Alright… a bunch of you guys and gals have been asking me to do a rundown of how I make our clicks/tracks/samples happen. So here I go!

What I’m gonna do is break it up into four parts:
1 – Equipment
2 – Process : Tracking in Reason
3 – Process : Tracking in Garageband/Pro Tools
4 – Process : Outputting to Live and Setting Up Scenes/Outputs
5 – Live Triggering
6 – Extras (Just for kicks!)

Today’s installment will cover EVERYTHING I use on a weekly basis to track, record, test, and trigger.

::EQUIPMENT::

1) The heart and brains of this operation is a computer loaded with a couple of programs. I use a 15″ Macbook Pro (Older generation) with 2.4GHz Processor and 2G of RAM. The computer needs to be able to handle a bunch of stuff, because at maximum usage, it will be: Playing sounds, syncing click/cues/tracks/samples, receiving MIDI information, processing MIDI info into sounds, and then outputting everything via Firewire to the board. (I’ll go over what all that means in parts 2 & 3).
FYI: You can use a PC or Mac, as long as it can handle what you throw at it.

Macbook Pro - 15" - 2.4GHz - 2G Ram

Also, we use 2 programs called Reason (by Propellerhead) and Ableton Live.
Reason is used to track sounds, beats, and clicks… and then we output all that into Ableton for live triggering. (Again, more on this in part 2: Tracking in Reason)
In addition to Reason and Ableton, for tracking guitar parts I use Pro Tools and/or Garageband. I find that Garageband is easier to use for simpler stuff, and Pro Tools is needed for the more complex parts. This won’t be necessary is you don’t ever want to track real instrument parts (More on this in Part 3: Tracking in Garageband/Pro Tools).
I know some people like to use Logic, Sonar, etc… I just prefer Reason to track because it’s the easiest and most powerful… and Ableton to use live because it’s the best and most fail-safe way to trigger and put together songs and sets.

Ableton Live

Reason

2) Now to the interfaces:

First is an M-Audio Axiom 25. This is just a MIDI Controller. It takes on the sound of whatever you tell it to (Strings, Synths, Drums, you name it!) You can use any MIDI keyboard or regular keyboard that has a USB or MIDI output – See Part 2 (Tracking in Reason) for more.

Axiom 25

Next is an M-Audio Firewire 410. It hooks to the computer via Firewire and gives us 4 inputs and 10 outputs from one single connection.
In a nutshell, this takes everything we have – Click, Track, Guitar, Cues, etc – and outputs it to up to 10 channels. Ex. We run Track stereo from 1 & 2, Click and Cues both out to 3, Guitar Track to 4, and Secondary Keyboard to 5. – See Part 4 (Outputting to Live and setting up Scenes/Outputs) for more.
This Firewire 410 also lets us input into the computer to record Guitar sounds, etc. – See Part 3 (Tracking in Garageband/Pro Tools) for more. In the picture, notice all the outputs on the back… that’s what I’m talking about…

M-Audio Firewire 410

Lastly for interfaces, I use a POD X3 Live for Guitar tones. The stock tones with Garageband are OK… but the POD is great, and runs either into the Firewire 410 or hooks up directly via USB.

Line6 Pod X3 Live

I realize all this stuff costs money… so do what you can! Don’t feel bad b/c you can’t get everything right now. Build a rig in pieces like most of us did.
You can find info, prices, etc on all this stuff from Google, Amazon, Musicians Friend, etc.

So there is what I use physically to get the job done… check back soon for the second installment… TRACKING IN REASON! If you have specific questions or ideas for this series, please email me at JonathanTBryant@gmail.com or comment on the blog. Make sure to spread this around on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, etc. Thanks for reading.

