How Long Does Recording Take?
The key to keeping studio time down is to be well rehearsed in advance. The studio is not the place to rehearse unless you have a bottomless check-book. Generally speaking eack CD track would take 1-3 hrs to record depending on if you are a solo artist or a band. Mixing the tracks can take 30 minutes to 2 hrs dependng on complexity and Mastering takes around 30minutes.
What can I do to get prepared for the Studio?
Being prepared can significantly reduce the studio time and of course the cost. You need to decide up front if you plan to record using multi-tracking (the usual method for professional recording) or to record all at once - as with a live recording.
For a live recording the music should be well rehearsed since mistakes are hard to fix. when all the instruments and voices are recording in one session.
For Multi-track recording you will need to rehearse individual parts without the other parts playing. A common problem for guitar-vocalists when they first enter the studio, for example, is beng able to play the guitar without singing or singing without playing the guitar. This is an area to rehearse.
What is Multi-Track Recording?
Imagine a tape recorder or similar having several tracks in parallel along the tape. Each track is able to be recorded to separately and in complete syncronization with each of the other tracks. click for more detail
Of course, today, with digital studio equipment there is no tape involved but the tracking principles are the same.
This means that each instrument or voice can be laid down separately. The benefit of multi-tracking is that any mistakes or areas can be improved on one of the tracks without affecting the others. When the tracks are blended later (mixing) multi-tracking gives the engineer the maximum flexibility to really make your song sound clean and professional.
Can I record everything at one time?
Of course this is possible but discouraged since it creates difficulties in the mixing with poor separation of the instruments and voices. Correcting any mistakes with a seamless splice becomes difficult too. But if you have the song well rehearsed and you are not too picky on the final product (eg Demo quality) then go for it.
How much does it cost?
Studio time is $30 / hr (with discounts for Green Apple and SOWI members).
For 12 track Project: Estimate only - individual times may vary by artist
12 CD tracks at 1 hour per CD track recording $360
Mixing down 12 CD tracks and mastering 6hrs $180
100 CD Duplication (DiskFaktory) retail ready plus P&P $250
Are there Copyright Fees too?
If the works being recorded is not written by you personally it is probably subject to copyright unless it is a "traditional" or public domain musical piece. For songs that are subject to copyright, registered or not registered permission has to be granted directly from the author(s) or through a license.
A license for most songs subject to copyright can be obtained through the Harry Fox Agency. A license statutory fee runs at around $45.50 for songs less than 5 minutes long and for the minimum quantity of 500 CD's.
To find out if a song is subject to copyright searches can be carried out through the Harry Fox Agency, BMI or ASCAP.
Can I learn more about the process?
