Band recording: plan cost and time realistically

What base rates include

Band Recording is €125 per hour (studio and engineer) or €920 for an eight-hour day. That covers control room time, miking the live room, basic take editing and track organisation for mixing. Mix, master and heavy comping are separate — see services for those rates.

The live room is about 44 m²; we practically cap simultaneous musicians at 6. More bodies mean more bleed, headphone work and setup — treat the first hours as soundcheck, not finished songs.

Typical time per song

A rock or indie track with drums, bass, two guitars and vocals often needs three to five hours including setup in live takes — not three passes. Drums alone: place mics, check phase, tune snare and kick, then full passes plus overdubs for fills.

Overdubbing parts separately reduces bleed but changes the groove. Many bands hybridise: live bed, then vocals and leads. Note per song whether you want live, hybrid or full overdub — that drives the day plan.

Sample maths, not a promise

Imagine four songs in one day: €920 studio, then Mixing at €290 per song — four songs mean four times that mix rate, including 20% VAT if each stays within the standard track count (up to 48 tracks). Mastering at €88 per song adds on top. This is arithmetic, not a bundle; genre and lineup change the real load.

Six-track EPs can use the €950 mix package instead of six singles. Twelve-song albums: €2,450 and €790 — ask for a draft quote via contact.

Deposit, cancellation and payment terms

We hold dates with a 30% deposit; balance per terms and conditions. Free reschedule up to 7 days before the session. B2B clients often use 14-day payment terms — we confirm in writing.

Mix feedback includes 2 structured revision rounds (timestamps, references). Open-ended “a bit louder” loops stretch projects; preparing stems helps — see stem exports for mixing.

Avoid surprise line items

Not in the hourly rate but on the calendar: rehearsal quality, in-tune instruments, fresh heads and stable strings. Unprepared bands pay the same hour for repairs instead of takes. Bring tempo map, structure chart and a list of deliverables (instrumental, TV mix, acapella).

Parking in Wien 1070 is tight; many crews use the U3 — U3 Neubaugasse station, Siebensterngasse exit — about three minutes on foot to Siebensterngasse 19. Bus line 13A stops at Neubaugasse / Burggasse (around five minutes on foot).. Meal breaks are fine but eat the day rate. Core hours: Mon–Fri 10–20, Sat 10–16; evenings by arrangement.

Archive and file handover

Multitrack projects stay 24 months. After that you should have exported stems or the full session. Large transfers use secure links; drives only by agreement. Mixed bounces need less storage; DIY mixers need consistent sample rates and clear track names (covered in the mix guide).

Rights and liability are legal questions — see disclaimer and ask before tracking. Artists from 16 years upward are welcome with guardian consent where required.

Prepare as a band

Assign roles: who talks to the engineer, who tunes guitars, who keeps the take sheet. Rehearse with or without click — but pick one. Mark live vs overdub parts in rehearsal. If vocals happen under Vocals & Voice later, book a half-day instead of squeezing singing after an eight-hour drum day.

Two or three streaming references help us understand tone; they do not replace arrangement decisions.

Quick reference

Questions? FAQ or [email protected] — send lineup and song count and we can sketch a budget.