We have moved our carol competition online, which means recording our own contributions and sending them in to be edited. For this one we have no video of a conductor to guide us, just an audio track. Or rather tracks, as there are several alternatives: SATB, SA, TB, individual parts, individual parts with the other parts faintly heard, SATB without clicks (this last is for rehearsal only, not recording). They use a small group of professional singers.
I haven’t used a backing track with clicks before, and it took me a little while to get used to them and to listen for the higher click at the beginning of each bar. (They have pitch, but not in a way that conflicts with the notes of the piece.) Note to self: 6/4 is not the same as 3/2! Awkward tempo changes are dealt with by extra beats or expressing the new tempo in terms of the previous one.
I initially thought I’d want to record while listening to the SATB version, but I have now decided on the version where the soprano part is more audible than the others. This is not because I need reminding of my notes! I realise that I want to hear the pro soprano as clearly as possible so that I can sing as one with her, not straying from her timing and pitch. This is especially important in those pieces which rely on precision for their effect.