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Recording FAQ's
Q: Why should I record at the studio at Backstage Music Center?
A: We believe that the art of recording is more than just collecting
the best gear. HOW that gear is used is what matters most to us.
We are committed to taking the time to make sure every aspect of
your recording is how YOU want it to sound, and we want to
efficiently create for you the best sounding product we can for a
minimum cost.
Q: Why should I record in a studio?
A: SOUND QUALITY. Recording in a studio will make you sound
more professional, and as a result you will give prospective
venues, record labels, and fans a better first impression of your
music. Your music will be MUCH more sellable if it is recorded
professionally in a studio. Yes, a lot of these small recording
“studios” that now reside in houses can produce decent sounding
recordings, but most of those houses were NOT designed for
recording live acoustic instruments. Here at Backstage Music
Center, we have a facility of over 300 square feet that was
specifically designed to provide your instruments with the absolute
best sound quality and to make your recordings sparkle!
Q: What are the advantages of bulk rates?
A: The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to worry at all about
how many hours have passed during your time in the studio. You
will know up front how much you will pay for your entire project, so
while recording you can fully concentrate on making your music.
Also, you can take comfort in knowing that you won’t feel the
pressure to finish by the time your hourly studio rental expires.
Q: Is there a time limit for recording with a bulk rate package?
A: We do not impose a specific time limit mainly because we want
to take the time to make the recording sound the way you want it to;
however, if a customer chooses to abuse this privilege (i.e.
unnecessarily dragging the project on for months when it could
have been completed in a much shorter time span), we have the
right to terminate the session, and the customer will forfeit the initial
deposit.
Q: I don’t have a whole lot of money to spend right now, but I still
want to make a demo recording? Do you still have affordable
hourly rates?
A: Yes! We do realize that many musicians are on a strict budget
and/or just want to make a quick and efficient recording. For
projects like these we have an affordable hourly rate, and this
covers recording, mixing, and editing time and basic mastering.
For most of these projects, most of the instruments will be
recorded together live in the studio with vocals and other overdubs
being added later.
Q. How long does recording take?
A: There is no definite answer to this as many different factors
come into play such as the size of the group recording and the
number of takes performed before finally laying down that “perfect”
take. Some artists might be able to nail their songs on the first take
while others may need a little more time (which is perfectly OK!).
The only way to answer this question is…well… until we get it
RIGHT! Please keep in mind that making a great recording is a
time-consuming process, so plan on spending at least a fair
amount of time working in the studio. Recording a high-quality
album requires a lot of patience and persistence, but we guarantee
that your final product will be worth all the hard work!
Q: Do I have to be some obnoxiously good musician to record?
A: Absolutely not! Musicians of all ability levels, from hobbyist to
virtuoso, are welcome here!
Q: How do I know if I’m ready to record?
A: There is no easy answer to this question. The best answer we
can provide is if you feel like you can perform all your material live
several times through with all of your desired musical elements
and with few mistakes, then you’re ready to make a great recording.
Q: Do you have studio musicians?
A: Yes! Charges for studio musicians will be factored into your
customized bulk rate. Just be sure to tell us before your session
who and how many musicians you will need.
Q: Is it OK to record covers?
A: Generally, it is ok to record cover songs for a demo, but keep in
mind that it is ILLEGAL to sell your recording unless you receive the
artists’ permission to do so.
Q: How do I sign up for recording time?
A: First of all, please contact our recording engineer to discuss
what kind of project you want to do and other specifics so everyone
will be on the same page on the day of your session. You will then
need to come to the studio to fill out some paperwork (it's not much,
we promise!) and pay a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit in the amount
of $50. This deposit will count toward your total recording fee or will
cover your first hour in the studio if you are paying by the hour. You
will need to fill out paperwork AND pay a deposit in order to reserve
studio time.
Q: Why do I need to pay a deposit?
A: Paying a non-refundable deposit tells us that you’re serious
about making your recording. In the past, far too many clients had
registered for studio time only to not even show up. Requiring a
deposit dramatically decreases the number of no-shows, and in
the end it makes it easier (and fair) for everyone involved.
Q: How should we prepare for our session?
A: Please know exactly which song(s) you will record before you
come into the studio. Also, change your guitar strings about a week
before the session. DO NOT change them the day before (or,
heaven forbid, the day of) the session. They need time to settle in!
Also, make sure your drums are tuned well and that none of the
heads are damaged or dented. If you want to play with a click track,
please rehearse with a metronome so you will be prepared and
won’t waste any valuable time.
Oh yeah, one last thing… PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE
some more!
Q: What gear should we bring to the studio?
A: Bring all the gear that you would normally need for practice or for
a gig. You do not need to bring any microphones or PA equipment.
We also have a few instruments in the studio that you can use.
Please let us know if you will need to use the studio instruments.
Q: Again, why should I record at the studio at Backstage Music
Center?
A: We provide a fun, laid-back, and pressure-free environment with
a friendly and knowledgeable staff that will give you an extra mile in
making sure you are satisfied with your product!
