Note the date of these posts .. October 2014.
It's now February 2019, but as we are discussing Multitracking I thought this topic on the same subject would make a good read.
Hugh
Hi Gals & Guys.
I know that many of you prefer playing live, and probably some of you frown on multi-tracked music, even though it's an art in itself, and you still have to play all the parts. I suppose the person to blame is Les Paul, who started in the 1930's recording on two tape machines then combined those takes on to a third machine. Synchronising the two was extremely difficult but he managed it, and so multi-tracking was born.
The next big success with this art came with The Beatles when Abbey Road acquired a four track machine. It was in the early 1970's when a young musician by the name of Mike Oldfield had a worldwide smash with Tubular Bells (Mainly because of the film "The Exorcist.") And it was entirely multi-tracked. It was also the first release of a new record company called "Virgin" owned by Richard Branson. (Whatever became of him?)
Soon after a Japanese company, "Tascam" produced a four track cassette recorder, which meant that enthusiasts could start recording at home. Not long after I bought a four track machine made by "Fostex" which was cheaper than "Tascam" but did the same job. Prior to that I recorded into a two track machine that allowed me to record over the first take and so on producing more and more hiss with each take, but to me it was magic.
Before multi-tracking took off as the norm, the whole band or orchestra plus the singer(s) would record live, and mistakes meant starting over.
I came across a recording of me from 1980 using a four track machine. Just me, my guitar and a wine glass performing a song that I had just composed.
Here is the link if you'd like to hear it.
https://app.box.com/s/s91hjmo3zbz4h2rdwye1
I'm also using a Watkins Copicat echo machine (Who remembers those?) Nowadays nearly all mainstream pop is made by multi-tracking using computer technology and technical wizardry. This has only been a short article, and more info I'm sure can be found on the web. I upgraded from four track to eight then to software and still madly enjoy multi-tracking. I have also played live but never really felt comfortable with it. Singing live no problem, but playing and singing I found difficult and couldn't really feel relaxed. So I started making my own backing tracks to sing to. And it felt great. I admire all of you who play live and enjoy listening to your work. I also enjoy this forum, the best in my opinion.
All the best. Gerry.