backing Tracks
40:50 - Importing to Ipad
41:48 - Gear Connections
42:50 - Saving Money on IEMs
43:15 - Final Tips
44:39 - Outro

⚙️ GEAR MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO ⚙️
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◆ 3.5mm to (2) TS Cable (Splitter) ◆

◆ ART DUAL DIRECT BOX (affordable)◆

◆ RADIAL - 2 CHANNEL DIRECT BOX (High-End) ◆

◆ iPad ◆

💥 OTHER GEAR TO CHECK OUT 💥
●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
◆ BEHRINGER - X32 RACK ◆
My main IEM mixer

◆ BEHRINGER - XAir XR 18 ◆
My 2nd IEM mixer

◆ SENNHEISER - EW 300 IEM G4 ◆
My In-Ear Monitor System

◆ PHENYX PRO - PTM 11 WIRELESS IEM SYSTEM ◆
Affordable IEM System

🎥 OTHER VIDEOS TO WATCH 🎥
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📷 VIDEO SETUP: 📷
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[nickprinsloo]

Dude. I’ve been plying in bands for 30 years and you’re the first person who has ever helped me understand how to use backing tracks. This video may be long but it’s worth every second. Loads of gratitude for this.

[terryconnell]

To the point, detail packed 45 minute video went by in what seemed like 10 minutes. Wish more people did vids like Scott Uhl. No fluff -- just the valuable detail. BAM!

[petebyron]

After the bass player quit while we were on the road, I got home and started programing midi files back in 98, and was never more busier playing guitar and singing at all sorts of venues up until 2010, doing a 1 man band.

[twoshedsjackson]

Thanks Scott, I'm another old timer. I used to use backing tracks 33 YEARS ago using Cubase Midi tracks on a portable Yamaha floppy disk drive (MDF2) through a Yamaha tone -generator(CBX T3). I'm thinking about going back on the road and this video (and others on your channel) was just what I needed to bring me up to date with the latest technology and methods.

[jr_oantonio]

As someone who played on a lot of "yeah, we´ll figure it out on the spot" kind of bands (who rarely did figure it out and contributed imensely to my stage fright), this video is a masterclass of profesionalism. Thanks.

[chucksaeger]

This is the greatest tutorial I've ever seen! If this doesn't get you going with backing tracks, nothing will. Can't wait to see some more of Scotts' videos.

[erniedouglas]

Scott, I don’t know what to say that hasn’t been said in these comments already but I will say thank you! The effort put into this(and all of your videos for that matter) is amazing. You are so generous with your knowledge and we really appreciate it.

[RamonMariaGallart]

I just created my first backing track... This is... GOLD!!!! Thank you so much for sharing!

[alexgblack]

I've never really performed much music, and I'd really like to get started. But it's so easy to get overwhelmed when you're starting from scratch and don't have someone to show you the basics. This video was a perfect outline and huge help to me, thank you for taking the time to create this!

[rgp]

Nailed it again! So helpful, thanks so much.

[cjlister]

Kareoke Version is a god send. Been using it for years and its so much easier than my old method or re-recording all the stems myself.

[MarkSchuster-ymiy]

