| In this article we're going to indulge in a debate on | | | | hear on record. But with a big ensemble rock group |
| concert performances versus studio recordings.It | | | | that uses twenty keyboards in the studio, the |
| should be pointed out that there are no personal | | | | chances become quite slim.However, if you are |
| views in this article. The following is a composition of | | | | someone who is going to a concert to hear and see |
| arguments made by critics and fans of music since | | | | the energy that a group puts into something live, or |
| the early days of both live and studio recordings.Let's | | | | even hope to hear something a little different from |
| first cut to the question we ultimately want to get | | | | what you get on record, then most likely you live for |
| answered in this article. Which is better, seeing a | | | | live performances. Recordings to you are simply a |
| group live or listening to one of their studio | | | | matter of getting some idea of how good that group |
| albums?Well, to answer that it first needs to be | | | | will sound at a live venue.But disappointments happen. |
| pointed out that the question of better in itself may | | | | Many critics claimed how a band by the name of |
| not even be the definitive answer. A live | | | | "Boston" from back in the late 70s sounded |
| performance may be better than a studio album, | | | | absolutely terrible in concert because the lead singer |
| worse than one or simply a different experience | | | | could not hit the same high notes that he hit in the |
| depending on what you are trying to get out of it.If | | | | studio and it was obvious that the musicianship was |
| you're a purest who wants to hear your favorite | | | | just not there. This is a group that most likely |
| group's songs done exactly as they were done on | | | | needed the studio to sound as good as they did.And |
| record then more likely than not you will probably be | | | | then there is the concert enthusiast who isn't so |
| disappointed. Why? Well, there are several things that | | | | much looking to hear the record duplicated or to hear |
| factor into that equation.For starters, a studio | | | | energy or something different. They're just going to |
| recording is done in an environment that is totally | | | | the concert to hear a band they just happen to like. |
| different from a concert hall. The acoustics are | | | | Their experience at the concert will most likely be a |
| manufactured as opposed to natural. Also, in a studio, | | | | simple matter of "did it sound good"? Since sounding |
| you have millions of dollars in equipment that you just | | | | good is a relative term, we won't try to answer how |
| can't lug to a live performance, no matter how hard | | | | to qualify what "good" is. That is an individual's taste. |
| you try.Then there is the recording process itself. | | | | In most cases however, just to generalize, if the |
| Anyone who thinks that a group records each song | | | | concert sound is of "professional" quality and the |
| they do in one take has an unrealistic view of studio | | | | songs are recognizable as the "hits" from the record |
| recordings. Songs take multiple takes. Also, many | | | | then most people will walk away from the |
| parts are overdubbed and even triple dubbed. In a | | | | experience saying that it was a "good" one. But |
| live performance there is no dubbing. Everything is | | | | again, that depends on what you're hoping to get out |
| done there on the spot. No chance to take back a | | | | of the experience itself.Hopefully though, the above |
| wrong note. If the lead singer has a sore throat you | | | | will serve as a guide of what to look for based on |
| can't skip over his parts and do them another day, as | | | | what type of person you are and what you are |
| can be done in a studio. It is do or die at a live | | | | personally expecting. That way you can get a decent |
| performance. Therefore, a live performance is going | | | | idea of what a concert experience will be like for you. |
| to be different from a studio recording.Naturally, if | | | | If you need your music note for note to the record |
| you are going to see somebody who just plays | | | | then most likely you will be disappointed by most |
| guitar in the studio and is going to be playing that | | | | concerts.Notice we didn't actually answer our |
| same guitar live, there is a better chance that what | | | | question of which is better. As was stated, concerts |
| you will hear will more closely resemble what you'll | | | | may simply be different. |