Studio Rates — What will this cost?

There is no simple answer to what your recording project will cost.  Every project is different.  My usual approach to budgeting a recording project is to meet with the client to discuss the details and the likely time requirements for the work that we will do.

Information to be taken into account includes:

• how many tunes?
• how many musicians and vocalists?
• will we record everyone live off the floor at the same time or will we want to record various parts separately with overdubs?
• what is the purpose of the recording?  (A simple demo recording to post on the web to promote the band, or a CD for commercial release, or something else?)
• deadlines, if any, to finish the project?

If the project is well defined and we can estimate the recording and mixing time that is likely to be required, we would probably want to agree to a lump sum cost.

If the project is open-ended and not well defined then an hourly rate is a better choice.

You pay for the time you spend in the studio with me…….for recording, editing and mixing.  For planning purposes you should be thinking anywhere from $40 to $60 per hour, depending on the complexity of the project and the total expected number of hours for the project.

Note:  You do not pay for the time I spend setting up and preparing for your sessions and for tearing down and clean-up afterwards.  Also you don’t pay for the time I spend preparing rough mixes before you come back to the studio to finish the mixes with me.  If I know beforehand what work we are planning to do, you can expect to arrive for a recording session at the studio and everything will be set up and ready to go……..so that your time is spent productively and efficiently in performing and recording.

My goal is to give you great value for the money you spend here.  Its far more important to me to have clients who are delighted with the results we get by working together, than it is to make a few extra dollars.  I offer a money back guarantee:  if you’re not happy with the recording, then you don’t pay.  It’s not about the money.  It’s all about the music.