I'm doing all of the recording, mixing, editing, and guitar playing. basically everything except playing the other instruments for our band's recordings and some of the band mates are very adamant about not recording to a metronome. Their argument is that it will sound more natural. We record the drummer first, and with the current method, he's playing along with both guitarists live with the guitars coming through his headphones only. I've done several songs like this with them and they turned out pretty good. I want them to be better though. We've already had to re-do a song because of bad tempo changes.
So now, how do I convince them that anyone in their right mind records to a metronome? Does anyone even record without a metronome at all these days? It just seems like this is not a discussion that we even need to have. As a producer, engineer, or whatever you want to call my role here, how do you guide the artist to make the right decisions for a good final product? (In this case I am the artist also) If you're working at a studio and an artist comes in and wants to record without tuning his guitar, or something else ridiculous, where is the line that you draw and say "don't be a dumbass"? (in nicer words)
So now, how do I convince them that anyone in their right mind records to a metronome? Does anyone even record without a metronome at all these days? It just seems like this is not a discussion that we even need to have. As a producer, engineer, or whatever you want to call my role here, how do you guide the artist to make the right decisions for a good final product? (In this case I am the artist also) If you're working at a studio and an artist comes in and wants to record without tuning his guitar, or something else ridiculous, where is the line that you draw and say "don't be a dumbass"? (in nicer words)