Rates and what they cover
Live ensemble recording is €125 per hour with engineer included, or €920 for an eight-hour block. That is studio time with recording direction — not an automatic mix afterwards. Mix and master are separate; see Mixing and Mastering.
We ask for a 30% deposit when booking; business clients may pay on invoice within 14 days where agreed. We aim to reply to quotes within 2 business days. See terms and conditions and FAQ.
Live room in numbers
Our live room is about 44 m² — enough for a typical rock or jazz layout with drums, bass amp, keys and one or two guitars. 48 patch points and 28 preamps support overheads, room mics and later re-amping.
Multiple headphone mixes are available; agree who needs click, backing or talkback before session day. Parking in De Pijp is tight; by public transport: Metro line 52 (North/South) stop De Pijp; from there it is about a 6-minute walk via Ferdinand Bolstraat to Van Woustraat 78. Tram 3 runs along Van Woustraat; from the Van Woustraat stop it is roughly a 2-minute walk. From Amsterdam Centraal, metro 52 towards Zuid takes about 15 minutes.. Hours: Wed–Fri 10–20, Sat 11–16.
Setup versus playing time
A common mistake is counting every booked hour as pure performance. The first hour often goes to drum placement, DI lines, amp checks and headphone routing. Bands that rarely play together need more takes per song.
Estimate conservatively: for a four-song EP you know well, plan at least one full day plus a half day for overdubs or problem songs — not one day for everything including mix. Overdubs may use the vocal booth or gobos in the live room.
Sample timelines
| Project | Typical studio hours |
|---|---|
| Single, tight band | 4–6 tracking hours + 1 hour setup buffer |
| 4–6 songs live, few overdubs | 1× €920 + extra hour for fixes |
| Full band plus guest strings | 2 days, second day for arrangement changes |
Guidelines only; pace depends on complexity, tempos and how tight arrangements are. Send a setlist via contact for a sharper quote.
Saving time without cutting corners
Rehearse at home or in a rehearsal room before the studio day — cheaper than editing mistakes. Align on tempo and dynamics; bring a stage plot and input list. Fewer mic swaps mean less downtime.
Pick one guitar tone instead of testing ten pedals on the clock. Drummers: tune heads and kit before paid time. If mixing elsewhere later, read stem delivery specifications so exports stay consistent.
Engineer, producer and band roles
Our recording engineers lead gain staging, takes and file naming. An outside producer is welcome; clarify who calls “cut” and who talks to the band.
We keep take notes and flag favorites. You decide artistically; we guard headroom and usable spill. After the session we agree what stays in archive for 24 months and what moves to mix.
Scheduling and cancellation
Wed–Sat slots fill around release season; book several weeks ahead when you can. Free cancellation applies up to 5 calendar days before the session; after that deposit rules in terms apply.
Minimum studio age is 16; younger musicians need a parent or guardian and prior safety agreement. Gear insurance remains your responsibility; see disclaimer.
From tracking to release
Live multitrack is rarely release-ready; budget mix (from €185 per track offline or €88 per hour in studio) and master (€72 per track). EP packages like €720 can help at five songs.
Streaming formats, loudness and rights are covered in release formats and rights. Book live time via contact, 020 261 3847 or [email protected]. Pair with vocal preparation if vocals follow the same week.
