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That's why I've written this page. You'll probably find most of your answers below. If not feel free to call.
How much would it cost me to record a song?
That depends completely on the song and how complex it is. Some songs have only one instrument, say guitar, and vocal. That would be somewhat quicker than say a full band with many instrument and vocal overdubs. A good starting point would be 5-10 hours to produce a song from inception to completion. Good preproduction will provide a pretty accurate idea. The starting hourly rate is $30.00/hour. Packages may also be negotiated.
What is preproduction?
Preproduction is simply planning your line of attack for a recording project. Figuring out what instruments will play where and what overdubs will be done ahead of time will greatly reduce wasted time talking about it when you're paying for studio time.
How can I estimate the time needed to complete a song or project?
Probably the best way is to call and talk a bit about it. I can provide a reasonable idea once I know what you'd like to end up with.
What kind of music do you record?
I am set up to record nearly anything recordable. I built the studio to comfortably accomodate a 5 or 6 piece band, but I record single artists with guitars or pianos, whole bands, soft rock, classical, hard rock, folk, small choirs and ensembles, jingles ... you name it.
Can you record other things, like poetry reading or audio skits?
Yes, poetry reading and "books on tape" kinds of things are no problem.
What's involved in the recording process?
After preproduction, a date is set for a session. Everybody shows up, mics are placed, drums are tuned and tested. Usually basic rhythm tracks are then done first, like guitar, bass, and drums, along with a "scratch" or guide vocal. After these steps have been completed to everyone's satisfaction, overdubs like vocals, lead solos, percussion, etc., are added. Once all the tracking is done then mixing is next, followed by bouncing to stereo (so you can put it on a cd and listen at home or in the car - this is an important step) The last step is mastering.
What is tracking?
Tracking is just recording the music initially. Each instrument is put onto one or more "tracks" or inividual files where they can later be mixed together, edited, and bounced to a stereo mix.
What is editing?
After the tracks are recorded it's often necessary to fix mistakes and make changes to improve what's been recorded or make it sound the way it was initially envisioned. Sometimes multiple takes can be "comped" into one good take. This is the editing process.
What is mixing?
Once the tracking, overdubs, and editing is completed, it's time to mix all the tracks together to sound like a coherent song. Each track is listened to alone and together and adjusted with equalization, and effects like reverb and echo, until it sounds right for mastering.
What is mastering?
Mastering is the least understood, but perhaps the most important step in the recording process. It does a couple of things. Simply, it's an adjustment of the overall sound of your recording. It is what can make a well mixed song sound great by bringing out subtleties and shaping the sound. It also adjusts levels from song to song and readies the project for reproduction.
Can you master my recording?
Mastering is best left to professionals with very high end equipment, who specialize in mastering. A rough master may be acceptable in some instances, like for a demo, and can be done by nearly any studio, but if you've ever heard the difference, it's likely that you'd think it was worth it to pay a reputable mastering house for this process.
Can you provide guidance with my songwriting and recording?
Absolutely! Help is there if you need it. Some people like to call all the shots, and that's fine. Others prefer to have a producer on hand for guidance both musically and technically.
What is a music producer and what does he or she do?
A music producer can be many things and take on many roles. Basically, he or she will guide the production of a song or recording project to whatever degree is necessary to get the best results. That may include everything from just being a motivator or sounding board for ideas to a director of every aspect of the process, both artistically and technically - from pre to post production.
Can I bring in my own producer?
Absolutely! It won't, however, change the studio rate unless an additional arrangement has been worked out.
Can I bring in my own engineer?
Yes, but he or she would need to be familiarized with the system we have and it would have to be discussed before we could proceed. My guess is that most times it would be more cost effective to just have us engineer.
What is post-production?
Once a song has been recorded and all the overdubs are finished it has to be edited and mixed, tracks must be bounced to a stereo mix, and then it (typically*) is mastered. Only then is the song completed. *sometimes with demos the mastering step can be skipped.
Do you have musicians available to play on my songs if necessary?
Absolutely! I have access to many excellent musicians of all types and from many musical backgrounds.
Do you accept credit cards?
We do not accept credit cards.
Do you extend credit?
Not typically. But I will consider each case on an individual basis.
What happens to my raw music files after I'm done with my project?
I recommend that at the start of the project, the client (that's you) purchase a portable hard drive of appropriate size to store your session on. At the end of the project you can take it with you. We will advise during preproduction what size makes the most sense. Note that this is not an absolute requirement - just highly recommended.
Does your sound translate well to other sound systems?
We work hard to create good translation to other systems. We encourage you to take premixes home and to different places to listen and get a feel for changes that need to be made throughout the recording process. We do the same.
Can you get "that sound" like I hear on all my favorite recordings?
We get a very good sound for what the studio is, but remember that most or all of your favorite recordings were made in large studios, on analog tape, using million dollar mixing consoles. Our results are consistent with some of the best project studios anywhere. Also, most of what you hear in your favorite recordings is largely due to the performance ... that part is up to you.
Do I need to bring all my own equipment?
Only if you prefer. We have lots of equipment. Take a look at our equipment list.