Count off

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.

[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' "Sgt.

[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.