call me old fashioned, but I don't like playing a song more than 2 or 3 times in the studio... usually the 2nd take is best, then I do another 'for fun'... same goes for vocals.... I got at least 5 songs on the last CD where the vocal was done one take as a 'scratch' or reference track.. and they turned out to be the keepers.. but you gotta do your homework first so the comfort factor is high... I recorded a new song 'Scarbo' a couple of weeks ago for the project with JT..had 4 songs to do,in Montreal, guitar then voice... so it was the one which was the most daunting due to the fact I had only played it a few times prior, so the arrangement was developing on the fly... fast and a mouthful of words... one take for the sound balance, then the 2nd take I nailed it...5 minutes overall... I surprised myself... the vocal is close but I'll re-do it next time to tighten the phrasing... meanwhile those tracks are sitting in the studio in KY. waiting for Jayto to add his magic.... I'm involved with 5 different studios at this time for different projects... plus my humble home set-up for sketches etc... I gotta tell you... I'm very partial to the Telefunken U-47 or 251-E for my voice... an old Neumann U-47 is fine as well... Royers SF-21 ribbon mics on the guit... I'm glad I have friends who can afford them... but without a song and performance they're 19 grand total sitting idle.... my least favorite part is mixing but it's so important... and time consuming... just a few thoughts.... good luck to all... happy summer... R.