AFFORDABLE, PROFESSIONAL DEMOS AND LIVE ALBUMS FOR BANDS IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA

What We Do
Our primary business is LIVE RECORDING. We come to your gig/rehearsal space; record your band and your audience. We mix the recording based on specifications we determine together (sound, goals, time and money), and create either a pre-master CD or a mastered version depending on what you choose. More on mastering services later.

We use portable, professional quality, all digital multi-track equipment that's quick to set up and unobtrusive to your fans and your band.

Investing your money and time wisely is critical especially when you are just getting started. We keep our overhead low to be able to provide this very specific service for bands starting out.

We understand the struggles new bands go through, and we know it's tough to get a break and make a name for your band. But nobody will know about you if you don't get your music out there digitally for upload on your website or myspace page; or on a CD in the hands of the listener! That's what we are about. You bring the talent; we help you get it in a format you can use.

What We Don't Do
We are engineers and musicians. We are not executives, A&R people, producers or agents. We have very user friendly contract packages and can provide you with a demo that is all yours to post, upload, give away or send to industry people; or we can provide you with sale/broadcast quality recordings that you can package and use to sell on the open market. Whatever you need, we'll make it happen.

Services

Recording
Each live recording situation is specific and individual. We take the time to go over the details and goals of the live recording as well as the venue, PA on site, sound board (or not), and any other considerations such as screaming fans and the acoustics of the room.

The equipment is professional quality all digital multi-track recording with the finest tube preamps for vocal and ambient microphones. PreSonus D 8 mic preamps, the MOTU 2408 mklll audio/digital interface (2) and Sonar 8 Producer Edition Software are the digital tools that get it done. The layout of how we would mic your band is situation specific and worked out well in advance of the show. It is common to use a house sound board, again something we go over in advance.

Mixing
The mix down is the art of EQing, leveling and applying effects (if any) to all the various tracks from a multi-track recording. A preliminary mix down comes standard with a live recording. If further effects processing or EQ is desired, we have several options including the use of our affiliate Tanglewood Studios and their fine English Sound Craft "Ghost" Mixing Console. Fees discussed prior to services being provided.

Mastering
If you are planning to sell this recording on the open market, after your music is recorded and mixed, the songs need to be prepared for release by mastering them.

It's a recommended step, as it can really add some nice polish to a record, and at the very least, will insure that the album is in duplication ready condition.

As mastering is the final step on the way to the release of a recording, it is a last chance to look at the overall EQ, dynamics, pacing, song order and overall flow of a record. Mastering requires a certain amount of subjective opinion, our general philosophy is that a record should not be mastered in the same room that it was mixed. The primary reason for this is that any sonic anomalies introduced by the listening environment, and the resulting compensation for (or lack thereof ) will simply be introduced again, if the recording is mastered in the same space, on the same equiptment, and by the same person.

We facilitate this process for our clients as we have top mastering companies that we use. We do feel this ultimately benefits the sound of the recordings.