This question is the one most frequently asked and, of course, due to the mythical unpredictability of human nature, and the "time is money" principle of studio recording, it’s not easy to nail down an exact figure. But this guide will break down the steps and costs involved in putting your budget together, and help to anticipate potential pitfalls. I do recommend that you set up a realistic recording budget and schedule ahead of time, and stick to it.

BASIC TRACKING SESSIONS

Whether you are a solo singer-songwriter, a one-off studio project, or a working band, Step One is to have your songs written, arranged and charted (if applicable), and instrumental and vocal parts rehearsed before your first tracking session begins. If Step One isn’t completed, forget about the budget and see if you can get a couple more high-interest credit cards, because you're going to be spending a lot more money in the studio than you should.

In a full-day 12-hour session, a well-rehearsed pro band can record 10-15 basic rhythm tracks. A live-to-two-track mix of any size band (i.e. with no overdubs) can result in a full CD recorded in one 12-hour day. A multi-track band demo of 4-5 songs (with minimal overdubbing) can also be recorded and mixed in one full day.

In two to three consecutive 12-hour sessions, a good band or non-performing studio project group can usually record the basic tracks for a full CD, and probably squeeze in some overdubs on the third day. Likewise, three 6-hour half-day sessions are usually enough for a well-rehearsed solo singer-songwriter to record a full CD of basic solo performances. 12-hour sessions are not recommended if you are working alone, unless you’re a hardcore studio veteran.

Generally it is best to get all your basic tracks done before overdubbing, but that is not a requirement as far as I’m concerned. And don’t forget to factor in food and refreshment costs to keep your musicians in the studio and working at their peak, rather than lagging and/or running out at random times for food.

LOCATION MULTI-TRACKING SESSIONS

Since this really is the ultimate in being prepared for a session I thought i'd give this its own section. Recording a live show is really doing all the basic tracks at the same time without ever going to the studio! This can be a real time saver if that's the sound you are going for. This can also be done at a rehearsal space or rented facility. Of course, all the mixing and mastering still has to be done (see below).

OVERDUB SESSIONS

For lead or duo vocal overdubs, 6-hour sessions are recommended. Dependent on ability and standards of performance, a solo vocalist or duo can usually complete 3-4 acceptable lead vocal tracks per 6-hour session. Some singers can do 6-8 vocals in that time; others can do one or less. You probably have a good idea which of those categories your vocalists belong in. At the very least, book two 6-hour sessions if you planning on overdubbing all the lead vocals on your CD.

For group background vocals, prior rehearsal is an absolute requirement. Whether you are working with professional singers (my recommendation) or band members without professional vocal training, set all your vocal parts in dedicated vocal rehearsals, and practice them along with your basic tracks until you have them down cold. Please!! To save your money and my sanity, I will pull the plug on background vocal sessions where singers are bringing in girlfriends or friends of the band who "sing pretty good after a few beers" etc. etc. And don’t try to squeeze the background vocals in at the end of the day when everyone is tired. It never works. Ranting aside, follow the aforementioned lead vocal session guidelines when planning your background sessions.

For instrumental overdubs plan on spending 1 hour per overdub per song when the instrumentalist is in a regularly working band. For outside musicians – even talented "studio cats" – plan on spending 2 hours per overdub per song IF the arrangement has been charted/ rehearsed AND the musician has had a copy of the song AND has actually listened to it. Countless times I’ve heard that "so-and-so is really good and it’ll only take an hour" but in real life that almost never happens. So for a "moderately produced" CD, meaning 2-3 overdubs per song, you can easily spend a 6-hour session per song putting on those unique and important finishing touches.

Respect your guest musicians (and your studio engineer) by setting a realistic schedule for overdub days. Let your musicians know how long you want them to spend in the studio, and give them a reasonable workload for that amount of time. 3 hours per musician/ 3 guest musicians in a full day is a good, realistic schedule. Don’t make your guests wait around, and try to avoid the situation where a performer feels pressured by having the next musician in line waiting around for them to finish. And for goodness sake, pay your musician a little something, or give them a nice dinner. It’s a rough life for these people.

MIXING

For projects where the ensemble sound, instrumentation and arrangement are consistent from track to track (typically jazz/ blues/ solo singer-songwriters), it is possible to mix a whole 10-12 song CD in one full day. To do the same and get a little fancy with it, two full days are recommended. For "moderately produced" CD’s with vocal and instrumental overdubbing as described above, I can generally mix 3-4 songs in one 12-hour day. Because of the setup time involved in the mix, a 6-hour session tends to be a less efficient option, and I prefer not to work that way.

For most mixes, 1/4" analog tape (33 minute reel) is my preferred medium. DAT (2 hours) is a more common and affordable option that always sounds decent. A CD reference/ backup is usually made at the same time as the mix.

MASTERING

I prefer to master my own projects, and the few Audio Vortex projects which have been mastered elsewhere have confirmed the wisdom of this policy. But that’s a long story. It is your right to take your mixes to whoever you choose for mastering. The in-house charge to finish a full-length CD is usually around $300-$600. A top mastering engineer will probably charge $1000-$2500.

OTHER EXPENSES

I don’t perform the additional services listed below, but I can offer recommendations on where to go for them. Of course, you may want to factor some of these things into your budget.

I hope this helps you approach the budget for your next CD project. Thanks for thinking of me, and feel free to get in touch at any time for further discussion of your recording needs.