Imperfect Realism or Fabricated Perfection - which would you rather hear?

I've started studio sessions for my upcoming album of solo bass pieces and I'm debating with myself....should I choose whole takes that have a good general feel and flow but with a few technical flaws (fret buzz, mildly imperfect picking) or take the best parts from multiple takes and put them together digitally??

What do you think??

Ultimately its up to you. If your going for the real sound (an honest sound) or your going for a clean technical masterpiece. I prefer the former. Who's your audience, musicians or not?

My recording experience ... I've done both. I try to start with the best playing and performance I can ... then there's less "fixing". Some of the imperfections in the playing and sound give it honest character. Things I can't live with, I try to "punch in", but if it still doesn't work, ill "fix" it.

Totally agreed, MadMike. I also prefer to get through the track as much as possible since it makes the music breathe and flow a little more. Now, this is not to say that I won't or haven't gone through punchfests before, but I try to make them the exception rather than the rule.

Sly, I can recall many examples of pieces that were made so technically perfect that they began to sound as if a machine did them. Sure, they are startling at times in their complexity and perfection, but they also seem to lose some of the human element. Then there are other recordings where the artist clearly squonked a note here and there, or added some finger noise, but these end up sounding more real to me. Just my two-cents.

Thanks for the feedback.

Since one of the main themes of the album is honesty and self-acceptance I'm leaning towards going with a single take. What I realized once again, in the studio this week is the level of focus it takes me to be in the music 100% for the few minutes of performance without letting my mind wander. I'm going to practice that instead of the notes, fingerings, phrasing and dynamics...

Like on south park ....
"You need disiprine!"

Acceptance and honesty? You become a member sly?

madmike wrote:

Like on south park ....
"You need disiprine!"

Acceptance and honesty? You become a member sly?

I don't know what membership you speak of but no... no new memberships as of late...

And yeah , disiprine disiprine disiprine!