A metronome played in your headphones while recording to keep everyone in time.
A click track is a steady metronome pulse, set to the song's tempo, that performers listen to through headphones while recording so their playing stays locked to a consistent tempo. It is the studio equivalent of practising with a metronome, and recording to a click is what makes a performance line up neatly with the DAW's grid — essential for editing, adding programmed parts, and syncing to video. Many drummers and bands record to a click for tightness, though some prefer to play without one to keep a looser, more human feel. Learning to play comfortably with a click is a valuable skill for any musician who plans to record.
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