Recording Studios

[daffsongwriter]

Hi - I live in the UK and was searching for recording studios the other day as I have always wanted to have that experience and a professional result.I have been advised by very wise people to be careful as some can rip you off. This of course I totally agree with and will adhere to that advice.I found a studio local to me called 'Born In A Barn' who does sound very genuine as I have approached them already. I am going for a meeting with the owner next Wednesday, no fee needed, purely just a meeting. Being new to this I just want to make sure I know what to look out for. I have a few songs of my own that I can use and I dont mind paying to have this done if its going to be really good and professional. The fee for a day is £150, 1st time they do a 2 day for the price of 1 which I thought sounded really good. Again, I am not an expert on how much these things should cost and obviously it will be a thing I do sparingly as it could become expensive, I am recording, mixing etc myself and enjoying the challenge, tho I know I am not that experience at it and these people have been specialising in it for years. The owner I am meeting with advised me that they particularly like vocalists and want to help them so I thought maybe it would be a good place to check out.I am assuming once the recording etc process has been done that song is then yours and you are free to upload it on your own website, taxi etc, or would there be any issues on that. It would be my own song that I am singing. This is a question I will be asking Roger at the meeting.This is something I should have done a long time ago, still, better late than never eh.Thanks.Daff x

[mazz]

I would recommend asking to hear some things that have been recorded there and also a list of previous clients so you can contact them to see how they did or didn't like what the ended up with.The songs you record in a studio for hire are still yours. Some engineers will make suggestions frrom time to time but this is usually not construed as co-writing (unless a previous agreement has been entered in to).If you decide to hire this studio, I would suggest starting with one song to see how you work together. Also, have a clear picture of what you want to accomplish when going in. Having some CDs of music as a'las to play for the engineer is always helpful. A frame of reference and a target to shoot for really helps focus a session.Good luck!Mazz

[daffsongwriter]

Thank you Mazz, I got the link for their website:http://www.borninabarnstudio.co.uk/prices.htmI did chuckle at the name of the studio at first.I have a CD of one of my songs that I have been working with so that I can do and also I will check out people that have worked with them, good point, thank you.Daff x

[ernstinen]

Quote:I would recommend asking to hear some things that have been recorded there and also a list of previous clients so you can contact them to see how they did or didn't like what the ended up with.The songs you record in a studio for hire are still yours. Some engineers will make suggestions frrom time to time but this is usually not construed as co-writing (unless a previous agreement has been entered in to).If you decide to hire this studio, I would suggest starting with one song to see how you work together. Also, have a clear picture of what you want to accomplish when going in. Having some CDs of music as a'las to play for the engineer is always helpful. A frame of reference and a target to shoot for really helps focus a session.Mazz gives good advice (as usual! ). I would add that when you listen to their studio demo, ask to hear songs that are in the STYLE of music you are doing. When I ran a studio, I could capture most styles accurately, but when it came to AUTHENTIC (old style) country music (or rap ), I would suggest to the client they look elsewhere. The owner should be honest about what they can and cannot do.BTW, looking at their studio equipment list, $300/day is a very reasonable price! But if the engineer sucks, all that gear doesn't mean much. Listen and decide for yourself!Good Luck,Ern

[daffsongwriter]

Very good points, thank you. I will make sure on Wednesday when I meet him that I raise all these points. Being new to it I am a little unsure of what to expect but I will make sure I tell them what I want out of it and listen to their demos etc.Thanks.xx

[daffsongwriter]

And also, my hubby Mark mentioned a good point too - asking them if there are any 'hidden' costs, i.e. end result charge. I shall be turning up with an agenda lol. Still it is good to be 100% before endeavouring into the world of the unknown now isnt it.Who I am having the interview with did tell me that the microphone I was using for my recording at home is good for live performances but not so hot with recording. Since taking that on board I did a test 1) with the Shure P58, 2) with a mic I had free with my PA, Speakers etc and the freebie mic actually sounded better than the Shure, whoops, sorry Shure!! I could tell the difference on listening back to the recordings. So there was something else I learnt just from speaking to the guy over the phone.It is true what they say, you are always learning in music.xx

[arkjack]

I think its good to go into a studio for a session for the experience. I did this with a Grammy winning engineer last year, and in just the few hours that cost me $400 just to lay down the guitar, bass and vocal tracks, I got my money's worth of information and education in track engineering and other facets of studio recording techniques that I use now in my studio...... The downside to it is that I never finished the "record".... The three songs I was working on in these sessions were not getting forwards and low marks on the lyric, marketability, and music and arrangement critique scores..... which means... they weren't ready to be demoed at the next level..... which is why I advocate having your own studio for rough to medium demo production..... I have an open appointment with the engineer and studio at some point to come in with stem files and do a song mixdown and then later a mastering.... again for the educational experience..... If you're spending the money to demo the recording, I would use any studio that can do a decent job for the final product.... if you're doing it for the experience.... I would look to do the session with the best engineer with credentials you can find.... since like my case nothing may really become of the recording..... putting a song that isn't ready through high end production is not a wise use of resources..... ArkJack

[daffsongwriter]

Yes good points Arkjack. It should give me a real confidence boost and like you say its good experience recording wise. At the moment I feel pretty useless at the mixing down etc side, it just doesn't seem to work and I end up bouncing the tracks directly to a cd. This is ok for me to listen to, but wouldn't sound good uploaded into Taxi or myspace as the tracks dont gel together they sound separate. The phrases they use in the manual for things I think is what I dont understand, something to learn.Take care and thanks xx