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Positives and Negatives

Each style of recording has its ups and downs. It really all depends on what you are looking for. I hoped to get an honest comparison so that they are crystal clear and easy to hear. This comparison should be very helpful for young bands that are looking to perfect their sound, and have a good idea of what they want when they are preparing to record.

 Comparison

  • The major factor of digital recording is its speed and convenience 

    • You can change the guitar sound as many times as you want throughout the entire recording process, while when you record via amplifier, it is unchangeable without rerecording the part​

    • That can be helpful for a younger band that is still trying to figure out their sound

  • Digital recorded sound will not sound as authentic or "natural" as an analog recording

    • General amplifier noise and sound will not be present without a large amount of emulation​

  • Analog recording is not necessarily a bad thing

    • If a band feels that they perfected their amplifier ​sound, then in the hands of an experienced recording engineer, that analog sound can be preferred

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  • Analog, or live, drum recording gives the feeling of a live recording

    • There is microphone bleed, that gives the realness of the kit​

    • Timing is going to be an issue, without editing or a continuing the recording process to get the timing just right

    • Samples are going to give you a much more even, and well timed sound comparably ​​

    • Although, all of the samples are going to sound exactly the sam, essentially giving the drums a very fake feel

      • I like sampling the drummer's kit to help it sound like a real kit, and not a sampled or synthesized instrument

    • Sampling is going to give rhythm and tightness that is exact due to quantization

      • Tightness and rhythmic accuracy is key when playing metal music​

Results

Overall, when making decisions in/for the recording process, it really depends on what you want out of your recording. Although there is no replacement for a real analog sound, you are going to lose some of the tightness you want in metal music, especially in the drums. It is standard to use a sampled drum kit in metal music to preserve the tightness, but with that, you are going to lose the authenticity of a real, recorded drum kit. 

Guitars will be much easier to control throughout the entire process if you decide to go the digital route, but again you are going to lose the authenticity of natural amp sound. Most engineers would rather use digital with metal music (including myself), but if you are confident in your amplifier tone, and your ability to play in time extremely well, maybe analog is the way you want to go as well.

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