Live ensemble recording
Play as a band in one room while an engineer handles monitoring, gain staging and layout — in Amsterdam, a short walk from De Pijp metro.
Live ensemble recording suits groups who want the song captured while everyone plays together: funk combos, indie bands, jazz quartets, session players laying a demo, or artists keeping a live feel for later mixing. Our 44 m² live room holds drums, amps and keys at once; with 48 patch points and 28 mic preamps we can run several headphone mixes and DI lines in parallel.
Monimiavyra at Van Woustraat 78 in De Pijp has been a neighbourhood studio since 2019, with 3 rooms including 2 iso booths for overdubs after the bed. Recording engineer Ruben Smit runs vocal and live sessions, so you do not need to bring your own tech. Rates include 21% VAT; business invoices follow payment terms in our terms and conditions.
Process
- 1
Intake and schedule
Send a rough mix, set list or arrangement and how many songs you want via contact. Within 2 business days you receive a proposal for hours, layout and rate (hourly or day).
- 2
Setup in the live room
We place the kit on rugs, aim guitar and bass amps at gobos, DI the keys and dial individual headphone mixes. Allow thirty to sixty minutes of setup before the first take.
- 3
Tracking and tweaks
We capture bed takes, add targeted overdubs in the iso booths if needed, and can re-amp DI guitars through room amps. The engineer watches phase, spill and dynamics while you play.
- 4
Export and archive
After the session you receive labelled multitrack WAV files (24-bit, 48 kHz by default) via download link. We keep sessions for 24 months, then delete unless you request an extension.
Who this session fits
Ensemble recording works when interaction between players matters more than perfect isolation on every track. Think rhythm sections locking together, a band testing new arrangements, or an artist tracking an EP across two days. Solo projects with heavy overdubs may fit vocal recording or mixing from stems better — we help you choose honestly.
Minimum age 16 to book independently; younger musicians are welcome with written consent from a parent or guardian and an adult present. There is no audience in the room during takes: guests wait in the lounge or outside so monitoring stays clear.
The live room and gear
The live room is about 44 m² with a concrete floor and high ceiling — enough length for overheads and space between amps. Guitar and bass cabs sit on carpet, separated by teal gobos; keyboards patch straight into the bay so we can edit later without re-plugging.
- Multiple headphone mixes at once, adjustable per musician
- Re-amping DI guitars through room amplifiers
- Iso booths for backing vocals or solo instruments after the bed
- Engineer at a side desk; visual contact while you play
Only tracking drums while the rest plays at home? Possible, but the service stays ensemble-focused: we tune the room for the full picture, not a dry booth-only session.
How a typical day runs
Opening hours: Wednesday–Friday 10:00–20:00, Saturday 11:00–16:00. Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.. An eight-hour day rate covers setup, soundcheck, recording and basic export — not final mix or mastering. Plan realistically: three to four songs with beds and a few overdubs often fit in a day when arrangements and tempos are settled.
| Phase | Time | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Load-in and line check | 45–75 min | Mics, DI, headphone mixes |
| Per-song soundcheck | 15–25 min | Levels and monitor balance |
| Takes and overdubs | 5–6 hours | Beds plus targeted fixes |
| Export and backup | 30–45 min | Numbered WAV tracks |
Shorter hourly blocks (€125 with engineer) suit a single song, drums-only time or trying the room. See our guide on hours and budget for worked examples.
What to prepare
Good prep saves studio time. Send at least three days before the session:
- A demo or rough mix per song, with tempo and key
- Who plays which instrument and which amps you bring
- Arrangement notes: intros, breaks and fade points
- Reference tracks for guitar and drum tone (not for loudness wars)
Bring your own guitars, bass, pedalboards and sticks; drum hardware and stands are on site. Tune before you travel. If amps stay home, discuss DI-only and re-amping upfront via email or phone.
Delivery and file formats
By default we deliver synchronized multitrack WAV, 24-bit / 48 kHz, with clear track names (e.g. DRUM_Kick_IN, GTR_Lead_DI). You get a download link within a few hours after wrap; large projects may land the next business day if many takes were kept.
We can include a Pro Tools or Reaper session on request if you ask in advance. Mixing and mastering are separate services: we hand off raw to lightly edited tracks, not a streaming master. For stem rules when mixing later, see stem delivery specifications.
Pricing, deposit and cancellation
All listed amounts are consumer prices including 21% VAT. Business clients receive invoices with 14 days to pay after delivery of the recording.
- Hourly €125 — flexible, engineer included
- Full day €920 — eight-hour block in the live room
On confirmation we ask for a 30% deposit; the balance is due before or on session day as agreed. Free rescheduling up to 5 days before the planned start; after that the deposit may be forfeited per the cancellation article. Extra hours beyond the day rate bill at the hourly rate.
What is not included
The session covers recording engineering, basic editing (comping one chosen take per part unless agreed otherwise) and export. Not included:
- Full mix or creative editing across takes
- Streaming mastering — see mastering
- Rental backline beyond the house drum kit and DI routing
- Outside musicians or producers on your side (welcome, but no extra fee to Monimiavyra)
- On-street parking around Van Woustraat 78; getting here: 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.
Questions about release rights? Our release formats guide explains what distributors expect; legal detail sits in terms and privacy policy.
Booking and next steps
Send preferred date, band size and song count through the contact form or call 020 261 3847. Say whether you lean hourly or day rate; we help shape a realistic track list. After confirmation you receive a calendar invite and load-in notes for Van Woustraat.
After tracking you can move straight to mixing in-house or send stems for an offline mix. For broader studio rules, see FAQ and the services overview.
Included
- Recording engineer for booked hours
- 44 m² live room with kit and patchbay
- Individual headphone mixes per musician
- Multitrack WAV export 24-bit / 48 kHz
- Basic comping of chosen takes
- Session archive 24 months
- Iso booths for short overdubs same day
FAQ
How many songs can we cut in one day?
It depends on complexity and rehearsal. With four experienced players and fixed arrangements, three to four bed tracks often fit within the eight-hour day rate. More overdubs or changing setups eat time — share your list upfront via contact.
Can we bring our own amps and drum parts?
Yes. Own amps, pedalboards and snare drums are common. Stands, DI boxes and cables are ready. Tell us what is heavy when booking so we reserve load-in time.
Do we get a stereo mix too?
We can print a rough monitor mix for home review, but that is not a substitute for mixing. Official delivery is multitrack files; book a professional mix separately.
What if a member is ill?
Tell us as soon as you can. Up to 5 days before start we move the date for free; later the cancellation rules in our terms apply. We look for a new slot within Wed–Fri 10–20, Sat 11–16.
Is parking available?
Paid street parking applies in De Pijp; side streets sometimes free up. 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.. Allow five extra minutes carrying gear.
Other services
- 01
Vocal recording
Lead, doubles and choir in an iso booth; an engineer sets monitoring and gain before you start.
€95 · per hour
- 03
Mixing
From multitrack to stereo mix; in the studio or from delivered stems with clear naming.
€185 · per track (offline)
- 04
Mastering
Final loudness and EQ for streaming and download; one revision round included per our studio rules.
€72 · per track
- 05
Voice-over and narration
Audiobook excerpts, corporate voice-over or dubbing in a quiet booth with timecode sync on request.
€78 · per hour
Recording in De Pijp?
Let's plan your session
Tell us briefly what you want to capture: within 2 working days you receive a proposed slot and a written quote, with no obligation.