-JB

-Great day at Foothills this morning. The set looked like: “Love the Lord” – Brewster, “Freedom Song” – Desperation Band, “You Never Let Go” – Redman, “You Found Me” – The Fray.
-The band NAILED IT today! Great guys with a heart for worship and excellence.
-I need to start blogging more. I should just go ahead and put it on my ToDo list.
-Speaking of, I have been using ZenBe Lists. It’s phenomenal, simple, and has a GREAT iPhone/iPod Touch interface. Check it out!
-I am SO grateful for my computer. In the last week, I have: made and finished ToDo Lists, picked out set lists, practiced using Garageband, made tracks and click using Reason/Ableton/Garageband, emailed, Twittered, Facebooked, set up bands and people, uploaded music and charts for this and next week’s teams… I am SO grateful for my computer.
-The first thing I’m doing when I get paid is getting a gym membership. We had to give ours up when I stopped working last year, and it’ll be good to get back in there. Also, I’ll start updating my Weight Loss Journey again. There hasn’t been much Loss to document, as of yet.
-I’m watching American Chopper on PBS as I’m writing this. Since when is AC on PBS? Haha.
-I’m gonna be connecting with a friend I haven’t really hung with in years this week, hopefully. I’m stoked. He was the guy that really convinced me (by the way he lived) that Jesus is real and has a TON to do with our everyday lives. I hope it all works out.
-Abigail is everywhere. Climbing. Running. Falling. She’s a mess and I love every minute of it!
-I am learning to use Reason and Ableton live this week. I’ve used Reason before, but I’m getting a pro lesson from a guy that’s been using it for YEARS. I’m excited… it’s gonna be like drinking from a fire hydrant, though.
-We just ordered an M Audio Axiom 21 key Midi Controller and an M Audio Firewire 410 interface. They use it in Seneca, and it works great. Basically, it’s a way to trigger tracks I’ve made in Reason and output them to stereo channels, and also output a separate click channel. Yeah! It’s gonna be awesome!
-Just started using PlanningCenterOnline.com. It makes my life a ton easier.
-New things starting make me happy. Old things fading away make me a little sentimental, but not too bad. Things change, we just gotta roll with them.

I’m done, because dinner has to happen. CATCH YOU LATER!!

-Another good day at Foothills. I was in Seneca today, playing in Eric’s band for the last time in the foreseeable future. I’ll be in Toccoa next week, and I’m PUMPED!
-Good set today: .Friend of God .You Never Let Go .What a Friend We Have in Jesus (SWEET arrangement by Scott Henderson. I got to play acoustic. It went over VERY well) .We Need Each Other (Sanctus Real).
-Had to change from electric to acoustic today during a song transition. Went well, but BIG possibility for disaster!
-I think the most excited thing for me today came after the first service. David Odom (one of the other leaders @ Foothills) has been using the band I’ll be working with from Toccoa Falls college. Now, I’ve heard these guys and gals were good… but I had no idea. Eric, Rachael, Candice, Abigail, and I were headed out to lunch and I forgot my phone in the green room. So I go back through the auditorium and the band is ROCKING! So I look and the acoustic player is Scott from TF. Then I see that the drummer is from TF. Then I see Heather from TF singing and blowing the roof off. Over half the band was made up of college students and it was QUALITY! I’m really looking forward to connecting with the students and making some great relationships and musical strides in Toccoa.
-So I start work tomorrow. Wow.
-Tomorrow is “Meeting Day.” Everyone has warned me about it… but I love meetings. I do enjoy being prepared and connected.
-We’ll be choosing another day for me to work during the week (Wed or Thurs probably). So my work week will look like: Monday in Seneca, Wed of Thurs in Toccoa, Saturday setup and practice in Toccoa, Sunday service and teardown.
-I’m really excited to be working with Shannon, the campus pastor, very closely. He has a heart for Toccoa, and he’s PUMPED about the new year.
-Money’s pretty tight right now. I haven’t had a steady job in about 5 1/2 months. Just being honest.
-February 1st will be a relief. It’s payday. Like a real, we’re getting 2 checks, payday. I’m excited.
-I think Shannon (campus pastor) and I are going to invest in an M Audio midi controller and Interface to work with Reason and Ableton. If you understand what that is, cool. I only halfway get it. (It has to deal with making loops and click tracks to use during worship).
-I think that I need to invest in some sort of modeling device for my guitar. Foothills uses no amps for guitars or bass, only modeling devices through in-ears, so no stage noise. Good system, but I don’t have the hardware yet. Maybe I could sell some of my analog gear to purchase one, we’ll see. Anyone used one (Line 6 X3 live? Vox Tonelab?)? Got opinions?
-We’re about to go to the store and get a shower curtain. FUN! Haha.
-I had my first baking success last night. Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing. I am HORRIBLE at baking, but usually a good cook. Last night I actually got the cupcakes right. Yea!
-Candice is still feeling bad. I’m trying to take care of her. She’s sweet when she’s sick.
-We had a blast with Eric, Rachael, and Dakota at Copper River today. (Eric is the worship pastor at Foothills and Rachael is his wife. Dakota is their very cool kid).

Ok, shower curtain, here we come! Goodnight everyone!
Full work day report to come tomorrow!