How to keep your musical count offs from getting recorded

Speaking of countdowns (see WFTD above), when you are recording audio tracks with a band the same counting rules apply that we alluded to in the WFTD, “2-pop,” above. It is a common practice not to count the last number. For an example in 4/4 time, where you would normally count the song off, “One, Two, Three, Four,” you would only count “One, Two, Three,” and make the four a silent count. This prevents your “Four” from bleeding into microphones and getting recorded with the initial downbeat of the music. The same is true for a drummer clicking sticks together as a count off. Now that automation and sophisticated editing systems are commonplace this probably isn’t as big a deal for most people as it used to be, but in times past that last count could sometimes ruin an otherwise great recording.