Back in the mists of time, if you wanted to get your music heard by anyone apart from the audience at your gigs you needed a recording contract. A man with a big cigar offered you a contract and lent you the money to make a record. This was your "advance" and the idea was that you paid it back out of the proceeds of the sales of said record. If you didn´t have a record deal your choices were very limited. You could fund yourself to record but with no record company to distribute your album you were unlikely to reach many people.

Nowadays all that is changed. The internet has made it possible for anyone to put their music onto streaming services and in digital stores such as Amazon Music and Apple Music etc for very little money.

So we will be looking at ways to get your music out into the world. TisT runs courses titled "Create, Record and Release". This is just about how to record and release your songs - we´ll leave the creativity up to you.

First a note about the difference between releasing a physical CD and releasing a digital download. If you want your music on streaming platforms and available for download then you will need to release them "digitally". This "Course" will show you how to do that but first you need to have some song recorded. If there is no man with a big cigar lurking nearby that means you  will have to sort this yourself so let´s get started.

Recording -

Your phone can do amazing things nowadays but to produce something that will be good enough quality for streaming or, with luck, radio play will mean taking the process more seriously. At the very least, if you are recording nothing more than your voice and guitar you need to record  both separately to ensure the correct balance between the two components. So what are the possibilities?

1. The traditional "Professional Studio"

This, of course, is the traditional route but might well be, for many of us, too expensive. So...
How much does a recording studio cost per hour in the UK?

Recording studio prices in the UK can vary depending on various factors, including location, equipment quality, studio reputation, and additional services offered. On average, you can expect to pay around £30 to £100 per hour for studio time. Higher-end studios may charge even more, reaching up to £150 or higher per hour. It's important to note that these prices may fluctuate based on the studio's popularity and demand, as well as any special packages or promotions they offer. It is possible to find packages in smaller studios for £25 an hour.

Recording studios set their prices based on a range of factors, including the quality of their equipment, expertise of the engineers, location, and the overall experience they provide. It's essential to strike a balance between affordability and quality. When choosing a recording studio, consider your budget, project requirements, and the value you expect to receive. It's always recommended to compare prices and services offered by different studios to find the best fit for your needs.

Recording studio costs in the UK can vary significantly, but by understanding the factors that influence pricing and having a clear idea of your project requirements, you can make informed decisions and find a studio that meets both your budget and creative aspirations. Remember to research multiple studios, compare prices, and consider the overall value and experience they provide. Ultimately, investing in a professional recording studio ensures that your music receives the attention and quality it deserves.

A fellow member of TisT, Paul Fincken, recorded a complete album in one day by being extremely well prepared, using only voice and guitar and recording each song in one take. To quote him:-

"Just looked it up on my accounts. The studio was £200 for a full day. As I’ve said, I recorded twelve songs in a day, but I knew the songs pretty well, and just recorded them straight. Of course, I messed up a few and had to start again, but I got it done. My vocals probably would have benefited from doing them separately from the guitar track, but I wanted to keep it simple, and just have a record of some of my songs. Unlike a lot of others on TisT, I have no ambition for commercial success - songwriting is just something I have come to late in life, and is keeping my brain busy.

Chris Martin says:-
I use Kevin Jones for my recording and highly recommend him.  He has all the hardware, software, knows how to use it and is a lovely guy.  He was once a drummer, so is excellent helping with any required percussion tracks.  https://www.facebook.com/eastriverproductions

 

"You need to shop around on studio time, but should be able to find something at about £20 per hour.  This should not be the determining factor though; it’s about the engineer (producer), the hardware and the software.  The engineer needs to buy into the project and work with you to get the outcome that you want.  It’s easy to watch the clock fly round and be going nowhere.
PS: Don’t touch the mics, that really pisses them off."

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Another testimonial from another TistT member in Beverley Healy:-

 "I used the same recording studio in Hailsham as Chris Martin run by Kevin Jones. He was great and , in my opinion, very reasonable. We recorded in the morning and he worked on the tracks in the afternoon. We could listen to what he’d done in the evening and request any changes if required. He charged us £160 a day and an extra £40 a track to master the tracks when the album was completed. We used the nice man in Hastings to produce 200 CDs. Used Distrokid. I should’ve asked people to pre-order but was too shy to do this. If anyone wants to listen ,the album Procrastination is on Utube under our stage name Tilsmore." 

In the past that finished recording would be handed to you as a tape but nowadays it comes in the form of a computer file - usually a WAV. Now you need to decide what to do with those files

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Chris Manners says:-

​"For the CD just finished, due to be delivered on Monday:-

5 days studio time at £250/day (slightly discounted rate; previous client). 15 songs plus overdubs / harmonies and fixes. Mastering (bless him) at no extra cost.

So that was a cost of £1250 for the actual recording and mastering.

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This will be the fourth time I've used Birnam CD for manufacturer and all the extras and recommend them highly. Knowledgeable, efficient, good to work with. Class act all round."

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Beverley and Chris mentioned Mastering so now might be a good time to cover that subject:-

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Mastering

Mastering is a bit of a dark art, often done by dedicated mastering engineers. If nothing else you will want to make sure your tracks match for volume so your listeners don´t have to keep altering the volume control each time a new track starts. Mastering also uses compression to even out the peaks and troughs and EQ to make the overall sound of the album a whole rather than disparate tracks.

 

It can be expensive and most mastering engineers charge by the track. However, it is possible to use online mastering services which are a lot cheaper. It depends on your budget. Look upon mastering as a final coat of polish.Online mastering services are:-

 

EMastered. You can pay a one-off fee of £24 for one month, which should enable you to master your entire album. It uses AI rather than actual humans.

https://emastered.com/

 

LANDR. I have used LANDR in the past and the results are fine. but they would like you to sign up to their complete service. You can, however try it for free

https://www.landr.com/online-audio-mastering/

 

You might decide that your tracks sound fine and you are happy to release them just as they are. If you are looking for a complete, professional, polished product then the professional studio/professional mastering route is the way to go. However, a pro studio should produce a result perfectly good enough for radio play and for most people´s ears without further mastering.

There is an alternative to paying out for a professional studio. If you have a halfway decent computer you can purchase everything else you need to record yourself for under £160.  There is a steep learning curve but learning is half the fun and, once you are set up, you can record an infinite number of songs with no further outlay. So what about setting up a Home Studio?
 

Home Studio Recording

This is a whole subject on its own. Luckily there is a complete guide here:-
https://andyangy4.wixsite.com/andy-harding/blank-2

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Now What?
You have your songs recorded and you have a choice.

Do you want to make them into a CD to sell at gigs/by post?

Read the pros and cons and how to do that  here