Should You Edit Solo Fingerstyle Guitar Recordings? Quick Tips for Fingerstyle Guitarists

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[@rjlchristie]

It was strikingly obvious on first listening which was which.
As to value judgement it is impossible to judge without reference to a score where the composer's intent as to voice leading and part separation and harmonic intent is made clear. Then one can judge as to whether the editing method is successful in achieving it or not. It's not so much about sustain as it is about the clarity of the voice leading intent and definition of harmonic movement.
If in your demonstration the "vertical" editing excerpt is a fair and accurate representation of the writing I would question its compositional technique, as the harmonies and voices were, to my ear, confused.
A simpler, contrapuntal composition, in say three parts, where the fingerings generally used preclude the ideal rendition of voices may have been a better vehicle for making comparison between recording methods.

[@CharlesAlexanderAllred]

Very interesting comments, and although it appears that we will disagree on a fundamental level, I appreciate them. The use of a score for an example like this is irrelevant. If tendencies are unclear due to the playing then that is one thing, but music does not exist on the score, it only exists aurally. There are certainly instances in which using a score is advantageous, but I believe that it is never, ever, a requirement. In fact the ability to break away from the score whenever possible feels to me like a big step towards getting more in touch with what music is. My intent with this video is not to judge a particular process; like I stated in the video I fully support an artist's process to achieve their art. The point made here is simply to be transparent about your process. For me there is no judgement. As far as questioning the composition's technique, feel free to do that all you want. It is irrelevant and has absolutely nothing to do with this video/discussion. Personally I find getting in touch with something to be more beneficial, rather than focusing on what I don't think is there. And there is certainly nothing wrong with this example. Your 3 voice idea would have worked as well, but again, focus on something that is not there rather than focusing on what is there is not something I am interested in, nor can I support it.

[@rjlchristie]

@@CharlesAlexanderAllred Thanks for your view.
I think that the following viewpoint is fundamentally misguided:
" The use of a score for an example like this is irrelevant. If tendencies are unclear due to the playing then that is one thing, but music does not exist on the score, it only exists aurally."
It is easy to confuse the number of voices and their independence within textures. This is one of the fundamental challenges every musician faces when performing multi-voiced works.
We hear (without recourse to scores) the independence of voices within textures by means of a mixture of different mechanisms, two of the most prominent are: 1 the timbre or characteristic tone of each voice or instrument, 2 the "line" of its movement between sequential notes (voice leading) . Other mechanisms are also available to distinguish voices, such as the register each occupies etc.
It is the second that is worth considering in this discussion. Two part and three part textures can be rendered aurally identical on the guitar if any of the parts are played incorrectly. Simply allowing a two notes in a single to ring on past their duration over the subsequent one will do this. So, how is one to know which is is correct when confronted with a choice between two identically sounding renditions, remembering that only one can be correct?
If we do not know the correct duration of a note we do not know whether the musical line is being rendered faithfully.
Mucking about with "vertical" editing (to use your term, multitracking is another) can easily change or interfere with voice independence if not faithful to the original intent as defined in a score.
Following a score and comparing it to the aural result will identify the deceptions or changes to textures.
In your examples the listener has no clue as to how many voices within the texture they are supposed to be hearing.