Implemented 04.2010:

Standard Hourly Rate:

The current standard hourly rate is $30. This applies to recording, mixing, and mastering. I have said before and will say again that I prefer not to master the projects that are recorded and/or mixed at The Chateau, but I am willing to do so if that is how you want it.

Day Rate:

The day rate applies to a full day of recording totalling 9-12 hrs. Break time is NOT included in the total; you might actually spend 18 hrs at The Chateau, but the total might be billed for 11 hrs' worth of actual work. If work continues beyond 12 hrs, the standard hourly rate applies for hours 13 & on.

12 hr day - $280
11 hr day - $270
10 hr day - $260
9 hr day - $250

The day rate does NOT apply to mixing or mastering. Mixing or mastering sessions will extend beyond 6 hours at a time in only the most pressing of circumstances, and in those circumstances will be billed at the standard hourly rate.

Self-Service Recording:

To the best of my knowledge, this is a new thing that I invented and no one else employs yet. It is a very cost-effective way to get a great recording!

How it works:

You show up in the morning, and I'm already as set-up as I can be. You set up. I place microphones and get the sounds just right. So far it's a standard day, and the standard hourly rate of $30 applies.

Now that everything is set up, I show you where the "record" button is and how to "save" after each take. The rate switches to $15/hr. I leave the room and go about other business. I am still around should any weird stuff come up that needs attention. I make you coffee, order lunch, etc. You record for as much or as little time as you need, uninterrupted. Maybe you do this for 3 hours, maybe you do this for 5 days.

I am available to change the set-up for overdubs or different instrumentations. (Most often, billing can continue at $15/hr. If the reorganization is a major one, taking a half hour or more, the standard hourly rate will apply.)

This model works well for larger projects, in which you are recording a full album's worth of songs, or if you are improvising as a group. For any situation in which one instrumentation is required for several hours or more, this makes sense for you. Perhaps you are all tracking together all day, or perhaps you are tracking the drums for 10 songs, then the bass for 10 songs, etc. No more racing through takes to keep the project within the budget; spend the time you need to get the takes you want!

The self-service billing structure does not apply to mobile recording, and no day rate applies. And obviously, if you are interested in your engineer's perspective on the quality of your takes, you won't get that from self-service. It works a little differently for each project, so please email to discuss how or whether it will work for you!

Mobile Recording:

My brain can imagine two scenarios for mobile recording. One is the recording of live performances; the other is recording a "studio" album in a space other than a recording studio. These scenarios are billed differently as the circumstances surrounding each are vastly different.

Live Recording:

Live recordings are rushed jobs, usually taking place in less-than-ideal acoustic spaces. The pace is quick, space is limited, and the position of the performers is oriented toward audience visibility rather than ideal acoustics. There is usually a lot of ambient noise from air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, lively audiences, etc. There can be anomalies in the building's power system. While the recording chain and microphones I use for a live recording are the same as for studio recordings, for the reasons listed above one cannot expect a live recording to approach the same sound quality as a studio recording. Still, there are plenty of reasons to desire a live recording. Sometimes the ambient noise is desirable, sometimes a musician's style is suited more toward performing in front of an audience, and the energy of the live performance is a necessary component of the music. (Though sometimes a better option is to invite a small audience into the studio...)

I offer a flat rate of $250 for completing a live recording in the City of Chicago; add $.50/mile for live recording jobs outside the City of Chicago. The standard hourly rate applies for mixing & mastering.

If you are planning a recording of a live performance, the more set-up time we have in advance of the performance, the better. It can be done in an hour, but two or three is much more ideal. If you are able to adjust your stage configuration to accomodate the microphones, so much the better.

Location Recording:

In this scenario I bring my recording rig to a space, set up, and spend some time getting the sound right with the expectation that the quality is to be equal-to-yet-different-from that at the Chateau. This could be a day-long project or a weeks-long project. In this scenario, day rates or the standard hourly rate apply. Add $.50/mile for locations outside the City of Chicago. It may also make sense to mix the project on location. Something to think about.

Thank you for looking. Please email with any questions or suggestions. I began recording some time ago to help myself and others get great quality recordings without spending our life savings, and I am always looking for ways to make it easier on all of us.