...a few of the frequently asked questions.

If you don't see it answered here, simply click on the Contact link and drop us a line!

How much does it cost to record?

A very good question, indeed.

Nirvana's Bleach album cost around $600 and was recorded and mixed in a day.
(It was originally done as a demo, but came out really well...) Other albums in history have cost millions!
However, the reality of recording with us is more affordable than that.

We often see a "demo" session come through in a day for recording and a day for overdubs and mixing - three to five songs can be typical.
Albums have been known to take anywhere from three days for a quick-and-dirty style, to over a month, for a greatly refined and defined sound.

A lot of what determines this are the goals of the artist, how well rehearsed they are, how complicated the material is, etc, etc.

It's reasonable to expect a punk album to be recorded in a weekend, but it can take longer too.
It's not really realistic to record a highly detailed, orchestrated record in the same amount of time, but it's not impossible.

Some folks go by the adage "estimate how much time you think you'll need, and double it."
Don't forget mixdown! To mix, a full length album can run anywhere from less than a day for raw,
nasty garage rock, to one or two songs a day for more complicated material.

It's best to contact us when trying to figure out your budget; to discuss your needs and goals specifically.

Can you record live bands?

Certainly.
We have several rooms in which to set up even a large-scale band to capture performances live.
We can get a very high degree of isolation in most circumstances.

In some cases it's good to consider tracking the basics live, and save some elements, like lead vocals and solos,
for the overdubbing stage so they may be concentrated on separately.
This gives the advantage of looking at the foundation of the song first, making sure the performance is solid,
and then giving full attention to the "lead" elements of the arrangement.

What's the difference between a 'demo' and a 'record'?

A 'demo' is what the abbreviation implies: something for demonstrating the artist's intentions or abilities.
A 'record' is a finished work, ready for distribution and public consumption.

Many people contact us saying they want to make a 'demo'.
After talking for a while, we come to the conclusion that what they really are after is not a 'demo' but a finished, but short,
recording. Three or four songs, typically.
This is also known as an "E.P." ('extended play' - as opposed to a full-length recording, or "L.P." - 'long play' - both terms from the 33 1/3 RPM heyday.)
These artists want something they can use not only to help get new gigs, but to sell at those gigs, in local record stores,
and online. Something that they want to be fully proud of as realised, finished, recordings.

We encourage artists to decide concretely what the goals of the recording are before settling on a budget.
If a 'demo' is really what they're after, that's fine. We can provide inexpensive options to document the artist's sound and help them get gigs.
But if it's a 'record' they really want, they should consider the time and effort that usually entails, and plan and budget accordingly.
After all, it's something that will have their name on it forever - they should be proud of it!