How many takes do you usually do for a recording?

[jonnyjohn]

I'm just curious because I'm one of those who can't record a piece without making silly mistakes.

How long does it usually take for you guys to record something ?

[Bob]

Best of three.  After that I'll lose whatever I'm looking for and it starts getting tedious. 

Just plan it out ahead of time.  Or even do it in one and practice for that. 

[spencervirt]

It takes me forever, because I stop recording if I make a mistake. Then, it starts getting in my head! 

Generally, the first one is the best.

[fleetfingers]

I've started recording myself regularly. It helps me to analyze my playing and improve upon it, but it's also been great for my nerves. Since it's now an everyday thing, I don't have that "OK, this is it" feeling. I would suggest that you keep recording when you make a mistake and record every day. Do it for yourself to listen to and not for anyone else. Hopefully, that helps!

[jonnyjohn]

Ah I see....good to know someone out there is like me lol

Yeah. ..it's strange..after three times then the concentration level drops =(

[wnlqxod]

For easier pieces, less than 5, sometimes the very first take. The harder the piece, the more likely it will force me to take more takes due to nerves, easily going up to 10~20 takes or more.

[sephethus]

I think my first good recording came after several days and a good 900 takes

Actually, the takes became more like a way to practice. 

I tried recording myself practicing and then listening, I don't think that's as productive as recording my attempt at a "take" and then listening to that, mainly because there's a lot of stops and starts and backtracking to listen through.

This is just me though, I'm sure there's a better way.

[pianoman53]

For me, it really depends on what I'm going to use the recording for. If I'm going to just listen, as a part of the practicing, it takes 1 or 2.
If I will post in on a forum, I never go above 3 (for me, if it takes more than 3 takes on one time, it wont be any better the 4th)
If it is for an actual audition, I spread it out over a long time, and at least a week, with like 3 takes every day.

[pianowolfi]

For a professional studio recording 5-7. Or more. But I always think that I haven't practiced enough if it takes more than 1 or 2. But okay I'm just a beginner when it comes to professional recordings.

[richard black]

Professional recordings vary plenty too. I've been in sessions where pieces were recorded practically bar by bar, and also some where two or three complete takes was the most that was needed. In fact I distinctly recall sessions where even a second take was only taken for technical safety (in case there was some external noise, or fault on the tape, or similar uncontrollable circumstance which for some unimaginable reason we hadn't spotted at the time).

[krystellle]

Martha Argerich always plays the piece from beginning to end 3 times.  (Actually, she  does the same thing when she's preparing for a concert.  3 times.  or 6  or 9.  Always mulitples of 3.)  On today's recording techniques, they fix up anything.  If you make a mistake on something, you probably won't  make the mistake second time.  so you got three takes to pull out the final product.

[sephethus]

I have recordings of Gould making mistakes, stopping and starting over during recordings and doing several takes. "Missed one note" he'd say.