When two mics pick up the same signal at similar levels and feed it to the same channel, phase cancellation can occur. This causes the signal to sound hollow, or just not-quite-right. This can be avoided in several ways, but one of the easiest is to follow the 3:1 rule. The distance from one mic to the next should be three times the distance of each mic to the signal source. More is better, but a 3:1 ratio is just about the bare minimum to avoid the phase cancellation effect.
You can read more here: Pro Sound Web post on mic techniques
Good Writing Is Rewriting
Even the greatest recordings of the best musicians can benefit from editing. Removing all of the imperfections from a song may ruin the vibe, but some of the more distracting noise can be cut out. By editing your tracks, you will have a much better medium to work with when it comes time to start mixing.
You can read more here: http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/in_the_studio_editing_the_unsung_hero/P2/
Overdubbing With Goals In Mind
Overdubbing can add subtle nuance to a track, or it can turn a single vocalist into a thick, rich harmony. When setting out to record tracks for overdubbing, try to have some specific goals in mind for the session. This goal-oriented approach helps everyone working on the track stay focused and motivated. It can also help to improve the overall quality of your recordings.
You can read more tips about overdubbing sessions here: http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/in_the_studio_the_overdub_checklist/
Lifelike Digital Recordings
Some complaints of digital recordings include that it sounds flat and clinical sounding. Technology has put so much power into the hands of audio engineers and musicians alike that they may be inclined to edit too heavily. A completely perfect song, in terms of tone and timing, may not sound human anymore. Go easy on the editing and plugins. You can always add more later, but figuring out which straw broke the camel’s back can be an unnecessary, and time consuming, task.
You can read more here: http://therecordingrevolution.com/2013/02/11/getting-organic-recordings-in-the-digital-realm/
You Need More Than Gear
Gear and skill will get you a long way, but some less prominent pieces of equipment can slip through the cracks and end up forgotten. Even something as simple as a pen and paper can help you to get your thoughts down while they’re fresh in your mind. Even the greatest memory will not remember every single bright idea that comes through each day. Write them down as they come, and sort through your notes to see what ideas should be implemented.
Graham Cochrane put together a list of non-gear essentials for recording.
You can read the full article here: http://therecordingrevolution.com/2013/02/08/3-non-gear-essentials-in-my-studio/