Band recording
Drums, bass, amps and vocals at once — with screens, gobos and a booth when the singer should not stand next to the stacks.
Band recording at Soapwoodcoreco uses our 42 m² live room in a former warehouse in Amsterdam. Since 2018 we have tracked rock, indie, jazz combos and electronic acts that want live energy, not only programmed parts.
The room suits roughly 6 players at once; larger line-ups split across passes or combine with vocal overdubs. After tracking, book mixing or read stems and file formats before you send files elsewhere.
How it works
- 01
Plan
Send set list, tempos and approach (live vs overdubs). We quote hourly or day rate plus 30% deposit.
- 02
Load-in
Position drums, amp angles and DIs. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes before the first take depending on backline.
- 03
Tracking
Basic takes per song, then overdubs in booth or room. Lead engineer or colleague manages balances and take sheets.
- 04
Export
Multitrack WAVs per instrument; backup 12 months. Mix/master only if booked separately.
Which projects fit
Four- to six-piece bands with drums, bass, guitars and keys; duos that want live percussion; session players blocking one day. This is not a concert hall — no audience, no pyrotechnics, no amp volumes that shake the facade.
Full orchestral layouts or nine-piece ensembles do not fit 42 m²; we say so upfront via contact so you do not pay for an impossible setup.
Layout and bleed control
Drums sit behind screens; guitars and bass can use an iso corner with the cab. Vocals often go in the booth for control, though some bands sing in the room for vibe — then we accept more bleed and plan extra iso tracks.
We have 3 rooms total: live room, control room and 2 booths. That lets you dub vocals or solos between passes without tearing down the floor setup.
The floor is wood; heels or metal soles show up on overheads. Soft shoes or slippers for anyone walking during takes are welcome.
Rates
Prices incl. 21% VAT, studio and engineer. Net: hour €103.31, day €760.33.
| Rate | Amount | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | €125 | Short projects, few songs |
| Day (8 hours) | €920 | EP or album day with breaks |
Overtime beyond booked blocks bills at the hourly rate. Business clients: 14 days payment per terms.
Backline and what you supply
We provide a basic drum kit, DIs, headphones and mics from 24 channels. Bring your guitars, pedals, synths and snare — familiar tone saves time.
Tune before load-in; fresh strings the day before, drums dialed. Send rough mixes so we know song priority. Mix budget guide helps if you continue to mixing immediately after.
Workflow per song
We start with a live take or drums+bass if a click will follow later. Everyone gets a headphone mix; tweaks between takes are normal. After a solid base we add leads, doubles and effects.
Discuss click and tempo maps beforehand — changing tempos without a map eats time. Breaks are scheduled; an eight-hour day is not eight hours of continuous playing.
If you dub vocals later the same week, we can book booth time after the band day so you avoid rebuilding the floor setup — that often saves an hour of load-in on the vocal session.
Delivery
Default delivery is labelled multitrack WAVs (24-bit, 48 kHz unless agreed otherwise), plus a rough bounce per song on request. Session files on request when compatibility allows.
Data via download or your drive; we keep projects 12 months. Mix revisions: 2 rounds on a separate mix job, not on raw band tracks alone.
Not included
Mix, master, arranger, extra musicians, rare vintage amp rental, catering and on-street parking (paid parking nearby). Damage to your own gear is outside studio liability — see disclaimer.
Video or livestream from the room is not standard; lighting and cameras are external or by arrangement.
Logistics and booking
Grote Bickersstraat 74, 1013 KS Amsterdam. Take tram 22 to Haarlemmerplein, then walk about 6 minutes via Haarlemmerdijk. Bus stop Buiten Oranjesluis (lines 18, 21 and 22) is within walking distance. Closed Monday. Tuesday through Friday 10:00–22:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00. Sunday by appointment only. Minimum age 16; free cancellation up to 5 days per terms.
Book via contact or 020-737 4821. Spoken-word shows? See podcast recording. General questions: FAQ. Privacy: privacy policy. Heavy racks load via the rear entrance — send dimensions ahead so we plan trolley and lift time.
Included
- Live room and control with engineer
- Basic drum kit and DIs
- Headphone mix per musician
- Screens/gobos for bleed control
- Multitrack WAV export
- Take notes per song
- Project backup 12 months
FAQ
Can we track everything live in one pass?
Often for basics, not always for vocal bleed. We agree what is realistic in 42 m²; booth overdubs are normal.
Is the day eight hours of playing?
Eight hours booked studio time including setup and short breaks. A long lunch counts; plan it in your schedule.
May we bring our own engineer?
Our engineer is included. External engineer only by arrangement — studio fee remains; ask via contact.
How fast do we get files?
Usually same day or within a few working days on large sessions. Rush export can be quoted as extra. Tell us at contact which format your DAW expects.
What if a member is ill?
Tell us early. Reschedule within 5 days per terms; partial session with overdubs later is sometimes possible.
Other services
- 01
Vocal recording
Isolated booth and engineer for singles, hooks and demos.
€95 · per hour
- 02
Mixing
Balance, dynamics and space for release or streaming.
€185 · per track
- 03
Mastering
Final polish with controlled loudness for digital platforms.
€68 · per track
- 04
Podcast recording
Table setup for two to four voices, monitoring included.
€78 · per hour
Recording in Amsterdam?
Let's plan your session
Tell us what you need: within 2 working days we reply with a slot and a written quote, no obligation.