[doylemusic]

If you are speaking of barbershop quartet style, I'd say if the group is good and well rehearsed go with one mic. That's how they used to do it back in the day and many of those recordings sound good. I've been in a minimalist mode lately, sometimes I think we throw up too many mics....just becasue we can! So I'd say try to get one mic to work maybe two at most. If the group is not so "talented" I'd track them all on their own mic, or track seperately.

If you are talking about a band scenario with instruments, etc... I'd track them on their own mic. I have tracked multiple background vocals on one mic with good success, it's all about positioning. Good luck.