Recording live groups takes some tracks. You are generally going to need:
1. Track for each instrument
2. Track for each vocalist
3. 2-10 tracks for drums
4. Extra tracks for lead dubs
One can always do with less, but the above is a good starting point. Drums are usually the hard part. Some can get good drums with 2 mics, where others find they need one for each drum, and 2-4 for cymbols.
For example, to record a 5 piece (bass, drums, 2 guitars, keys and 3 vocalists) would require something like:
1. 4 tracks for bass, guitars, keys
2. 3 tracks for vocals
3. 8 tracks for drums
4. Extra track for dubs
That's already 16 tracks.
On the other hand many of
the modern classic recording from groups like Led Zephlin were done with 2 track stereo recorders.
Ed
