Popular Christian artists like Chris Tomlin (shown here), Kari Jobe, Hillsong United, and Jesus Culture all use backing tracks for in their live sets. It is simply a different way to sing songs in church.
Incorporating backing tracks with a live band into your Sunday morning service can be a bit daunting. With one decision you add additional channels, technology and setup time, not to mention the expense. Then there are the artistic and ethical question involved with it. Do they ruin the artistic integrity of what you are trying to accomplish? Will using tracks remove the possibility for improvisation to happen in a service? Will they prohibit the Spirit from moving? And who's responsibility are they? Are they considered "instruments" that the audio engineer just needs to provide inputs for, or do they leave the track mix up to the music director or worship leader?
There's lot to cover. So here are some thoughts on how to navigate the process.
Philosophy
First lets talk about a philosophy regarding tracks. If you or someone on your team is worried that using tracks will ruin the artistic or spiritual integrity of the music on Sunday morning then I have two things to say. First, nearly every worship artist today uses tracks. Chances are that your church is singing songs written by artists that use tracks every time they lead worship. Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Hillsong United, and Jesus Culture - they all use tracks for in their set. It is simply a different way to sing songs in church.
Secondly if there are concerns about being locked down to the same arrangement every time, there are technologies that allow for changes of arrangement (more on this later).
Sourcing Tracks
Since you have to start with content (a backing track), I just wanted to mention a few resources to get these tracks. I have found multitracks.com to be one of the best options when looking for tracks. They license tracks from the original recordings of popular songs. I highly suggest checking out their website when looking for content.
Do they ruin the artistic integrity of what you are trying to accomplish?
Loopcommunity.com is another option that offers user created loops for use with worship on Sunday morning. This outlet is also offers a great way to build community with other churches while getting some great content.
Basic Technologies
Lets start off with the most simple approach using a simple stereo mp3 file and a playback device like a laptop or mp3 player. The track should have a click track on one channel and the track material on the other channel. Get a 1/8-inch stereo mini jack to dual ¼-inch jack connectors. Plug the 1/8-inch mini jack to your playback device, and your two ¼-inch jack connectors into two regular direct boxes. Alternatively you could get a DI specifically designed with computer use like the Radial JPC or Whirlwind pcDI. I've had good luck with both units.
Typically the drummer is in charge of starting track playback. As the timekeeper of the band it makes the most sense. It is also easy to have a laptop or mp3 player setup next to the drums without it being an eyesore or taking up other space on the stage.
Once you have these two channels plugged in and assigned correctly on the console you have a click channel that needs to get to the band's monitors, and a track channel that goes to both the bands monitors and to the FOH mix. It can be that simple--- a quick and easy approach to tracks.
The Next Level
For more detailed content you will find it necessary to allow the FOH engineer to mix the content that exists in the backing track. However, you'll need to make an investment in some software and hardware that allow you to have individual tracks or “stems” of the content.
The first thing you'll need is a multi-track file package. This will consistent of a click track and then a mono track or stereo “stem” for each of the separate elements. The number of tracks you can use is only limited to the hardware that you use. Audio interfaces connect to a laptop via USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt connections and allow for multiple audio outputs. The most common interfaces have eight channel configurations. You'll find eight-channel D/A (digital to analog) interfaces by manufactures like M-Box, Focusrite, Presonus, Motu and others. These multiple channel interfaces work with audio software like GarageBand, Logic, ProTools, Reason, or Ableton Live and they allow you to assign each track to a different output on your interface.
We won't get too deep into the audio software today but I would like to point out one difference. Programs like GarageBand, Logic and ProTools are all time-line based. Ableton, and to a different extent, Reason are considered live audio workstations. Once you begin playback on a time-line based program you are locked into that playback until you hit stop.
With a live audio workstation things are more flexible. The user can set separate sections of loops (verse, chorus and bridge) and play them on demand while still keeping time. This removes any concern about being locked into a single arrangement. If the worship leader wants to double a chorus or go back to the bridge you can do so.
Regardless of the software and hardware you end up using you will now have more audio outputs. In these situations using a multiple channel direct box really helps to clean up your stage. Behringer and ART have eight-channel options that are more affordable. Radial has both six- and eight-channel rack mount DI's that are touring grade with custom wound transformers.
Now that you have individual channels for each track you'll have to take a bit more time to set the band's monitors. The added control to your FOH mix will be really helpful as you can treat each channel with the care.
Conclusion
Incorporating tracks into Sunday morning is a mix of music and technology. To pull it off well requires the coordination of the music team and tech team. Team work and clear communication are important. It's never a good idea to incorporate a new technology before everyone is comfortable with it. You may want to rehearse with tracks for a month before incorporating it on Sunday morning. Coordination and care from the tech team and musicians will ensure a successful and meaningful use of tracks on Sunday morning.
