mixing while recording or after all tracks are recorded?

[Chibi Nappa]

I always mix as I go. It is only a rough mix, but it still alerts me to any severe tracking problems. I expect my "tracking mix" to sound somewhat similar to my final mix, so if something is sounding wrong halfway through the overdubs, I know I have to go back right then and there to re-track it.

 

[glynb]

Rough mix as you go?

I think the do a rough mix as you go along idea is sound. As suggested it can identify some problems early on at the recording stage and also helps you to make some of the decisions as you proceed.

I remember reading an interview with David Bowie regarding the Ziggy Stardust album (1972?) and how they managed to record it in a relatively short time, compared with today. His answer was the fact that they used to take some decisions as they went along, rather than leaving everything to the mix stage, and I think there's a lot to be said for that approach.

Always with the provisor that whatever you do in the temporary working mix can be undone later in the final mix.

I record using a multitracker (vf160 by fostex) I can mix as I go along and store the mix settings. At the press of a key I can restore the dry recording. Presumably you can do this with PC software too?

 

[ds21]

In a word... both,
I have to agree that Light said it best, you don't want everything centered with no effects at all in the Foldback or things will be hard to pickout/hear especially for the singer's, you want to get it sounding good enough to bring out the best performances of the artists, without adding anything too destructive that can't be undone.