JR Paredes
Owner and Recording Engineer/Producer
Backstage Music Center
Q: Why should I record at the studio at Backstage Music Center?
A: We believe that the art of recording is more than just collecting
the best gear. HOW that gear is used is what matters most to us.
We are committed to taking the time to make sure every aspect of
your recording is how YOU want it to sound, and we want to
efficiently create for you the best sounding product we can for a
minimum cost.
Q: Why should I record in a studio?
A: SOUND QUALITY. Recording in a studio will make you sound
more professional, and as a result you will give prospective
venues, record labels, and fans a better first impression of your
music. Your music will be MUCH more sellable if it is recorded
professionally in a studio. Yes, a lot of these small recording
“studios” that now reside in houses can produce decent sounding
recordings, but most of those houses were NOT designed for
recording live acoustic instruments. Here at Backstage Music
Center, we have a facility of over 300 square feet that was
specifically designed to provide your instruments with the absolute
best sound quality and to make your recordings sparkle!
Q: What are the advantages of bulk rates?
A: The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to worry at all about
how many hours have passed during your time in the studio. You
will know up front how much you will pay for your entire project, so
while recording you can fully concentrate on making your music.
Also, you can take comfort in knowing that you won’t feel the
pressure to finish by the time your hourly studio rental expires.
Q: Is there a time limit for recording with a bulk rate package?
A: We do not impose a specific time limit mainly because we want
to take the time to make the recording sound the way you want it to;
however, if a customer chooses to abuse this privilege (i.e.
unnecessarily dragging the project on for months when it could
have been completed in a much shorter time span), we have the
right to terminate the session, and the customer will forfeit the initial
deposit.
Q: I don’t have a whole lot of money to spend right now, but I still
want to make a demo recording? Do you still have affordable
hourly rates?
A: Yes! We do realize that many musicians are on a strict budget
and/or just want to make a quick and efficient recording. For
projects like these we have an affordable hourly rate, and this
covers recording, mixing, and editing time and basic mastering.
For most of these projects, most of the instruments will be
recorded together live in the studio with vocals and other overdubs
being added later.
Q. How long does recording take?
A: There is no definite answer to this as many different factors
come into play such as the size of the group recording and the
number of takes performed before finally laying down that “perfect”
take. Some artists might be able to nail their songs on the first take
while others may need a little more time (which is perfectly OK!).
The only way to answer this question is…well… until we get it
RIGHT! Please keep in mind that making a great recording is a
time-consuming process, so plan on spending at least a fair
amount of time working in the studio. Recording a high-quality
album requires a lot of patience and persistence, but we guarantee
that your final product will be worth all the hard work!
Q: Do I have to be some obnoxiously good musician to record?
A: Absolutely not! Musicians of all ability levels, from hobbyist to
virtuoso, are welcome here!
Q: How do I know if I’m ready to record?
A: There is no easy answer to this question. The best answer we
can provide is if you feel like you can perform all your material live
several times through with all of your desired musical elements
and with few mistakes, then you’re ready to make a great recording.
Q: Do you have studio musicians?
A: Yes! Charges for studio musicians will be factored into your
customized bulk rate. Just be sure to tell us before your session
who and how many musicians you will need.
Q: Is it OK to record covers?
A: Generally, it is ok to record cover songs for a demo, but keep in
mind that it is ILLEGAL to sell your recording unless you receive the
artists’ permission to do so.
Q: How do I sign up for recording time?
A: First of all, please contact our recording engineer to discuss
what kind of project you want to do and other specifics so everyone
will be on the same page on the day of your session. You will then
need to come to the studio to fill out some paperwork (it's not much,
we promise!) and pay a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit in the amount
of $50. This deposit will count toward your total recording fee or will
cover your first hour in the studio if you are paying by the hour. You
will need to fill out paperwork AND pay a deposit in order to reserve
studio time.
Q: Why do I need to pay a deposit?
A: Paying a non-refundable deposit tells us that you’re serious
about making your recording. In the past, far too many clients had
registered for studio time only to not even show up. Requiring a
deposit dramatically decreases the number of no-shows, and in
the end it makes it easier (and fair) for everyone involved.
Q: How should we prepare for our session?
A: Please know exactly which song(s) you will record before you
come into the studio. Also, change your guitar strings about a week
before the session. DO NOT change them the day before (or,
heaven forbid, the day of) the session. They need time to settle in!
Also, make sure your drums are tuned well and that none of the
heads are damaged or dented. If you want to play with a click track,
please rehearse with a metronome so you will be prepared and
won’t waste any valuable time.
Oh yeah, one last thing… PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE
some more!
Q: What gear should we bring to the studio?
A: Bring all the gear that you would normally need for practice or for
a gig. You do not need to bring any microphones or PA equipment.
We also have a few instruments in the studio that you can use.
Please let us know if you will need to use the studio instruments.
Q: Again, why should I record at the studio at Backstage Music
Center?
A: We provide a fun, laid-back, and pressure-free environment with
a friendly and knowledgeable staff that will give you an extra mile in
making sure you are satisfied with your product!
JR Paredes
Owner and Recording Engineer/Producer
Backstage Music Center
