Tips for artists · 5 min read

Making your studio hours count

Planning songs, time and money so you leave with what you came for.

Sessions here run from three to eight hours. That’s a decent amount of time, but it goes quickly. Here’s how to spend it well.

Decide what you’re leaving with

Be honest about what you want at the end. One finished song? Three rough ones? A single you’ll release next month? The more specific the goal, the easier it is to plan.

A rough guide to time

It depends on the song and the artist, so take this as a guide only. A well-rehearsed song with one lead vocal can often be recorded in an hour or two. Add doubles, ad-libs and harmonies, and it can easily take twice that. If you’ve not rehearsed, add more.

When in doubt, plan fewer songs and do them properly rather than too many and rush them.

Order matters

Start with the hardest or most important song while your voice and your energy are fresh. Leave simple ones, ad-libs and extras until later.

Be ready to go

Have your beats loaded and your lyrics printed or on a charged phone. Know your tempo. If we’re ready to record in ten minutes, you get more of your time.

Take breaks, and keep them short

A short break to drink water and rest your voice is worth it. A forty-minute hunt for a snack isn’t. Eat before you come.

Bring one or two people, not ten

Friends can be great for energy, but too many opinions in the room slow things down. Choose one person whose opinion you trust.

Don’t edit as you go

It’s tempting to keep going back to re-record small things. Get the whole song down first, then decide what to fix.

Pick the right length

Longer sessions let you relax and explore. If you’re recording several songs or a full project, go for more hours. If it’s one song and you’re well prepared, three hours may be plenty.

Price check

Sessions are £50 an hour with an engineer included, and you pay a 50% deposit when you book. All our equipment is included, so there’s nothing to add on. If you’re unsure how long you need, ring and ask. We’d rather you booked the right amount than too much.