Posts Tagged ‘start a recording studio’

Starting A Recording Studio Business

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Let’s look at the basics. If you want to start a recording studio, there are only a few major things you need to know. We will cover all of it in this short article.

First, you should have an idea of why you want to start this business. Why do you want to own a recording studio? What makes that appealing to you? There are a lot of different reasons. Some people want the money, some want the “rock star” job. And a lot of people just love music, love recording, and love working with bands. Maybe it’s a combination of those things. Whatever your reason for starting a recording studio, you need to write that reason down. Put it on a sticky note and stick it to your computer or your fridge. This reason will be your “guiding purpose” during the entire process. When you get frustrated about something in your business, you can look at that reason – and remember why you are doing it.

Next, determine what your strengths and weaknesses are. Not just for you, but for your studio, too. If you don’t have any equipment at all, you actually have an advantage here. You can start with a clean slate. Maybe you have a make-shift setup that you pieced together over the years. That’s ok, too. Take a good look at the total package your studio has to offer. What can you do for band? Basic demos, only 4-track mixes, a full blown 12 song album? Whatever it is, be honest with yourself. Bands have different needs, and if you have a low-level studio that can only cut rough demos… you can still find clients! It’s not difficult. Just understand exactly what you have to offer in the market.

Now that you have a purpose to guide you, and you know what you and your studio are capable of, it’s time to think about marketing. This is really all about reaching potential clients. Who are your potential clients? Think about it. What kind of bands or artists will be looking for a studio like yours? Once you know WHO your clients are, you have to figure out WHERE to find them. If you need high school bands that need a quick demo, then you need to reach high school bands. You can talk to kids in your neighborhood, and ask if they know any bands. Or you can sponsor a local talent show – this technique has worked well for me in the past. Just find your potential clients, aim a laser beam right at them, and go for it. Let them know about your studio.

That’s really all there is to it. Those are the basic necessities for starting a recording studio business anywhere. Sure, there are details to fill in. But that’s the overall outline of the business. I hope this article has helped you think about how you can be successful running a recording studio of your own.

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How Much Does a Recording Studio Cost?

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

The cost of setting up a professional recording studio at home can vary from $500 to $20,000. If you don’t have an extra room to set up a studio then you will also need to rent a place, which will cost extra. The setup cost will depend on what kind of a studio you are going to build. Are you planning to set up a serious business, which can render services to varieties of customers and charge a high fee? Or is it just a simple a home-based studio to cater to the local bands for a minimum charge? Here are a few tips to help you get an estimate of how much it may cost to set up a recording studio.

Processing the room

First of all, you need to process your room in order to make the sound quality better. Remember, a normal room or your basement was not built for sound recording and therefore will need some work before it can be converted into a good recording studio. You can purchase good quality acoustic foam and stick them on walls by yourself. One case of foam will cost anything between $70 and $300. You may need around 7 cases for a 10’X10’ room. You can also take help of professionals and make the room soundproof. This is an additional cost that you can undertake if you want to render a high-quality, professional service. For a low budget studio, you can start much cheaper. There are many ways to improve room acoustics cheaply or for free. These ideas will be discussed in another article.

Hardware and software

Among the hardware equipment, you will need a computer, a soundboard, an interface, and a good microphone with a stand and microphone cable. The whole microphone set may cost you around $500 or less for a decent one. You can also get a MIDI keyboard, which will cost around $100 for a cheap starter keyboard. You will also need digital recording software, which may cost anything between $100 and $800. If you want something free, I recommend Audacity. Do a Google search, and you’ll find it easily.

Musical equipment

It is advisable to keep a few pieces of musical equipment handy, in case your customers need to borrow something. This happens quite a bit. If you already have a guitar or any other instrument of your own, keep them in the studio. You may not need to invest in new musical instruments if you don’t have much room in your budget for this. You can also consider investing into a few second hand instruments that are in good condition. Mostly, bands just want to have options in the studio. If you have some old beat up guitars, amps, and effects lying around, they are happy to tinker with them. This also increases the value of your studio, which helps you command a higher fee for your services.

Click Here To Get The Most Complete Studio Business Blueprint Available!