Decide before you book
Be clear on what you want to capture: one song, several ad reads or a full narration. Note tempo, key and reference tracks (for direction, not copying). If you sing to a beat, send the instrumental ahead via contact or on a USB drive — WAV, 24-bit, no limiter on the stereo mix.
Print or export lyrics with line numbers. Mark ad-libs, breaths you want to keep and lines that need extra tuning. Rewriting in the booth is possible but burns time you would rather spend performing.
Voice and daily habits
Sleep, hydration and stress show up in pitch and stamina. In the days before the session, avoid shouting at parties or pushing your top range for hours without breaks. Sip water through the day; a last-minute glass helps a little, but real hydration starts earlier.
Many singers skip heavy dairy and large coffees right before recording — see what works for you. If you smoke, morning sessions may sound different from evening ones; pick a time when you usually feel clearest. With sore throat, hoarseness beyond a couple of days or pain: postpone and see a clinician; free cancellation applies up to 7 days before the slot.
Getting to Oud-West
The studio is on Bilderdijkstraat in Oud-West, about a ten-minute walk from Leidseplein. Trams 1 and 7 serve the Bilderdijkstraat stop, roughly three minutes on foot from there. The entrance is at street level, which makes bringing cases or instruments straightforward. Street-level access makes cases and stands easy. Bring your in-ears and adapters if you use them; we supply headphones and pop filters. Tell us via contact if you prefer a warmer or more open microphone character.
Pack water, optional honey or non-menthol lozenges, lyrics on paper and on a device, and a backup of your beats. Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00, by appointment; closed Sunday. Arriving ten minutes early beats rushing — you can warm up while we check the chain.
Warm-up without wasting takes
Start with light movement: shoulders, jaw, tongue. Breathe in through the nose, out on a soft hiss or lip trill. Then work in your mid range before the highest and lowest lines of the piece.
In the booth, one ear off the headphones is fine if you want to hear yourself in the room — we will adjust levels to avoid feedback. Take short breaks between heavy passes; we have 18 microphones ready, but your voice is the one instrument we cannot swap.
Time and rates
A single prepared song often needs one to three hours of recording, depending on arrangement and perfectionism. A short corporate voice-over often fits in an hour including retakes of a few lines.
Voice and voice-over recording rates: €88 per hour, €318 for four hours or €595 for eight — prices include 21% VAT. Unsure how long you need? Message contact. A 30% deposit confirms the booking under our terms and conditions.
How we work in session
We usually record verse by verse or paragraph by paragraph, with slates and multiple takes. You hear yourself on the cue mix; we watch levels in the control room (about 20 m²). Say when a take feels right emotionally but not technically — a small edit later can beat twenty repeats.
Want raw tracks only? Ask for separate files without crossfades. Want a rough comp before mixing? Agree that upfront. We keep session files for 24 months unless you arrange otherwise.
After recording
You receive agreed exports — typically WAV per take or a labelled folder. Check within a few days for missing lines; email [email protected] if anything looks wrong. Planning mixing next? See estimate your mixing budget for the following step.
Sensitive material (unreleased albums, internal campaigns) is handled under our privacy policy.
Checklist
- Lyrics and beat/WAV ready
- Tempo and references noted
- Rest and hydration
- Backup on USB or cloud
- Arrival time aligned with Mon–Fri 10–22 · Sat 11–18
- Questions on length? Contact us
These tips are general and not medical advice. With persistent voice trouble, see a doctor or speech therapist before pushing in the booth.
