Why prep saves studio time
With Vocal recording you pay for engineer, booth and control room — not for hearing the instrumental for the first time. If arrangement, tempo or lyrics change in the studio, time disappears that you would rather spend on takes. Our booth is compact (6 m²) and deliberately controlled; that works best when you already know the performance.
Many artists from Amsterdam and nearby arrive after a long work or study day. Preparing at home lowers stress: you know what you will sing, which reference the engineer may hear and which file is on the session. See also vocal recording for the full process and rates.
One week before
Lock lyrics and structure: intro, verse, pre, chorus, bridge. Mark breath spots and places where you sing deliberately softer or louder. If you work to a beat, export the instrumental as WAV without a guide vocal and note tempo (BPM) and key.
Avoid heavy vocal load right before the session — open mics, long rehearsals or shouting in a noisy bar cost stamina. Sleep and hydration start days earlier, not in the taxi to Westerdok. Questions about scheduling? Contact us; we usually reply within 1 business day.
On the day: food, drink, voice
Drink room-temperature water through the day; vocal folds do not hydrate in ten minutes. Many singers skip heavy dairy and ice-cold drinks just before recording — not medical law, but common booth practice. Eat lightly about two hours ahead: a full stomach restricts breath; an empty one makes long takes hard.
Coffee in moderation is fine for most people; we prefer you skip alcohol and smoking before the session. With sore throat, hoarseness beyond a couple of days or pain when singing: postpone — no recording under pressure. These tips do not replace a doctor; when in doubt, see your GP or an ENT specialist.
Warm-up before and on arrival
Start with shoulders, neck and jaw — tension there often sits in the voice. Breath work: long exhales on a hiss or f, then gentle sirens or lip trills. Vocalises in the song’s range, not the highest chorus first.
At our studio on Grote Bickersstraat 74, Daan Meijer (recording engineer) sets mic and headphone mix meanwhile. You can keep warming in the hallway or small room; ten to fifteen minutes is enough. Rappers: articulation drills slow, then up to tempo; spoken word: read aloud with volume variation.
Files and references to send
Send ahead via [email protected]: instrumental WAV (24-bit / 48 kHz unless agreed otherwise), lyrics, and optionally two reference tracks whose vocal production you like — not to copy, but to discuss tone and space. Say if you want stacks, ad-libs or harmonies; that affects timing.
Check the backing has no clipping and that the song start is clear (one bar of silence helps). Bring personal in-ears only if you already mix with them daily — we also stock studio cans. Forgot something? With 1 business day margin we often fix it; otherwise part moves to the next booking.
In the booth: distance, mix and breaks
Keep distance to the pop filter steady — about a hand’s width is a start; your engineer adjusts for sibilance and proximity effect. Headphone mix: too loud and you sing under the beat; too quiet and you push. One cup half off is fine if you want to hear your voice in the room; say so, so we avoid headphone bleed into the capsule.
Breaks are part of the job. Five to ten minutes quiet and water beat twenty takes on a tired voice. We mark strong takes as we go so you focus on performance. More on what is included: vocal recording page and FAQ.
Time, rates and next steps
Vocal studio hour is €95 (€78.51 excl. 21% VAT). Half day four hours: €320; full day eight hours: €580. A single hook often fits an hour; a single with doubles and comping usually needs a half day. Book via contact with 40% deposit; cancel more than 7 days ahead per terms and conditions.
Mix and master are not in the studio hour. Want balance next? Plan mixing (2 revision rounds) or mastering separately. Bands that want leads after band recording can book vocal hours back-to-back — mention it in your request.
Checklist and further reading
- Lyrics final; instrumental WAV without guide vocal, tempo noted.
- References and planned stacks/ad-libs described in your email.
- Calm day before: sleep, water, no shouting rehearsal.
- Light meal; avoid ice-cold and heavy dairy just before session.
- Warm up 10–15 min; take breaks before your voice wears out.
- Back up exports at home; our archive 24 months (privacy policy).
Bandmates budgeting together: read band recording budget. For handoff to a mixer: deliver mix stems. Call 020 244 8916.
