Frequently Asked Questions about Recording Studios
Frequently asked questions at our Cleveland Recording studio, range from how much will it cost, to more general questions about the recording studio process. For more Bad Racket Studio specific questions, check out our Cleveland Studio’s FAQ, These are more general recording studio questions.
Such as…
How exactly does recording work?
The artist speaks into the microphone and the sound is converted into electricity that runs down the cable and back into the headphones. The computer or tape machine records the sound coming out of the microphone and the artist listens to it through the headphones. After the sound is recorded we listen back and evaluate the recording for quality.
How much does the recording studio time cost?
Recording studio costs typically start at about $50/hr in this area. What sort of studio costs only $10/hr? Not a very good one. Is a $100 or more per hour cost worth the quality? You can decide for yourself. We have different price points to deliver different levels of service to customers. Let us know what your budget is, or what is reasonable to you and the worst we can say is no. Obviously you want to do the best you can for the lowest price. What wastes money more than anything is spending more time than you need. Efficiency in the studio maximizes quality and is financially beneficial. Some people just think if they spend a ton of money or a ton of time on a project it will be great. The truth is, if the songs and performance is great it will be great. How it’s captured is important, but don’t let technical limitations hold you back from doing the best you can with what you have.
How did you build your recording studio?
A recording studio is not just the equipment and all the wiring, it’s the design and acoustics too. Most recording studios have some sort of acoustic treatment, with different materials to either absorb or reflect the sound. When soft absorbing materials are used it’s called absorption; when reflective hard surfaces are incorporated, it’s called diffusion.
How is the recording studio arranged (recording room wise)?
The control room is connected to the vocal booth and large live recording room. The guitar isolation room is attached to the live recording room and it can be used to put guitar or bass amplifiers in isolated from the drums. Wires and cords can be run from the amplifiers into the live room so everyone can be together. Windows allow line of sight from vocal booth to live, room, control room to vocal booth and guitar room to live room.
Whats with all the windows everywhere?
Usually clear windows between the rooms are utilized so that the musicians can maintain line of sight between each other for visual cues. A lot of times the guitarist will do a swoop and then a hard downward motion on notes that need to be played in unison, or players will glance at each other at the end of sections to indicate, “alright, now is the time”. The studio can be configured in many ways with amplifiers, or groups that need to be separated in separate rooms. We can run cords and wires through the studios wiring system to send headphone mixes and different signal amounts in an infinite range of possibilities.
How does a recording studio make money?
We charge individuals, bands, and non-profits, and corporate entities the same price so pricing is transparent. We have the highest quality of professional studios in Ohio, and our professional experience makes the difference in quality. Whether its a small project, or big milestone, we have you covered, and numbers to call when you need extra crew and equipment to help you out.
Why use a professional recording studio?
If you use a professional studio to record your songs the results will be better with an experienced engineer who knows what they’re doing. While recording at home or at an educational institution can be a great way to get your feet wet, you are going to want someone who does this for a living, with and experienced ear and professional equipment at your disposal.
Why do you have to use headphones in the recording studio?
Studio recording requires isolation, so too many speakers competing can cause havoc with microphones. Headphones are a great way to keep the sound bleed down and still hear the sound or playback after a take.
Why does the recording studio look like it does?
It’s not a modern art installation, its a specific design for sound. The sound hits a surface and can be absorbed or reflected. Some of the surfaces are absorbers, and others are designed to reflect the sound in a random pattern to scatter the sound into the room.
When does the recording studio operate?
The studio is by appointment only, but we operate 361 days a year. Please give us a call or email to schedule an appointment.
What recording studio software is best?
It all depends on what you’re doing and what you are most comfortable with. Pro Tools and Logic are industry favorites. Reason and Ableton Live, as well as Nuendo, Garage Band, Reaper, and many others. What sounds best? Well the all basically sound the same, its a matter of workflow.
What does a basic recording studio setup look like?
In its most basic form, a recording studio setup is a microphone, headphones, and a way to record it. A laptop, cassette tape recorder, or desktop computer can be used to record the audio by use of an audio interface. Alternatively, a digital recorder can be used and then dumped onto a computer for further mixing and editing afterwards, but this is rarely used in the professional studio setting.
What recording studio does [famous artist] use?
Who cares? Its the engineer and producers as well as the individual artistic talent of those people that makes the talent not the studio.
What locations can be used as a recording studio?
Practically any place can be used for recording! However, our space is specifically designed to isolate sounds and provide a comfortable environment for artists and the sounds they make. Considerations such as traffic noise, heating and cooling, as well as power and acoustics should be taken into consideration.
What is the recording studio made of?
