CHOOSING A RECORDING STUDIO
Choosing the right recording studio is one of the more important decisions you'll make for your music. Sydney has a healthy range of options, from large commercial rooms to smaller independent studios, and the right choice really depends on your music, your budget, and how you like to work. Here are the key things to consider.
SIZE & CONFIGURATION
Does the studio size and configuration suit your preferred recording method. For example, if your band is a four-piece and you'd like to record all the instruments at the same time then this should be a consideration when choosing the studio. There's no point in considering smaller studios that are not able to accommodate a full band as this may have the effect of compromising the performance and hence the final product.
At Everland, we can record drums, bass, two guitars, keyboards and a scratch vocal at the same time. There are good sight lines between performers to maintain the vibe of your music.
THE ROOM
The acoustic character of a studio's live room has a huge impact on how your recording sounds, particularly for drums and anything recorded with microphones. A well-designed room adds life and dimension to a recording in a way that can't really be replicated in post-production.
It's worth asking studios for recordings made in their room, or better yet, visiting in person. At Everland we're always happy to play you examples of drums and live instruments recorded here — the room has a sound we're proud of and it shows up on tape.
BUDGET
It's a fact of life for most indie bands in this day and age that budget is a factor when choosing a recording studio. The costs of producing an EP or album don't end with recording either; a band has to leave some money aside for mastering, CD/vinyl production, and marketing costs.
At Everland we've tried to find a balance between having some of the best sounding gear/rooms in Sydney while keeping our prices affordable to indie/unsigned bands. Contact us for a Quote on your project or to come past for a no-obligation tour of the studio.
PERSONALITY
By which I mean the personality of the engineer/producer you will be working with. Remember, you'll be spending a fair bit of time with this person so it pays to make sure that you'll get along and that the engineer shares a vision for the sound of your music.
At Everland, we're always happy to meet prospective clients before they make a booking. It's a great way for you to see the studio and meet the engineer you'd be working with. If you have any demos or rehearsal recordings of the songs you would like to record, bring them along, we'd love to hear them.
GEAR
I hesitate to put this one in here because in some ways it is (or should be) the least important factor in choosing a studio. The fact is that it's not necessary to have a list as long as your arm of boutique and vintage microphones to make a quality record. Bon Iver famously recorded his debut album in a cabin with nothing more than a Shure SM57.
With that said, there is a difference between using quality preamps and AD convertors and the cheap pre's and convertors you will find in some low budget studios. Everland has a quality microphones, preamps and analogue to digital conversion to capture the best sound possible on your recording. Take a look at the gear list at Everland Studios.
These are the main things worth thinking about when choosing a recording studio in Sydney. At the end of the day, the best studio is the one where you feel comfortable, confident in the engineer, and excited to make music.
Give us a call on 0400 742 218 or get in touch via email to come in and have a chat.