Recommendations for controlling backing tracks while playing live?
Starting a postpunk/coldwave project and i’m looking for a little advice for live performances.
The live band will be 2 guitars, 1 bass, and vocals. The backing tracks contain all of our drums, synth sounds, ambience, etc. when we practice i load up a logic session that has all of the drum tracks exported as wavs and lined up in the order of the set list. This goes to an old peavey keyboard amp so that we can hear it.
What is the best way to control something like this in a live setting, using as little gear as possible? I know that a lot of analogue drum machines have foot switches to stop/start and go to the next song, would it be best to just get a midi foot switch to control the playhead in logic? I’ve never used any computers while performing live, so how does this work with the PA? Just run an output to the sound guy and make sure we can hear it in our monitors? I know this is a basic thing but its not something I’ve ever dealt with, lol.
Can something like this be controlled through a multi fx unit like a Line6 Helix? Like could i assign some of the switches to stop/start/next song etc?
Any advice is appreciated, thanks!
Posted Jan 25, 2026, 4:33 AM UTC