Steve Albini emphasizes the critical importance of getting the sound right at the source when recording. He advises that the acoustic quality of the instrument or sound source should be satisfying before even considering microphone placement.
The positioning of the microphone is the next priority, as it should capture the sound as you hear it in the room. Albini suggests listening to the instrument from different spots and placing the microphone where it sounds best to your ears.
While microphone choice is also important, it is closely tied to positioning. An inappropriate microphone can still yield poor results even in a good position. Albini notes that the interaction between multiple microphones is crucial, especially with drums, where isolation and the blend of various mics contribute to the overall sound.
Finally, Albini downplays the significance of the mic preamp, stating that as long as it can handle the microphone's impedance and signal level, it is less critical than the source sound, mic placement, and mic choice.