When I did my first recordings in the 1960's we used piggy-backed 2-track machines to create multiple tracks. When 4-track machines hit the studios we were thrilled. 8-track machines with one-inch tape were the next miracle and 16 tracks on two-inch tape put us in heaven.
Les Paul was the genius behind multi-track recording. He was layering tracks by bouncing from one machine to another clear back in the early 1950's. And I remember as a kid marveling at the fact that Patty Duke could sing harmony with herself in some Disney movie.
My process for recording (for my own stuff) is to lay down a scratch reference track with guitar and vocal. Sometimes I use a click track to keep me on tempo thru-out. Usually we record that click track as a reference for drums and bass, but eventually we dump it.
I keep the scratch guitar/vocal track until I don't need it any more, layering instruments first. Vocals are the last thing to go down, unless I decide to add a shaker or a tamborine or something after I hear a rough mix.
I really enjoy the process of recording. When I write a song I often get the whole production in my head and pretty much know how I want the final product to sound before I even open my guitar case in the studio. From that point it's like a production line: scratch track, rhythm guitar, bass, drums or percussion (I don't play drums, altho sometimes I use a sequenced drum track that I create at home), whatever other instruments I want to add to the mix (Nashville high-strung guitar or tenor guitar, lead guitar, slide, harmonica, etc.) and then vocals. I do my lead vocal first and then add harmonies, either by myself or hire in some singers.
Mixing is usually the tricky part. Once you have all that stuff in the can it can be like juggling to place everything properly in the mix. I don't know how to compress stuff and set EQ's, so I let a trusted engineer (or producer when I can afford one) handle the technical stuff. I just know when it sounds right. And when it sounds right I usually wet my pants. (Naw - just kidding!)
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