Backing tracks can completely change the way your worship mix sounds. They help fill in for absent musicians, round out the sound, and even automate parts of your service like lyric slides.
In this post, I’ll walk you through our exact setup at church, from the gear we use to how we mix the tracks and the features that make it all work smoothly.
We run our tracks from a ninth-generation iPad using the Playback app by Multitracks.
The iPad connects through a Lightning to USB adapter into a Tascam audio interface. This interface gives us eight balanced outputs, which we send straight to our stage box using quarter-inch to XLR cables.
We currently use seven of the eight outputs.
We purchase all our tracks directly from Multitracks.com, where you can find a master track for almost any worship song (master tracks are the original artist's recording).
One of the biggest advantages is how well their Playback app integrates with Planning Center. As soon as I add a song to Planning Center, rehearsal mixes automatically download. These mixes highlight each individual instrument, making it easy for team members to learn their parts.
Multitracks also offers chord charts, ProPresenter lyric templates, and even song-specific patches and sounds. These extras aren’t required, but they definitely streamline planning and rehearsal if you choose to use them.
One of my favorite features of Playback is the ability to create setlists from home. I can load in songs, confirm the keys, and save arrangements that remember my mix settings. When I get to church, I just sync the iPad with the cloud, and everything is ready to go.
Playback also allows for crossfades between songs, which is great when we want one song to flow seamlessly into the next. At the end of a set, I’ll often program in a pad to continue playing so we can move into a free-flow moment without silence.
When it comes to mixing, our rule of thumb is simple: fill in what’s missing, but don’t overcrowd the band. If we’re missing an instrument like piano, we send it out at full level so the sound engineer can mix it in naturally.
The rest of the instruments usually run through a stereo track, which we balance in the app itself.
One really helpful feature is that we can sync the iPad with the computer back at the mixer. So the computer becomes a remote control. The iPad is the master playback device, but the sound engineer can adjust the track mix from the booth without ever leaving his spot.
Less is more with backing tracks. I try to avoid anything with complicated syncopation, since humans aren’t perfect at staying perfectly on the click. I also avoid tracks that compete with what live musicians are already playing. The goal is never to cover people up; it’s to support and enhance the live sound.
Sounds higher in the frequency range tend to work really well. If the sound is very mid-heavy, be careful. This can quickly clash with other instruments on stage.
If it's bass-heavy, it will likely muddy things up, so stay away from that unless you don't have a bass guitar or piano player that can hold down those frequencies.
We use MIDI cues to trigger lyric slides in ProPresenter. By setting cues directly in the Playback app, our lyrics change exactly when they should. This frees up the ProPresenter operator from having to manually click every slide and ensures lyrics are always on time.
Automation is a newer feature, and it’s one I use often. For example, if a keys track sounds great in the verse but clashes in the chorus, I can program it to automatically fade down at the right moment. This keeps the mix clean without needing a person to ride faders during every transition.
Finally, the pad player is something we use every Sunday. Pads help smooth transitions between songs, carry moments of free worship, and fill in empty space when no instruments are playing. I usually use a pad called “Reverence,” which blends well with any set and never feels overpowering.
Our 8-channel backing track setup has been a game-changer for our church. It’s flexible, reliable, and allows us to adapt quickly when musicians are absent. By keeping the mix simple and intentional, backing tracks support the live band rather than replace them.
If you’re thinking about introducing tracks to your worship team, I’d recommend starting small. Cover the essentials, use automation to your advantage, and remember that less is often more. With the right setup, tracks can help your team sound full without adding unnecessary stress.
