A count off, count in, or lead-in is a verbal, [1] instrumental or visual cue used in musical performances and recordings to ensure a uniform entrance to the performance by the musicians [2] and to establish the piece's initial tempo, time signature and style. [3] [4] Although a count off usually lasts just one or two bars, [2] it is able to convey the music's style, tempo, and dynamics from the leader (such as the conductor, bandleader or principal) to the other performers. [3] A count off is generally in the same style of the piece of music—for instance, a joyful swing tune should have an energized count off. [5] A misleading lead-in, one which indicates a different meter than that of the piece, is a false trail. [6] [7] Counting off is evident in musical genres other than Western classical and popular music; Ghanaian ethnomusicologist J. H. Kwabena Nketia has observed the benefits of such techniques in West African music. [8]
A silent count off, such as those given by an orchestral conductor using a baton, may be given as a value "in front" (e.g. "eight in front" refers to a count off of eight beats). [9]
In recorded music, the final two beats of the count off (one, two, one—two—three—four) are often silent to avoid spill onto the recording, [2] [10] especially if the piece has a pickup. The count off is typically edited out after the recording has finished. [11] There are, however, instances where the count off is deliberately kept on a recording—sometimes even edited onto a recording. In the case of " I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles, the count off was edited onto a different take of the song. [12] A recorded count off can be made by musicians through an open microphone or through the studio's talkback system, [13] the latter being done by non-performing personnel such as the producer or engineer. The inclusion of a count off in a studio recording may give the impression of a live performance, as on the Beatles' " Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise" (1967). [6]
Pre-count [14] and count-off [15] are functions of digital audio workstations which give an amount of click track—typically two bars [15]—before the recording begins.
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cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
A count off, count in, or lead-in is a verbal, [1] instrumental or visual cue used in musical performances and recordings to ensure a uniform entrance to the performance by the musicians [2] and to establish the piece's initial tempo, time signature and style. [3] [4] Although a count off usually lasts just one or two bars, [2] it is able to convey the music's style, tempo, and dynamics from the leader (such as the conductor, bandleader or principal) to the other performers. [3] A count off is generally in the same style of the piece of music—for instance, a joyful swing tune should have an energized count off. [5] A misleading lead-in, one which indicates a different meter than that of the piece, is a false trail. [6] [7] Counting off is evident in musical genres other than Western classical and popular music; Ghanaian ethnomusicologist J. H. Kwabena Nketia has observed the benefits of such techniques in West African music. [8]
A silent count off, such as those given by an orchestral conductor using a baton, may be given as a value "in front" (e.g. "eight in front" refers to a count off of eight beats). [9]
In recorded music, the final two beats of the count off (one, two, one—two—three—four) are often silent to avoid spill onto the recording, [2] [10] especially if the piece has a pickup. The count off is typically edited out after the recording has finished. [11] There are, however, instances where the count off is deliberately kept on a recording—sometimes even edited onto a recording. In the case of " I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles, the count off was edited onto a different take of the song. [12] A recorded count off can be made by musicians through an open microphone or through the studio's talkback system, [13] the latter being done by non-performing personnel such as the producer or engineer. The inclusion of a count off in a studio recording may give the impression of a live performance, as on the Beatles' " Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise" (1967). [6]
Pre-count [14] and count-off [15] are functions of digital audio workstations which give an amount of click track—typically two bars [15]—before the recording begins.
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)