Different Companies have different ways of reaching the same endpoint – the final
product is the thing that’s really important. It’s up to you to decide which you prefer.
It depends on which Company you use. Broadly speaking, the team will be
separated into two halves – one half engineers the recording (so put the microphones
in the right place and operates the equipment) and the other half ‘Produces’. Amongst
other things, the Producer(s) will run the sessions (in collaboration with the MD) by
deciding the order of recording, which sections of music you need to record multiple
times etc and then generate the edit plots for the editor to compile from all the
material that’s recorded. Some Companies combine the role of engineer and Producer.
It could be anything from playing the same part of the music at differing dynamics
or tempi, or a percussionist deciding to change from a cowbell to a woodblock when
something is repeated (or even hit a ride cymbal in a different place). If an edit is
required between these takes, it can’t be made as the music is different. Dynamics (to
an extent) and tempi (to an extent) can be manipulated – but the latter can’t.
Any form of electromagnetic interference may affect a piece of equipment – such
as when the mobile network searches for connected devices – so it’s safer to turn
them off.
If you can hear it, so can the microphones. It may be possible to filter some of it
out, but not always. The same applies to aeroplanes, birdsong, football match cheering
and so on. It’s something to be aware of when selecting your venue.