Observation on recording vox

[Absolutepower]

Just an interesting thing I've found is that it is far more important for a good recording to have a singer comfortable and in the right place mentally for the song, than to have everything technically perfect. I doubt even if I had the most expensive mics and equipment in the world that I would be satisfied with a vocal take, if it is not the right state of mind for the song being recorded.

 

[dintymoore]

Music is more about feel than sound. There's some major hits that if you sit down and listen to them they don't really sound good but the feel is there.

You look at Hendrix at Woodstock and I think he was using one of those Shure Unisphere mics, not exactly a primo unit.

So ya, you're capturing an event when you record, and the vibe is super important.

 

[grimtraveller]

I've never really seen why it should be either/or. Things like 'vibe' are kind of nebulous concepts. What is vibe ? Those great funk vibe albums weren't recorded in a day with everyone there catching everything in one take.....much of what we call that great vibe on recordings past and present is sometimes carefully and artificially crafted. I can't tell the difference if something was captured freshly in 2 or 3 takes or pissed offedly in 50 or spliced together from loads of takes done at different times.
I remember the disappointment I felt when I read that tons of live albums were patched up in the studio after the event. But the vibe on many of them was great ! Other times, artists connected with a song or album would talk about the great atmosphere and vibe and love communicated in the music. And I'm thinking 'I don't get that !'.

I'm such a doom merchant !

I wonder what technical perfection is. Some folk use the comfortability over technicality angle to pave the way for the excuse of singers not hitting their notes. I agree that it's infinitely preferable for whoever is singing to be comfortable, if not relaxed. Or at least, comfortable to sing the song. I mean, someone might be raging with anger or truly upset and that might be just what's needed for the vocal. But for me their internal comfort is secondary if they've agreed to do the song, same way it would be if they'd agreed to paint my corridor or whatever. If the dentist is about to do my teeth, it would be nice if they were comfortable but they're doing something on which their well being is not dependent. And those involved in recording aren't really different. Or at least, they shouldn't be ! Sing the blasted song and, um, please sing it in tune !
I'm aware that reads really harsh.......and perhaps it is. But in the same way that bum notes wouldn't be acceptable from an instrumentalist, why should it be from a vocalist ? If the tune goes like this "ABCDEFG MNOPQRS", unless the flubs actually improve it, why should I be satisfied with "ABCDEFG MNNPRST" ?
That all said, I'm not in disagreement with either Absolute or Dinty on this one. But there is another side of the mountain.......