Demo Recording Rates

product26 · June 19th, 2008, 01:33 AM

I have been building up a decent recording setup for a few years now. Protools m-powered, M-Audio firewire 1814 3 extra preamps, and a lightpipe 8 channel ada 8000. I can record 16 simultaneous tracks. good times. MacBook Pro 2.2ghz core 2 duo and Mac Pro 2.66 quad. some decent mics etc. etc...

I have recently been approached by a local band to record a 3-4 song demo. They have heard a couple of my previous recordings, and were pleased.

How much should I ask for 3-4 songs? I figure a flat rate for basically a live recording with isolated drums, amps & vocals... some guitar/bass overdubs / retakes. and whatever vocal overdubs. We are talking basic drums guitar bass vocals... metal band, nothing overcomplicated.

i have a price that i would like to ask, but i would like to see what others would suggest, for comparisons sake.

product26 · June 26th, 2008, 01:54 AM

anybody?

octatonic · June 26th, 2008, 05:34 AM

I charge £40 an hour with deals for weekly lock-outs.

I'm running Protools HD, high end pre's and outboard with a huge selection of mics- but it really isn't about the gear.
Most people don't care about what gear I have- they are hiring me first and foremost because of a particular production aesthetic.

The biggest problem you are going to encounter though is your converters- the FW1814 is ok, the ADA8000 is, having owned one, complete rubbish.
The work around is to use the ADA8000 for the toms then use something like Drumagog to completely replace them.
Don't use them for overheads- they will completely mess up your stereo image.

How many channels of drums were you planning to record?

I usually use 2 on kick (in and out), 2 on snare (top/side and bottom), one on hihat, stereo overheads and then, if I have the channels, 2 on each tom (upper and lower).
Last one is I use my best mic (and AKG C12vr) above the entire kit, equidistant from both overheads and the same distance higher that I use for a room/GOD mic that I crush with a distressor- usually at 20:1 ratio, quick attack and release.

woodman · June 26th, 2008, 09:10 AM

the first priority is, don't underbid! one of my bands had an offer from a buddy to track a 6-song demo for $150. even after we kicked in an extra $100, he ended up making about $3-4 an hour. he didn't mind, because he was doing it largely for the experience anyway.

if you go for a flat rate, be clear on how much they want to do and charge extra for anything above that -- you know how bands get "inspired" at sessions and particularly postproduction, and want to add this or change that. if you go hourly, they'll be more likely to keep the frills to a minimum! maybe a flat rate for tracking plus x hours of editing/mixing, and an hourly surcharge for everything over that.

good luck with it ... keep us posted on how it goes!

klasaine · June 26th, 2008, 12:42 PM

+1 to Woodman and Octatonic!

But if you're just looking for a number ... ?

$600.00 'minimum' for 4 songs.
Unless ALL the gods of ALL known religions are smiling upon you, you'll be working for $5.00 and hour at a "flat rate" of six bills.

If the band is competent, and can pull off everything live except maybe vocals and solo, you'll actually probably do alright and still be priced competitively.

Let us know how it all turns out.

June 19th, 2008, 01:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
product26 TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: idaho Posts: 39	Demo Recording Rates I have been building up a decent recording setup for a few years now. Protools m-powered, M-Audio firewire 1814 3 extra preamps, and a lightpipe 8 channel ada 8000. I can record 16 simultaneous tracks. good times. MacBook Pro 2.2ghz core 2 duo and Mac Pro 2.66 quad. some decent mics etc. etc... I have recently been approached by a local band to record a 3-4 song demo. They have heard a couple of my previous recordings, and were pleased. How much should I ask for 3-4 songs? I figure a flat rate for basically a live recording with isolated drums, amps & vocals... some guitar/bass overdubs / retakes. and whatever vocal overdubs. We are talking basic drums guitar bass vocals... metal band, nothing overcomplicated. i have a price that i would like to ask, but i would like to see what others would suggest, for comparisons sake.

June 26th, 2008, 05:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
octatonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Posts: 1,443	I charge £40 an hour with deals for weekly lock-outs. I'm running Protools HD, high end pre's and outboard with a huge selection of mics- but it really isn't about the gear. Most people don't care about what gear I have- they are hiring me first and foremost because of a particular production aesthetic. The biggest problem you are going to encounter though is your converters- the FW1814 is ok, the ADA8000 is, having owned one, complete rubbish. The work around is to use the ADA8000 for the toms then use something like Drumagog to completely replace them. Don't use them for overheads- they will completely mess up your stereo image. How many channels of drums were you planning to record? I usually use 2 on kick (in and out), 2 on snare (top/side and bottom), one on hihat, stereo overheads and then, if I have the channels, 2 on each tom (upper and lower). Last one is I use my best mic (and AKG C12vr) above the entire kit, equidistant from both overheads and the same distance higher that I use for a room/GOD mic that I crush with a distressor- usually at 20:1 ratio, quick attack and release. __________________ “Music is perpetual, and only the hearing is intermittent.” - Henry David Thoreau.

June 26th, 2008, 09:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,671	the first priority is, don't underbid! one of my bands had an offer from a buddy to track a 6-song demo for $150. even after we kicked in an extra $100, he ended up making about $3-4 an hour. he didn't mind, because he was doing it largely for the experience anyway. if you go for a flat rate, be clear on how much they want to do and charge extra for anything above that -- you know how bands get "inspired" at sessions and particularly postproduction, and want to add this or change that. if you go hourly, they'll be more likely to keep the frills to a minimum! maybe a flat rate for tracking plus x hours of editing/mixing, and an hourly surcharge for everything over that. good luck with it ... keep us posted on how it goes! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 26th, 2008, 01:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
product26 TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: idaho Posts: 39	anybody?

June 26th, 2008, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
klasaine Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: los angeles, ca Age: 46 Posts: 1,258 3 Photos	+1 to Woodman and Octatonic! But if you're just looking for a number ... ? $600.00 'minimum' for 4 songs. Unless ALL the gods of ALL known religions are smiling upon you, you'll be working for $5.00 and hour at a "flat rate" of six bills. If the band is competent, and can pull off everything live except maybe vocals and solo, you'll actually probably do alright and still be priced competitively. Let us know how it all turns out.