What makes band sessions different
In our 36 m² live room, up to 6 musicians play at once with separate headphone mixes and a clear view of the control room (21 m²). Drums, bass, guitars and keys need more mics, cables and soundcheck than a solo vocal in the 7 m² booth.
That is how you capture leakage, timing and groove — not optional luxury. If you prefer tracking piece by piece, that works too, but budget extra hours for resets between instruments. Share your setlist and order via contact so we map 16 preamp inputs sensibly.
Rates and blocks
| Block | Price | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | €168 | Short overdubs, one live song |
| Half day (4 h) | €595 | 2–3 songs, basic takes |
| Full day (8 h) | €1,125 | EP day or album batch |
Mix, master and extra editing are separate; see mixing (€225 per track) and mastering (€78 per track). B2B invoices may use 30 days payment term under our terms and conditions.
Example: three songs in one afternoon
Imagine a four-piece, songs are rehearsed, you want live drums + bass + guitar + vocal per track, plus one hour for overdubs. A half day (four hours) is tight but doable if soundcheck stays short and arrangements do not change. Safer: budget five hours at the hourly rate, or book a full day if you want alternate takes and breathing room.
Rehearsal at home saves studio time: tempo locked, arrangement fixed, everyone knows transitions. See prepare your vocal session if the singer needs extra warm-up time. Without rehearsal, an hour can disappear on balances and click alone.
Avoid surprise line items
- Extra musician above the agreed lineup: discuss ahead — routing and monitoring take time.
- Brand-new songs on the day: possible, but they consume clock time.
- Waiting for late members: the studio clock runs; agree internally on punctuality.
- Parking and load-in: not a studio fee, but stress — Tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt; about seven minutes on foot via Bloemgracht toward Goudsbloemstraat. From Amsterdam Centraal, bus 18 toward Slotervaart, get off at Haarlemmer Houttuinen, then five minutes walking. describes public transport; cycling is often faster in Amsterdam.
Booking deposit: 30%. Free reschedule up to 7 days ahead. Unused hours from a day: up to 48 hours carried within 6 months — handy for one extra song later.
A day plan that works
Start with the heaviest drum song while everyone is fresh. Group tracks with similar setup so you are not constantly moving the kit. Do not leave vocals until the very end if the singer played all day — schedule vocal takes after a break, not after three hours of loud guitar.
Bring your own drive for rough backups if you want; we archive projects for 12 months per privacy policy. For an external mixer, read deliver stems for mix so names and formats match.
When hourly, half day or full day
Hourly suits one finished song, quick amp overdubs or adding a guitarist to an existing session. Half day is the sweet spot for a demo EP or three singles when the band is prepared. Full day pays off if you switch setups (acoustic vs electric), plan many overdubs or want room to experiment without watching the clock every minute.
Under 16 we record only with a parent or guardian and clear agreements — mention ages in contact.
Mix and master in the full picture
Raw tracks are rarely the final product. For five songs, budget a mixing EP package (€925) plus mastering EP (€335) as a guide — Sophie or Maarten will confirm scope. We include 2 revision rounds on mixes as agreed; larger changes may mean extra hours.
Streaming loudness and delivery formats are covered in loudness for streaming so your band budget spans recording through release.
Quote and availability
Send band size, target date, song count and live vs overdub workflow via contact. We usually reply within 1 business day at [email protected]. Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–20:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00. Closed Sunday. By appointment only..
Want to see the room first? About us introduces the team and studio since 2019. Usage rights are in terms and conditions and disclaimer. Call 020 737 0284 anytime during opening hours.
