Band Set-Up Advice (recording/mixing/show balance)

[Big Cadillac]

I do some recording as a hobby, e.g. band practice. I would like to know how the balance should be set-up? I've heard that the band should be balanced to the kick drum. That is all instruments (guitar, bass) should be at about the same dB as the kick drum in general. Is this the proper set-up? Should the rest of the drums (snare, toms) be mic'd at the same sound level as the kick? Is there a prescribed sound level the drums, vocals, guitar and bass should be at relative to each other? Can anyone with professional experience give me some advice? Is this how the band should be set-up for a show?

 

[chrisp2u]

There are a lot of factors that determine how things sit in the mix... tone, tuning, eq, instrumentation, etc... therefore, every mixing situation is different. I don't think setting everything at the same level could give you a well-balanced mix, though it may be a good place to start.

I just trust my ears, tweak where necessary, and make sure nothing is clipping.
---
c.