A live album is generally recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques. Live albums may be recorded at a single concert, or combine recordings made at multiple concerts.

Live albums may reproduce some of the experience of a concert performance by including applause and other noise from the audience, comments by the performers between pieces, improvisation, medleys and so on. They often employ multitrack recording direct from the stage sound system (rather than microphones placed among the audience), and can employ additional manipulation and effects during post-production to enhance the quality of the recording.