CH02

Band and live recording in Amsterdam

Play together the way you do in the rehearsal room, while every instrument still lands on its own tracks. Our 42 m² live room fits up to 6 musicians at the same time.

Four-piece band playing together in a spacious live room with wooden floor and microphones around instruments.

Most bands sound their best when they can see and hear each other. A tight take with the whole group in the room carries a tension that is hard to rebuild by overdubbing one part at a time. So we set up the Variatesystems live room for you to play as a unit, while drums, bass, guitars and keys still arrive on separate channels.

You keep the feel of a gig and still have the freedom to replace a guitar part or redo the bass afterwards. The approach suits rock and pop bands, jazz combos, folk and acoustic groups, and anyone who wants to capture a live set for a release, a demo or a showcase.

How it works

00:10:00
Planning call
We go through the line-up, number of songs, tempos and whether you play to a click. From there we plan the room layout.
00:20:00
Load-in and miking
Drums, amps and instruments get their spot in the room. We place microphones, check phase and build a monitor mix for each player.
00:30:00
Tracking
You play several full takes of each song. In between we listen back together in the control room and pick the strongest version.
00:40:00
Overdubs and export
Fixes, solos or extra parts are recorded afterwards. You leave with separate WAV tracks for every instrument.

01 Playing together, tracking separately

Perfect separation in a single room does not exist: every microphone picks up a little of everything else. That spill is part of what makes a live recording breathe. The goal is to keep it under control so there is still enough room to shape things in the mix.

To do that we use movable acoustic screens, point amplifiers away from the kit and choose microphones with a focused pickup pattern. A bass amp can be captured through a DI and a microphone at the same time. Vocals you plan to replace are sung live as a guide track so the band keeps following the song.

If you want clean, isolated vocals, we record them in the booth after the band session. More on that on our vocal recording page.

02 The room and your line-up

The live room measures 42 m² and holds up to 6 musicians playing at once. That covers a classic set-up of drums, bass, two guitars, keys and vocals, or an acoustic ensemble with horns or strings.

Example set-ups
Line-up	Approach
Power trio	Everything live, guitar and bass amps screened off
Five-piece pop band	Band live with guide vocal, lead vocal later in the booth
Jazz quartet	Minimal screens, eye contact comes first
Acoustic group	Close together, room microphones for atmosphere

With 28 microphones on hand we can mic a drum kit in detail and still add room microphones for the sound of the space itself. Playing with more than 6 people? Get in touch and we will look at recording in sections.

03 What a recording day looks like

A full 8-hour day usually falls into three blocks:

Load-in and soundcheck, often the first one to two hours. Drums take longest, so bring a kit that is already well tuned.
Basic tracks: several complete takes per song, with short listening breaks in between.
Overdubs: guitar solos, extra percussion, backing vocals or fixing a single bar.

How many songs you get through depends on how well rehearsed the band is. A tight band often lays down four to six basic tracks in a day; if you want more finishing per song, plan for fewer. Our guide to budgeting a band recording helps you estimate days and costs realistically.

04 Getting the band ready

Studio time gets expensive when it is spent writing arrangements. A few things that make a real difference:

Rehearse the songs tightly and lock structure, tempo and endings before the day.
Decide on a click. If you will use one, rehearse with it too, or you will burn takes in the studio.
Fit fresh strings and heads a few days ahead so they have settled.
Bring spares: strings, sticks, cables, batteries for pedals.
Send demos or rehearsal recordings so the engineer knows what to expect.

If you are bringing your own amps and drums, tell us in advance so we can plan load-in time and floor space.

05 What you take home

We record at 24-bit/48 kHz unless you prefer another sample rate. Afterwards you receive separate WAV tracks per instrument and per microphone, all starting from the same point and clearly named, such as kick-in, bass-di or guitar-left, so any mix engineer can get started straight away.

On request we put together a rough mix of the chosen takes at the end of the day, so the band can judge at home what still needs doing. We keep the session for 12 months; make sure you also store the files on your own drive or cloud storage.

06 Mixing and mastering afterwards

Tracking is only the first stage. If you want the songs finished, we offer that as separate services: mixing, with 2 revision rounds per track, followed by mastering for streaming, vinyl or CD. You are equally free to take the tracks to another mix engineer; in that case, read up first on delivering tracks for mixing.

07 What the price does not cover

The day and session rates include the live room, the control room, the microphones and an engineer for the booked time. Not included:

Mixing and mastering the recorded songs.
Hiring instruments or backline we do not have at the studio; discuss this beforehand.
Session musicians or a producer writing arrangements.
Extra time beyond the booked hours, charged per hour.

What the engineer does do: think along about the set-up, tell you honestly which take is strongest and help you keep track during a long day.

08 Pricing, VAT and booking

A full 8-hour day costs €495 and a 4-hour session €275. Both include 21% VAT; excluding VAT that is €409.09 per day and €227.27 per session. Split the cost among band members however you like: we send one invoice to the person who books.

A 30% deposit secures the date. You can cancel or reschedule free of charge up to 7 days before the session; after that 50% is due. Business clients pay within 14 days of the invoice date. The details are in our terms and conditions.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00, closed on Sunday. Sessions by appointment only. Reach us through the contact page or call 020 846 3172.

What you get

42 m² live room for up to 6 musicians
Recording engineer for the booked time
Miking of drums, amps and acoustic instruments
Individual monitor mix for each player
Acoustic screens and DI boxes
Separate, clearly named WAV tracks per instrument
Rough mix of the chosen takes on request
Session backup for 12 months

Common questions

Is a 4-hour session enough for our band?

For two or three well-rehearsed songs it often is. Remember that load-in and soundcheck take up part of that time. For an EP a full day is usually the better fit.

Do we have to play to a click?

No, it is not required. A click makes editing and overdubs easier, but some styles sound better without one. We talk it through in the planning call.

Can we use our own drums and amps?

Yes, and we often recommend it, because that is your sound. Let us know what you are bringing so we can schedule load-in properly.

Can our singer record separately later?

Yes. During the band take the singer records a guide vocal, and the final vocal is done afterwards in the booth. See vocal recording.

What happens if a band member drops out?

Up to 7 days ahead you can reschedule free of charge. After that 50% of the amount is due, as set out in our terms and conditions.

More services

Recording in Amsterdam?

Tell us what you want to record

Send a short description of your project. Within 2 working days you get a proposed date and a written quote, with no obligation.

Ask for a quote 020 846 3172