Wow, ❤ amazing. Im 69 years old played professionally in the 70s and 80s them later worship team in a church. In the 70s my rig was mt amp, either a dual showman or ampeg V4, a cry baby wah, Gibson les paul and a Gibson
L6S the set neck one. Basically there wasn’t much for tech. In the 60s it was often hard to find a dedicated bass amp. The dual showman was for guitar if you had the JBL D130s and for bass JBL d140, I HAD A SOLID STATE ACOUSTIC AMP AND CAB THAT SAID RIGHT ON THE HEAD GUITAR/BASS. THE BASS MAN WAS UNDER POWERED, ACTUALLY EVERYTHING WAS UNDERPOWERED FOR BASW EXCEPT THE SUN 360. THAT AMPEG I FORGOT THE MODEL. IT WASNT TILL MID TO LATE 80S BASS APS CAME AROUND. ANYWAY, UNTIL I SAW YOUR VIDEO I HAD NEVER HEARD OF DOING BACKING TRACKS LIKE THAT. I KNOW THE Bee Gees used a system like that and it was amazing. They had a special toward the end where thr first twin died, and they did a song for Andy. It was a real tear jerker where they surprised the audience dimmed the lights Andy came in at the second verse, the brothers just sang backup and it sounded exactly like Andy was up there singing with him. Your young so in case you dont know in the 80s Andy gib was the 4th brother who started a solo career, his brothers helped. He became number 1 pop and teen heart throb. Had trouble with drugs nd rinsing and had a heart attack and died on his thirtieth birthday. If you’ve never seen them it’s called Bee Gees how can you mend a broken heart. It’s on max maybe Netflix too. Inspirational. Sounds like you play everything. I love all music except for rasp. Believe it kr not rap. Started in the mid 70s. I couldent get into it. Sorry for the long message but im just excited. Im going to share this with some old band mates. This system you do is incredible. At my age a couple of my music mates are dead, so i can still get together with a few survivors and gig again without a full band. Or just pratice with my friends. Anyway, this is the most professional, helpful . Videos I’ve ever seen for musicians. Thank you so much. At my age there’s gonna be a learning curve and i dont know how far ill get but i am super grateful. I’ll be around bro.,

[TomDanielsDrums]

Wow. That was the shortest 45 minutes I've ever spent on YouTube. I've often played with backing tracks with my bands and I created them to the best of my knowledge based on learning by doing, but man: If I'd had this input years ago, I would have saved myself a lot of work and hassle.

I'll definitely watch this video many more times because there's so much valuable information in it. Thank you so much for the great work.

[FrnK-vrvi]

What a great video! Not only a backing tracks masterclass, but Logic's also. Thanks Scott!

[nguyenducquocanh]

So eye-opening. I have been looking for this. Thanks so much!

[roycebuckmaster]

Dude I just got into backing for my original band. We’re a 3 piece but with synths we want out front. I literally found you 2 days ago and then bam! you answer every question ever. Thank you Scott.

[Phill_Ashley]

I’ve been using backing tracks for years. Your advice about cues blew my mind.

[allanreko]

Fantastic video! Videos like this are gold especially for hobbyists like myself; even if it's stuff I already "know", there's usually quite a few unexpected holes in my knowledge that I didn't know existed. Sometimes we learn how to run before walking through necessity, and seeing a video like this that breaks it down into steps and goes from start to finish helps fill in the unknown unknowns!
Edit: was also going to say, if you're a vocalist only, and need all the instrumentals on a backing track, Karaoke Version charges only 1.99 for their non-stemmed backing tracks (options are usually just "instrumental only", "instrumental and background vocals, no lead", and "complete cover" for their vocal tracks)

[eric.varillasfemss]

Thank you, Scott! I’m a high school teacher with a student rock band and we’re just about to start using in-ear monitors so I’m thinking of dabbling in clicks and cues tracks. This was super helpful! I love your channel! Thank you so much!

[jazzzman]

Thanks Scott. One thing I don't think you mentioned or I missed it is 90% of Karaoke-version tracks are not recorded to a click track. You can tell because in the upper left area where they give the tempo, they say "About" 136 BPM. I have found some horrible variations in speed that initially frustrated our drummer. Almost every track of theirs is off. Most DAW's have some kind of ability to stretch or shrink a track. In Ableton Live it's "Warp". I use this on every track to make sure the track is exactly aligned to the tempo grid. I start out aligning markers to quarter notes and then zoom in to 32nds. It's amazing how much variation there can be. This adds about 10-15 minutes of work per track but greatly worth it. Now the song is in perfect time and can use it to sync MIDI or other future tracks, no sweat.