Why preparation saves studio time
In our 2 isolated booths in the Haarlemmerbuurt, every minute counts. When lyrics, tempo and references are settled, we can set gain, pop filter and headphone mix straight away. Unsure about arrangement or key? Book a short call via contact — we usually reply within 2 business days.
Our vocal recording includes an engineer and basic edit per track (€165). That only pays off once the performance is there; re-recording because you were unprepared adds hours (€95) or another half day (€340).
Days before the session
Limit vocal load: no shouting all night at parties, no hours of singing along in the car without breaks. Finalise lyrics on paper or in your DAW, mark breaths and tricky syllables. Listen to your backing daily — you should know every intro and break by heart.
Send your instrumental (WAV or AIFF at the tempo you will sing) and a short reference for the sound you want. That lets Soapwoodcoreco prep mics from our 24 channels and estimate input gain before you arrive.
The night before
Sleep is the cheapest tuning. Alcohol dries mucous membranes; heavy or spicy meals can cause reflux that irritates your voice overnight. Pack your bag: water, lyrics, headphones if you rely on them, and files on a drive or reliable upload.
Check the route on contact: 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. — aim to arrive ten minutes early so you are not out of breath walking into the booth.
On the day
Drink room-temperature water through the day, not only right before the take. Many singers skip dairy and heavy sugar in the hours before; a little coffee is fine for most voices. Eat lightly about two hours ahead: too empty feels dizzy, too full restricts your diaphragm.
Do not push through a bad cold or hoarseness. Reschedule via contact rather than forcing half takes; cancellation is possible up to 5 days ahead under our terms and conditions.
Warm up without shredding
Start with the body: shoulders, jaw, tongue. Breathe out on a long ‘s’ or ‘f’, then lip trills or a gentle ‘ng’ siren. Only then move into your song range; do not open with the highest chorus.
For rap or spoken parts, work articulation slowly, then increase tempo. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough — longer dry warming rarely helps in a booth where air is kept relatively dry on purpose.
What to bring and how to deliver files
Instrumental: 24-bit WAV at project tempo, without a master limiter squashing dynamics. Avoid exporting MP3 unless it is your only source; re-render from your DAW instead. Name files clearly: title, BPM, key.
For exports and stems for a later mix, see stems and file formats. If you only record vocals and mix at home, note sample rate and bit depth — we match them in session to avoid surprise conversion.
In the booth: headphones, distance, breaks
Ask to adjust your headphone mix before chasing the perfect take. Too loud → you sing quietly; too quiet → you push. Many artists leave one ear open to hear themselves in the room — say so, and we will avoid bleed into the mic.
Keep distance steady: about a hand between mouth and pop filter, slightly farther on hard consonants. Ask for breaks; ten minutes quiet and water beat a run of tired doubles. Our engineers mark best takes as you go so you can stay focused on performance.
Booking, payment and next steps
Book via contact or 020-737 4821. We ask for a 30% deposit to confirm; the balance is due around the session. Minimum age in the studio is 16.
After recording we keep project files for 12 months on our servers, then only on request. Planning a mix next? Read mixing budget guide and see mixing — 2 revision rounds are included on mix jobs. Questions about privacy are covered in our privacy policy.
Short checklist
- Lyrics and tempo fixed, instrumental checked.
- Rested, hydrated, light meal.
- Files and route ready, early arrival.
- Warmed up, headphone mix agreed, breaks taken.
- Contact details and cancellation rules read.
These tips are general and do not replace medical advice. For persistent hoarseness or pain, see a doctor or speech therapist and move your appointment.