Pure gold! Actually mostly wood and acoustic panels. Hard wood floors, as well as many thousands of blocks of different sized wood called acoustic diffusers. We have several carpets and things too!
What computer is best for recording?
Which is best for recording a laptop or a desktop? Mac or PC? Does it really matter? We use Mac but windows computers can be fine for recording, as well as laptops or even tablets, cell phones, or digital recorders can all be used for recording with mixed results. Why use our professional studio instead of your home studio? We have the best stuff!
Can you record on location?
Yes. Emphatically yes. We have location sound recorders to record almost anywhere.
Can you record using tape machines instead of a computer?
Yes. We have access to tape machines (that hardly ever get used) instead of a computer but it’s a pain! When you consider how many hundreds of hours can be recorded on a computer in the recording studio, and then consider it costs several hundred dollars for 16 minutes or so of 2″ magnetic tape to record to analog tape and many hours to set up equipment and calibrate the machine for best sound, you realize that the cost efficiency is much less with analog recording than digital. However, many tests with analog and digital recordings of the same material done at the same time have been done, and tape machines DO impart a certain nostalgic quality that can sound good for the right material, but is tape magic that will turn your crap recordings into pure gold? No. A great option is to record and edit digitally, then bounce to tape second! You can get the sonic flavor of tape and judge for yourself if its worth the time! Certain sounds really sound good on tape. Others, may be better a little cleaner. Artistically adding tape saturation, effects, and other types of analog distortion is what many engineers do, inside the box of the computer, and by twisting knobs and buttons on the analog gear that is the front end of any good studio.
What does a recording studio look like?
A recording studio can look strange and bizarre to the visitor unfamiliar with the typical studio setup. Usually, the artist is placed behind a window, inside a separate room wearing headphones, and the engineer or producer sits on the other side of the glass with studio speakers monitoring the sound and recording the electrical signals produced by the microphones. The rooms are both treated with different types of material to make the room sound good. If you record in a bathroom, it will probably sound like a bathroom on the recording, so acoustics and how the room sounds is very important, hence all the fancy acoustic treatment in our studio photos.
What do the recording studio staff do?
Bad Racket’s recording studio staff assists the artist with recording mixing, and mastering the audio as well as recording video. We provide many services to cover any of your audio or video production needs.
What does a recording studio engineer do?
The recording engineer, or audio engineer, or producer records the artist and then listens back to evaluate the recording for quality. The artist works with the engineer to select the best takes of the performance. In fact, best out of 3 is always a good strategy in the studio. The recording studio staff may assist with arranging, producing, recording, mixing, and mastering the audio for the artist or label in charge of project. Check out our recording studio staff!
What does a producer do in a recording studio?
A producer can mean a variety a different things. Producer’s in Ohio usually come from two trains of thought. Hip Hop and Rap Producer, and Record producer type. The hip hop or rap producer is an all inclusive artist, instrumentalist, engineer, and production expert. He or she crafts the song from the ground up, creating the parts for each instrument, and then guiding the vocal artist towards the final version of the song. This type of producer usually produces music or beats as a concentration and specializes in arranging and songwriting. The second type of producer is the “record producer” type person. This is usually a more technical job, where a more hands off approach to songwriting and arranging is required. This type of producer may do anything from assisting the artist with the recording process, helping choose drum and guitar tones, or just simply hitting record and helping the artist listen back to the takes after the recording is done, and help choose which ones are best to use for the final version of the recording.
Who pays for the recording studio time?
90% of the time the artist pays for the time upfront and then is reimbursed later. If you’re lucky enough to have an advance from a label, thats great too, but such deals are few and far between. Labels are interested in quality recordings that are ready to make money, not ideas that may or may not work out in the studio. When the artist pays for the recording studio time, it puts the risk of a failed or infeasible projects out of the hands of the record label who is trying to evaluate risks, pick winners, and not lose money. At least a demo of the songs is considered a bare minimum to generating interest in your music. If money is tight, do one song and release it as a single, or consider a payment plan or credit. This will lead to more interest in your second song and so forth.
who works in the recording studio?
The recording studio is usually staffed by at minimum 1 person and 1 dog. A maximum of 1 dog is kept to keep the ruckus down, as we have found 3 more more dogs chasing each other around and playing in the studio is not conducive to recording, while it is fun. If you bring a dog, we recommend small children’s gates and don’t forget food and water.
Who is in the recording studio right now?
Check out our twitter and instagram to see our latest projects!
Where do you buy recording studio equipment?
You can buy new or used equipment from Guitar Center, Amazon, Ebay, or even craigslist, bulletin boards, or facebook groups.
Where is the recording studio?
The Studio is located at 2220 Superior Ave East Cleveland Ohio 44114 at the corner of east 23rd and Superior in Downtown Cleveland.
