Miles Johnson is a Toronto-based drummer & playback engineer

Miles Johnson

is a Toronto-based DRUMMER & PlAYBACK ENGINEER

your vision from concept to concert.

I’m a drummer first.

Everything starts with feel, pocket, and performance.
Playback should be built around that, so your show stays tight without ever feeling rigid.

Turning a setlist into a compelling live show is no small task. With 10+ years of performance and playback experience, I handle the technical so you can stay focused on the creative.

  • "It's so common for drummers to sound stiff and sterile when playing to a click but Miles plays with feel and musicality."

    —Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo (The Tenors, Sarah Mclachlan, David Foster)

Recent Artist Collaborations

Live drums, playback, autotune and musical direction at The Mod Club, supporting Sunday (1994) on their Prairie Tour.

Rohin — UNIVERSAL Canada

Let’s work together.

Your Questions, Answered

  • What sets me apart as a playback tech is that I’m a musician first—a drummer first—so I approach Ableton Live like an instrument, using my musicality to shape a show that feels alive, flexible, and truly connected to the performance.

  • Whether you’re playing a club or going on tour, I offer a range of playback solutions to meet your needs, from simple click, cues and backing tracks, to fully produced sets with transitions, loops, timecode for lightning and video, MIDI automated instrument patch changes, lyrics teleprompters, live AutoTune and vocal production, SPD-SX samples, Ableton keys rigs, and more.

  • My rig is built around an iConnectivity PlayAUDIO1U, Universal Audio Apollo Solo and Radial JS-2 for reliable, fail-safe performance.

    I prioritize redundancy so artists can step on stage with complete peace of mind—if something fails, the show goes on.

    (I don’t provide an IEM system, but if you rent one, I’ll operate it)

  • All projects are different! I offer flexible rates depending on the services you need. After an initial conversation, I’ll provide a transparent quote.

  • I’m collaborative, honest, and straightforward. I’m here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving, helping you achieve your artistic vision.

    I also make the best coffee.

GET ON MY EMAIL LIST