Two weeks ahead
Lock lyrics and structure at home. Writing between takes burns studio time. Use clear headings for verses, hooks and bridges. Mark breath spots and words that need extra articulation.
Send a short brief via contact: genre, tempo, reference tracks and how many songs you want to track. We can then suggest whether an hour (€98), half day (€355) or full day (€645) is realistic. When unsure, book a little extra time — calm sessions usually yield cleaner takes than a rushed schedule.
Read our terms and conditions for the deposit (35%), free cancellation (5 days ahead) and minimum age (16). That way you know the rules before you pay.
Files and formats
Bring instrumentals as uncompressed WAV or AIFF at your project sample rate (often 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz). Avoid MP3 as your only source — conversion artefacts show up in the booth. Name files clearly: title, tempo (bpm) and key.
Export a rough mix without vocals as reference, plus any guide vocal you rely on. Put everything on an SSD or USB stick and send a download link as backup. Test links on your phone, not only on your laptop.
Mixing yourself later? See export stems for mixing so you know which tracks we can deliver after the session.
The day before
Rest and hydration matter. Sleep enough, drink water through the day and go easy on alcohol and smoking. Many singers find dairy right before recording makes the voice feel thick; choose lighter food instead.
Pack your bag: lyrics (paper or offline on your phone), headphones if you trust a particular pair, water, throat lozenges without menthol if you use them. Set an alarm with travel margin to Kinkerstraat 312 in Oud-West.
The studio is on Kinkerstraat in Oud-West, within walking distance of Erasmuspark. Trams 7 and 17 serve the Kinkerstraat stop; from there it is about a three-minute walk. You can use the bike racks along Kinkerstraat. On tram 7 or 17? Allow a few minutes walking from Kinkerstraat stop. Bike racks line the street; bring a lock and lights as usual in Amsterdam.
Morning of the session
Eat something light about two hours before start. Do not sing hungry or right after a heavy meal. Warm up gently: lip trills, soft sirens, articulation drills. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough — do not open with the highest chorus.
Check your appointment and how you get here. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 09:30–18:30, Saturday 12:00–16:00 (by appointment only). Closed on Sunday.. If you are late, call 020 245 8317 so we can adjust the schedule.
Bring ID if we must verify age (16+). For minors we arrange parental consent in advance via contact.
Inside the vocal booth
Our booth is about 10 m², isolated from the live room. The engineer sets mic, pop filter and headphone mix. Say how you hear yourself best — many vocalists leave one earcup off to hear their voice in the room.
Keep distance to the mic steady — roughly a hand between mouth and pop filter. Step back slightly on loud passages. Ask for short breaks; you cannot edit away fatigue as easily as you can prevent it.
The building has up to 32 input channels; for Vocal recording we focus on one solid vocal chain. Take time for tuning and comping — we mark takes during the session so you can focus on performance.
Time and budget
One song often fits in two to four studio hours when lyrics and beat are ready. Multiple songs in one day is possible, but plan breaks and realistic goals. Half day (€355) and full day (€645) cost less per hour than single hours (€98), incl. 21% VAT.
On a tight budget, agree upfront what matters most — for example hooks in studio and verses at home. We help you choose without upselling.
More on rates: services and FAQ.
After the session
We deliver agreed files within the turnaround on your quote. Raw takes, edits or comped vocals — confirm before the session. We keep project files per our archive policy (18 months); download everything to your own storage in time.
Heading to mixing? Send stemmed vocals and a clear track list. See export stems for naming and headroom.
Feedback on the recording itself is project-specific; mix revisions follow the mix rate with up to 2 rounds where applicable.
Summary
- Lyrics and beats ready, WAV without vocals, tempo and key noted.
- Travel time to Kinkerstraat included; call 020 245 8317 if delayed.
- Rest, water, light meal, short vocal warm-up.
- Bring lyrics, water, headphones and file backups.
- In the booth: steady distance, take breaks, tell the engineer about your monitor mix.
- Download within 18 months; plan mix or mastering next.
General health tips are not medical advice. With persistent hoarseness or pain, see a clinician and postpone the session.
Book via contact or email [email protected]. We usually reply within 2 business days.
