Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog,
Every couple of weeks, I’ll be publishing some tips and tricks to help you get what you want out of your music career. I hope you find the info useful… If you have any questions, or are looking to make a cd and would like some free help, advice and contacts, please email me.
This week we’re going to cover a question I get asked at the beginning of every conversation….
“I want to make a CD. How much is it going to cost?”
Well, the short answer is that it depends… In same way it depends if you asked “I want to buy a car. How much is it going to cost?”
Before we consider the factors which impact the cost of making your CD, I think it’s important to talk about your expectations. The majority of CDs that get made are independent – and that means that the band or artist will pay for the project out of their own pockets.
So if you’re expecting a shining knight producer in platinum armour to come and pay for everything and ‘make you a star’, it’s unlikely… sure it happens now and then, but most CDs are still made independently.
The indie route has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you get to make exactly the record you want and in your own time. You 100% own the masters and you are completely in control of your destiny!
On the down side, remember that as you’re paying you must do your homework. Research the type of CD you want to make, the type of studio you want ot record in, the producer you’ll work with… for some further tips, read my blog on ‘How to find the right producer for you’ or call The Record Factory and we’ll be happy to help you.
So – here are some of the factors which impact the cost of making your CD…
#1 – Producer reputation…
If you want Rick Rubin to produce your CD, then obviously the total cost will be significantly higher than if you record at a studio with a producer with a less well known client list. Experience costs.
#2 – Studio required?
Does the producer you’ve selected run his own studio? This may be beneficial as the day rate or song rate you’re offered will most likely include the cost of their room/equipment.
#3 – How much production?
Are you looking to record with your band playing all at the same time in the same room? This will be cheaper than if you record one instrument at a time.
The second part to this is the sound you want your CD to have. Often the more detail on the album, the more expensive it will be. A guitar orchestra piece with 77 individual parts and with you as the only guitar player will take a significant amount of time to record… A folk song with 2 acoustics, harmonica and two vocals will take a lot less time…
#4 – How many session musicians?
Can you play all the instruments yourself? If not, then you may need some hired help… which naturally adds to the cost of the recording project.
#5 – Are you ready?
This could easily be the most expensive part of making your CD. ‘Takes’ take time, the more time you’re in the studio, the more it will cost you.
How rehearsed are you? Got your sound and style together? Have you been out playing to real life audiences? Regularly? If the answer to these sorts of questions is no, then get ready, rehearse, gig, then record.
#6 – What the ultimate aim for the recording?
Is this a demo to put up on SoundCloud or do you aim to commercially release the work? Big difference.
Summary
So in summary your question shouldn’t necessarily be ‘How much will it cost to make a CD?’. It’s a question you can answer yourself – ‘What’s my budget?’.
If you know your budget, then you can work towards getting the best possible value for your money.
Thanks for listening – if you are looking to make a CD and would like a helping hand, please don’t hesitate to call (0404 267 623) or email me…
Cheers,
Simon