Frequently Asked Questions

What will we do in our first session?

The first session will be used to introduce you to standard studio practice and to get you comfortable with recording. Recording is like putting your songs, skills and talents under a microscope and can be frustrating and a little intimidating at first. Depending on the nature of your project, the first couple of hours may be spent choosing and placing mics, setting headphone mixes etc. This time gives you a chance to get settled in the studio, warm up, and finalize any arrangement decisions. If you are bringing in beats, we will review your beats and mixes and make any recommendations.

What do I need to bring to my first session?

Bring your instruments- with fresh strings and a recent set-up. We can provide this if you need it. A guitar or bass that won't stay in tune or has a bad buzz will very quickly waste your time and energy in the studio and can ruin your tracks. Bring your amp in for a check up if needed and make sure all is in good shape before the session.

Bring a portable hard drive or memory stick (see below for more details). These items are available from us at competitive prices so let us know in advance if you want us to supply a data storage device. We will store your project while you are working on it but it's the clients responsibility to keep backup and master copies after we are done. Please ask us for more details specific to your project before we start to avoid and confusion or loss.

How long will you retain my music files on your system?

This is an important question. While we will make every effort to maintain usable data files of your project while we are working on your session, it is your (the client's) responsibility to back up and archive all of your sessions. We do not "Archive" your data! See below for details:

Liability

We are not legally or financially responsible for items brought into or left on the premises. We recommended that you obtain insurance to protect against damage or loss of of your stuff if left on the premises. This includes instruments, iPods, drives, etc.

Digital Media Waiver

This information is intended to educate Earthshaking Studios' clients about the nature of digital media and also to establish legal boundaries regarding their digital data.

Always make multiple backups of your data. Unless there are at least two copies of the data somewhere, your data is not safe. Three copies are better! This is YOUR responsibility! Backups can be made onto internal hard drives of computers, onto external Firewire or USB hard drives, stored in an online data storage bank or burned to DVD-R or CD-R. There is no certainty that a CD-R or DVD-R will hold data for the long term or that a stored hard drive will play back after sitting for a year or more so back up your data to newer media as time goes on. We highly recommend purchasing quality hard drives. Allow enough time at the end of your session to make your back ups!

Legal Responsibilities

1. You are responsible for storing and managing your data during the course of a recording project as well as for "proofing" all masters prior to duplication.
2. Earthshaking Studios is not responsible for data left on premises.
3. You are responsible for educating yourself on the care and safe store of digital data.
4. Earthshaking Studios is not responsible for unrecoverable data.

How much does studio time cost?

Total cost is $60 per hour. This includes engineer fee, the use of any available studio instruments (drums, guitars, amps, percussion, etc) and temporary project storage fees. This price does not include blank CD's (feel free to bring your own), hard drives for backup, replacement drum heads, strings, picks, sticks or any other merchandise.

When do I pay for my session?

We require payment at the completion of each day's session, whether the project is done or not. Earthshaking Studios retains ownership of all recorded work until it is paid for in full.

When does the "clock" start on my session?

The clock starts at scheduled time whether you are here or not and continues until we are done burning cd duplicates or backing up your session to your storage device.

Do you have a drum kit?

Yes, we have two vintage Gretsch drum kits, a 80's Yamaha Recording Custom, and a Mapex 5-piece kit and about a half-dozen snares to choose from, as well as all the cymbals and percussion instruments in-stock in the store. All available at no additional charge! Sweet!

Do you work weekends?

Yes- we are available 7 days a week.

Can I smoke in the studio?

No- no smoking of any kind is allowed in the building.

Can I record on tape (analog)?

No- digital only. Have you seen the price of tape these days?!? We can refer you to other studios that specialize in analog recording.

Can I bring my own engineer?

Maybe- he or she will need to meet with Scott Trinh prior to scheduling your session to make sure they are qualified to operate our studio.

My band is very good. I'm thinking we can record an hour of music in about an hour. Is this possible?

We can record your band "live" to two track and mix on the fly, almost the same as we would a location recording, but chances are this approach will not be polished enough for most people. Try to be realistic about your level of performance and just how perfect or rough you want things to be. Keep in mind that minor problems, such as vocal or instrument pitch issues, or misplaced cymbal crashes or fills etc. usually don't ruin a live show, will most likely ruin a recording upon repeated listening. Allow at least an hour per song for simple material and longer for more complex band arrangements.

