If a part goes down perfectly on the live pass then you're unlikely to want (or need) to record over it. However, there's 2 reasons why doing so is worthwhile. Firstly, it can be surprising how much difference it makes overdubbing a new part (the original can still be kept) - the actual playing may not seem to be any different but being able to concentrate exclusively on that one thing usually adds another few percent of 'tightness'... not something you can really define but noticeable all the same.

Sometimes the opposite is true. For instance, if there's a part of the music with 'stabs' (the instruments phrasing together with pauses inbetween accents) it can be difficult to overdub something which happens completely naturally whilst playing together. The Musicians' Sixth Sense! Most importantly, squeaky-clean tightness isn't the only thing to consider. There's something very special about getting a live performance on tape with a level of interaction that couldn't be recreated. A one-off.

Don't think though that avoiding overdubs saves time. This isn't necessarily true. For example (and this is the most common example) at the same time that guitar parts are being added, the sound source (amp/digital) can be fine-tuned (it can be fine-tuned in the first place but this isn't ideal when the rest of the band are all headphoned up and raring to go) + the mix will be coming together and so by the time the vocals are done it can be ready to 'print'. Also, if the bass player (not picking on the bass, just an example) knows he made a couple of mistakes but isn't exactly sure where, it can take a lot longer to listen through, preview drop-in and drop-out spots, physically do the drop-ins and check them back.... than to simply.... do another pass (and if there's a mistake, stop, go back a few seconds, drop-in and bob's your uncle - drop-ins are often simple whereas coming out of record [drop-out] to preserve what is already there can require more care, previewing and TIME). Remember, we're talking about working quickly (swiftly/smoothly/efficiently - NOT rushing). This scenario is also presuming that analogue tape is being used regarding the drop-in thing. Although digital recording can provide the option of limitless takes and safety from losing previous takes it can also slow down the creative process in many ways (although it can hugely speed things up in many other ways) + we are talking about LST (Limited Studio Time). The Digital scenario can involve sifting through loads of (for instance) guitar solos, trying to convince lead guitarist that the first one was the best but ending up editing 7 different bits together (not picking on the guitarist - it's good to be creative and choosy). It ends up sounding great but the singer's not happy (again.... not picking on the singer either but quite often everyone else seems to) because now he's only got 12 minutes to sing (and edit?) a vocal that he's got to be happy with before the time budgeted for runs out and mixing time starts getting used up.

[the digital scenario can equally apply to analogue recordings if all the spare tracks end up filled with 'just one more take' of a solo]

Another part of the equation is being able to get the guitar amp/s set-up in the live room and using distant/ambient microphones to capture the sound of the room as well as close mic'ing the speaker. Then you get a lovely, natural sound of a band playing in a great sounding room. Of course, you could all play in the live room in the first place, often with negligible 'spillage' and sometimes with quite a bit of it (intentionally). This is what would be the norm for jazz, folk & classical performers. So why not for pop/rock? No reason why not. But it doesn't make it quicker to get a good end result. It's just a different way of doing it.

There's been at least one occasion in fairly recent memory when a great sounding live take ended up unusable. Guitar parts were replaced because the players thought they could do them better (nothing wrong with that) but by the time 2 acoustic parts were also added... the whole feel had got kind of.... out of time.... a bit.... not quite right. The drummer had played very laid back and 'under the beat' - allowing the vocal and guitar parts to drive the tune forward (a bit Fleetwood Mac-ish). The overdubbed parts sat right on top of the drums and made it sound like the drummer kept slowing down (he did, but in this case it was feel and groove rather than hopeless and stoned). One of the original guitar parts had gone slightly out of tune part way through and the other did actually have quite a few finger slips so although they weren't terrible they weren't really 100% and by this time the band decided that the only sensible thing to do was to go to the pub and argue about it for a bit until remembering that the ex-bass player wrote some of the lyrics and threatened to sue (punch) if they recorded the song without crediting him (and they weren't about to do that) so perhaps it was best left off the album after all.

SOUNDS

Are overdubbed sounds going to be better? Not necessarily. In fact we're working towards that not being the case with another 'downstairs' recording area (with a wooden floor) + the digital guitar sounds that are available so that when we're still in the Land of LST the live take can sound as punchy and modern as you want, however limited the time or attention span of the keyboard player..... (thought it was time to point a finger in that direction).

There's no right or wrong way of doing things. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not (if was easy all the time, everybody would be doing it).

What you get at Courtyard Recording Studios is the option to do the things the right way for you. Not the way the studio / engineer likes to do it. There will always be advice available regarding what could be the best way for you to do things (based on the experience of the engineer) but he won't know as well as you how your band works together. The strengths & weaknesses which make you what you are. Live or overdubbed, simple or complicated, quickly or carefully planned and executed - time + money will govern things to some extent but otherwise you're in charge.

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