Recording - live takes or overdubs

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Recording - live takes or overdubs

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ido1957

ido1957

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Just want to get a feel for what everybody prefers.

I like to record tracks using overdubbing - I like to get the best take and get a nice recording that I enjoy without mistakes.

My friend prefers a live take with the whole band playing/singing at the same time. It has a better feel and vibe.

When I record them I like to overdub. Sometimes it takes a bunch of tries to get it just right. Then there's the problem of using dynamic mics instead of condensors and bleed and all that.

We don't play live more than once a year, but I practice the tunes a couple times a week so I can play them live anytime. We don't practice as a band very often anymore so the live takes would take a whole day or more to get tight and right I think. It might take a long time to get the whole repetoire recorded live, one song at a time....

What's your take on this live versus overdub question?
 
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I try and capture it all in one take, but will edit if I find it necessary.
 
I keep trying until I nail it. That's why it usually takes me so long to record even one song. There have been a few times where I played a few notes during a solo or whatever that didn't sound good and I used volume automation to mute that part. But other than that I keep re-tracking. It sucks being a perfectionist.
 
ido1957 said:
We don't practice as a band very often anymore so the live takes would take a whole day or more to get tight and right I think. It might take a long time to get the whole repetoire recorded live, one song at a time....
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How long does it take to overdub the parts? I prefer to do stuff live when possible, especially the rhythm parts. When you start down the path of overdubbing you can sometimes get too hung up on achieving perfection which in the end can be boring.
 
My favored process is to record the rhythm section (usually rhythm guitar, bass, and drums, sometimes keys) live, then do all the other parts overdubbed (vocals, lead guitar, orchestras, lead keyboard parts, etc.). That way the core of the song is a tight knit "live" vibe while you have complete control over the icing.
 
I'd love the opportunity to record with more than 1 other person in the room. The best I've managed is a duo which then required heaps of o'dubs to correct. So in reality when I can I record guide tracks & then OD till the cows come home.
 
I mostly record the band I play with, we are just 3 pieces, bass, drums, and guitar. We usualy try to get a live (all at once) recording as a basic recording (on 4 tracks normaly) then overdub mistakes and add extra instruments or vocals. Often I add extra guitar and keyboard tracks if the song needs them. We try to get the primary tracks as close to right as we can in order to keep editing to a minimum. If an instrument sounds weak I will rerecord it's track then blend it into the recording. When recording someone else, I will layer and overdub as much as they want in order to get the sound they are trying to get.
 
Live rhythm section with scratch vocal in booth, then overdub tell it's done but not overdone. Don't over-overdub. ........over.
 
I record pretty much entirely track by track. I find that it, regardless of popular theory, doesn't inhibit the emotionality at all in a track if you have the right players. It just gives so much more control over every single part of the music that would be very difficult to control in an environment where all tracks recorded live.
 
Both!

if you provide adequate isolation between the amps and drums, etc, you should have no problems with bleed while tracking live. just put gobos (filled with rockwool/OC705) around the amps. this will keep the drums out of the amp mics and will certainly help keep the amps out of the drums.

i recorded a band "live" last month. the guitar amp was right next to the drums and i surrounded it with gobos in a V-shape. there are no drums what so ever in the guitar tracks--the guitarist was stunned. there are also no guitars in the drums.

this makes it VERY easy to overdub onto those tracks.

we all talk about putting bass traps on the walls......but the same stuff is VERY effective for separating out instruments, too.


cheers,
wade
 
If at all possible, live takes. I always have had better luck at capturing the "emotion" in a live performance than trying to get the same feel with a bunch of overdubs. The latest CD I recorded was done live in nightclubs and bars and while not the best sounding thing I've ever done from a recording standpoint, the music just rocks, and that's what people react to most IMO.
 
I just did a location recording session sunday with my brother's rock band. Rhythm bed plus scratch vocals into the HD24 live, then overdubs for clams, vox and solos. 6 hours for 5 tunes. And they were reasonably well rehearsed.
 
I always do everything in sections whenever possible. It's just the way I'm used to doing it.
 
I chose overdubs becouse in my band there is the singer, and me, who records all other instruments. And since I can't clone myself, I have to overdub.
 
That's a similar problem that I have. Also, it would be a bit difficult to fit a symphony orchestra and full choir into my project studio. ;)
 
I like to get as much live as I can. It just has the feel I guess.
 
i play everything myself as well and i just track the drums first with no metronome (just singing the song in my head while playing and clicking the sticks when not playing) and then overdub everything else. i feel like that gives it a little more live feel than playing with a metronome. :cool:
 
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