A guide to booking a slot in a recording studio

Posted by AP on 29/01/14

A recording studio is used for sound recording and mixing, often with a producer taking control of these. Many bands, singers and musicians use this type of facility to record their next single, EP or album. Voiceovers for television shows, radio shows, adverts or showreels can also be recorded in a studio such as this.


Each recording studio is different, but the standard layout includes the studio area, also known as the live room, where singers and musicians perform, and the control room where the sound engineer and producer sit in order to operate the audio mixing controls. Most studios now have digital recording, as opposed to analogue. Sometimes there is also an isolation booth, which is a small room used for louder instruments such as electric guitar or drums or for vocals or quieter instruments, including acoustics. This ensures that these sounds do not crossover with outside noise, which could ruin the recording.




Studios are designed well to ensure they are able to cater to acoustics. This includes the room treatment, for example the use of absorption and diffusion materials on the surfaces and the dimensions of the room, and the soundproofing. Some studios may have a vocal booth and one or more additional control rooms.

There is often a lot of equipment within a studio, most of which is expensive and therefore needs to be taken care of. Common equipment includes a mixing console, microphones, multitrack recorder, reference monitors, an acoustic drum kit and a keyboard. Some may also have a digital audio workstation, music workstation, On Air or Recording Light and outboard effects, for example reverbs, compressors and equalisers.


When looking for a recording studio to hire near you, this can easily be found using a search engine. All you have to do is type in ‘recording studios Scotland’ if you are based in Scotland, for example, and it should hopefully bring up a whole range of results of studios in Scotland. Be sure to compare several against one another in order to find the best quality one within budget. Compare prices to ensure you aren’t paying over the odds for something you can get for a similar or cheaper price elsewhere. If you need a producer, then make sure you factor in this cost also. Some bands and musicians do their own engineering or production, as they have skills in this area, while some do not, or simply just prefer to have a professional in to take the pressure off and allow them to focus on the recording part.


It is a good idea to speak to other local bands or singers to find out which studios they use and any that they can recommend. They may even be able to get you a discounted deal. They can also let you know if they have had any bad experiences with any and tell you which to avoid. If you only need a basic or small studio, then don’t waste cash on going for a large one with all the mod cons, as chances are it will be way out of budget. Whether your band is the next AC/DC or you’re an amateur musician who just fancies a professional recording of your song, you’re sure to find good rates at a recording studio that suits you.

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