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Since the advent of multitrack recording, the goal of most engineers has been to keep the sound of every instrument totally isolated from all the others. That makes our job much easier, since we can adjust the mix of every track as needed, and apply effects like equalization and compression to each sound individually as needed.

But does that make the best recording? For some types of music, the answer is yes. But having all the players in the same room where they can see and hear each other often results in synergy from the musicians working together that can create exceptional music.

Without baffles, isolation booths, or overdubbing, the music can be better. But this can create problems for the mix engineer, since there can be at least some of the other instruments bleeding into the mic of an instrument you want to manipulate.

In this episode, I talk about this approach to recording, which can be very challenging. It requires a studio setup that works to help maintain the desired balance of the instruments. In essence, you are recording and mixing at the same time, although there will likely be overdubs added to the basic tracks.

This isn’t an approach for everyone. But it might be a good technique to have in your repertoire when the situation is right. It will definitely stress your skills as an engineer or a producer.

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