What is the role of the engineer during my sessions?

The engineer's job is to efficiently capture your performance and to address all the technical issues that arise during recording. He will select mics and place them and you in the studio so you and your music will sound as good as possible. The engineer will organize the tracks in the computer and keep notes on set-up, mic selection and placement so future sessions will sound consistent with the first. As the name implies, the engineers role is primarily a technical one, though not exclusively. For example if the engineer hears a wrong note or missed entrance, he can stop recording and suggest a retake. Our quoted studio rate includes the Engineer. However, if you are tracking a live band or technically complex project, we reserve the right to require an assistant engineer or intern in order to keep things moving and efficient. We will discuss this with you, and you will be billed accordingly.

What is a Co-Producer?

On many lower budget sessions it's common for the artist to act as Producer and the engineer to act as Co-producer (and to get credit for this in the liner notes). This dual-role for the engineer allows the engineer to make suggestions and critical assessments of the "artistic" side of what you are doing, with, of course, the goal of making the best possible recording. Fair game would be selecting takes, correcting pitch or rhythm problems, suggesting arrangement ideas and recommending session musicians or even playing or singing on certain tracks.

What does a producer do and do I need one for my project?

The producer's role is primarily artistic and his/her job is to oversee the artist's performance, assist in song selection and arrangement and to interface with the engineer and any hired musicians. In a way, a producer is like a coach who knows how to push, pull and encourage a superior performance from the artist. Nearly everyone can benefit from having a producer and nearly every record you end up hearing on the radio or buying had a producer. If you are curious about using a producer, feel free to discuss your project with Dave or Scott and we will be glad to show you how we can assist producing the best recording possible and to discuss rates and options.

I have a little project studio at home (Garage Band, Fruity Loops etc). Can I start my project at home and then bring it in the Earthshaking Studios to add vocals, drums, guitars etc?

Yes, absolutely. Bring your songs in as multi track (unmixed) files for best results. We can discuss the specifics with you prior to your first session for best results.

Why would I want to mix my songs at your studio instead of doing it at home?

Several reasons: room, playback system, software/hardware, skills and perspective. Our rooms are acoustically treated and are more revealing of what your tracks sound like. Our playback system is much more revealing, even and full range than most home systems, we have state-of-the-art software for editing, effects and automating your mix and we have a 24 channel control surface. Our skills are honed from doing many mixes on a wide range of material and we bring a fresh, professional perspective to your material. We hear and fix things that you have unconsciously blocked out through repeated listening.

What is Mastering and do I need it for my project?

If Mixing is the process of adjusting the levels and tone of each instrument and vocal track in a song to make the song sound as good as possible, then Mastering is the process of adjusting the songs relative to each other and finalizing the overall sound and "feel" of the total recording. In Mastering, each song is checked carefully for any clicks or noises, and the final eq (or multiple eqs) and ambiance (reverbs, etc.) are selected so the songs sound as good as they possibly can. Song levels (loudness) are carefully set and compression and limiting are set appropriately for the style of music etc. Lastly, song sequence and spacing is set if the mixes were delivered out of sequence. Do you need mastering? Maybe not if your project is only a song or two. If you are doing a more complete project like a four or five song EP up to a full cd, and especially if you have recorded in several places- home, a friends studio, live venue, etc, mastering will really help the finished product sound cohesive and coherent. We feel it is money well spent.

I heard I that I should listen to my songs or mastered cd on a variety of systems. What is the purpose for that and what should I listen for?

Checking your mix on a car system, iPod, or at home is always a good idea. Ideally you want mixes that will sound good on any system and at any playback level. We will provide you with rough mixes and with a test master for you to try out. Listen for any obvious problems such as bass and treble too loud or quiet, vocals weak or too far back in the mix etc. With all of this, try not to second guess decisions that were made in the studio. You should be focused on whether the songs sound as good as songs sound on a particular system, not if they sound as good as they did in the studio. Obviously, it will sound different, and in most cases better in the studio, but that would be true of any music you listen to. We can discuss any of these issues with you in detail as needed.

Are you hiring Engineers?

No, we have two talented engineers on staff. If you wish to freelance here please talk to Scott or Dave.