Cyanide_Anima
Weeee!
RE: B's "strange behavior".
I've been in a band with a guy like this in the past. He's probably at least somewhat hung up on having something he can point to as his own personal contribution when he hears the band's recordings, I doubt he'd ever admit it directly but I'd guess that's why he's suddenly rejecting the new parts you guys wrote with him, it wasn't *just* him, it wasn't just his good ideas making the song better. It could be an ego thing, in which case it's really up to his own personality as to whether or not he can get past it. It could also be that while he was involved in the rewriting process he didn't feel that he really had much control over the creative decisions, the possibilities are broad and none of us here can really know anything beyond what we're told. That's a band discussion that needs to happen, ultimately.
With regard to the rest:
The way things are going right now isn't "professional" in the slightest, your band dynamic is bordering on toxic teenage relationship nonsense in band form; you're adults so, if you really want to have a band, communicate like adults.
Obviously this is a band that could function just fine with just the two members A and C, and probably should. However, those two have their own issues with regards to the band's long term goals. They are, to an extent, enabling B's failures by replacing his takes behind his back (a great way to create conflict if he were ever to find out). In doing so they've also chosen the path of least resistance and the least value; quietly replacing B's takes in secret and foregoing any opportunity to provide what could be valuable feedback, in favor of having their tracks how they want them, when they want them. Actions like this make it seem as though neither A nor C really want to take any sort of leadership role in the band and that they're committed to not directly addressing problems as they arise. Instead they favor simply letting things slide, wallpapering over B's shortcomings in the studio and hoping the guy figures it out on his own, or leaves of his own accord to allow them to have their project as they envision it. In this scenario A and C are at least partial contributors to failure and conflict, but they're unable or unwilling to recognize their own culpability, asserting instead that everything would be fine if it weren't for B's "strange behavior".
If A and C want the dynamic that can create a "fruitful and professional level project without tons of headaches" they need to take a more active approach to band communication, or give up and just stick to being a 2 man studio-only project because the current state of things is band poison and it would only become more difficult to manage with more members.
As far as replacing parts without knowledge go that doesn't actually happen. They are edited into time, tuned into key, and notes moved around. This person is told that they are out of time, out of key, etc., (in a graceful and nice manner) but they tend to simply reject that appraisal and insist they are in time and that A and C are wrong. If B simply refuses to redo their parts A and C will imply fix or remove them so things don't stick out in an unpleasant way. B acknowledges the editing and doesn't protest the edits and approves the final product.
The edits themselves aren't really that much of a problem. Every vocalist gets edited. But having to edit nearly every syllable for time and pitch for a great number of tracks is extremely laborious. I've recently done a song with another vocalist in a completely different genre apart from this band. They were amazing takes and required zero editing for that modern, polished and layered pop vocal sound. It was more of a straight forward mixing and production situation and not a salvage operation. When asked to do a simple addition texture set of takes for effect on a section they did it without giving 7 reasons why they aren't going to record more vocals for this song.
The main issue other than trash talking all of our peers, is that person B is lazy with their efforts, seems to not be connected to reality, and relies on A and C to correct all the mistakes or even leave out parts that are objectively souring to the music. There are basically zero other possible options for replacement for this person as well. It's a very niche sub-genre, in an area not known for this sub-genre, and we all live in areas far enough from the notable music scene in the state for this to be an issue.
A and C work together well. Can constructively critique each other's work and can build upon each others work effectively and without childish reactions or insults. This just doesn't seem to be the case with B.
*Does anyone know of an effective way to motivate people to put more effort into a project? A way that is non-threatening and caters to egotistical vocalists?* Because there is good music in this person, they just don't put in the work to get it out.