Rates?

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:09 pm

Hi. let me preface this by saying that I'm a 16 year old kid and have read though many many pages of posts and the likes.. I have a home studio that is near completion that i want to start recording some of my friends bands/friends of friends bands for money to help pay the huge debt i owe for gear. Especially sence my minimum wage job BLOWS. I have only worked on one (half) real project that didn't work out (to make a short story shorter) due to one of the guitarists ego problems, ignorance, and substance abuse problems.. sence then i have improved the acoustics and gear.. my setup is based around a digi 003, digimax lt, dynaudio bm5as, powermac g5, akg 414bxls, 421s, sm57s, akg d112, 57s, e604, rode nt2a, re-amp ect. Out of the vary few tracking tests i've done sence the improved acoustics, i can already tell a huge difference. Drums don't sound nearly as shitty, and the raw takes actually seem to have potential.. so all this leads to my main question.. what would be a reasonable price to charge to record bands as this stage in the game? i understand i have a lot to learn so any tips or tricks would be greately appriciated. Most of my friends play in hardcore/metalish bands, pop punk, or indie. Thanks in advance.

-Tim

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:07 pm

what does the home studio down the street charge?
Whatever it is, charge the same or more, but offer a huge discount (because you're the new kid on the block)
When your calendar fills up, and you have no more time to sleep, then it's time to discontinue the discounts.

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:08 am

Wow, that is a lot of starting equipment to learn with. Do you know how to use it all efficiently? The worst thing to do is have someone come into your studio seeing all of the equipment, pay a high price, and then realize that the raw sound is not what they imagined.

If there is some advice to give it is this:
Manifest a recording in which the "raw" sound already sounds great. With the equipment you have there should be no problem with obtaining a great mix with raw tracks. This will impress the band and they will not have a problem paying a slightly higher price because with production you are (should be) going upward from great.

About price:
Right now studios are not making diddle. Everyone and their brother AT LEAST knows someone with a studio. Competition is tough to impossible. What you should focus on right now is not how much money to charge, but how many bands to get in there to build up A)your experience and B)your portfolio. The better your portfolio sounds, the higher price you can ask. But until you start creating that portfolio you may have to go through quite a bit of time either recording bands for free (even just two song demos) or recording your own band/music.

As of now I charge $40/hour or $300/8-hour block asking price in my basement studio (sound-proof control room, patch-panels connecting to all rooms, acoustic treatments in all rooms, isolated electrical box for all studio outlets). I negotiate down from there and usually end up getting $30-35/hour. You can hear/see what I have going on through the link in my signature.

Most professional studios are making about $30-$60/hour and most basement studios can hardly touch the quality of tracks recorded in professionally created rooms. The key is to beat them with your ear for engineering and mixing. Unfortunately for you, this will be a lengthy and consuming process (mental and time).

...
I hope I was able to help you out in one way or another.

Take care and good luck. Get that portfolio running!

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:14 am

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!!!

You're sixteen and have all that crap!!! What's you're side job, Colombian drug lord?

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:08 am

hehehe

He did say he is in debt for it.

Mom and Dad goin' after those kneecaps?

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:04 am

JesterMasque that's great advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:41 pm

Thanks for all the great advice! This helps waaay more than you guys imagine Very Happy

JesterMasque - did you use the pod for "song 1?" Shocked

sounds beast! so sick. is that an audix I5 i see? how do you like that? i had looked into getting one at one point but already have 421s/57s. would it be worth it?

Quote:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!!!

You're sixteen and have all that crap!!! What's you're side job, Colombian drug lord?

haha well basically i've had a part-time job since i was 13.. turns out even minimum wage jobs add up after enough time! My parents are also kind enough to lend me money.. usually goes to the effect of save up around a grand, then spend twice that, pay it all off and repeat.. payed for my mesa amoung other things Very Happy

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:08 pm

timmyxthexgreat wrote:

Thanks for all the great advice! This helps waaay more than you guys imagine Very Happy

JesterMasque - did you use the pod for "song 1?" Shocked

sounds beast! so sick. is that an audix I5 i see? how do you like that? i had looked into getting one at one point but already have 421s/57s. would it be worth it?

Yes. I used the POD Pro into a Mesa 2:50 power amp with a 4x12 cab. I mic'd up the cab with a combination of my i5 and a Sterling ST55 on separate tracks. I then doubled the guitar part and did a 90% pan for each.

The i5 is definitely a piece to pick up. You will find most usage out of it for high-gain, distortion guitar because it gives a smoother sound that adds much more to the guitar mix when combined with a condensor. The SM57 will be best used on twangy, low-gain, or clean guitar, as wells as many other applications. I have never done any research on the 421's.

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