• Being prepared for your recording session will not only help you make the most of your studio time and the associated costs, but also has been known to reduce stress and preserve friendships too.

• Got a budget number in mind?
• Good!

Recording Costs

• Basic studio time
• Session musician costs
• Food
• Travel
• Equipment maintenance
• A means to back up your work (extra hard drive typically not studio provided)
• Always plan on re-tracking time.  Sometimes tracks that seemed to be good when first recorded no longer work when the rest of the tracks are added to the mix.

Mixing Costs

• Plan on spending at least as much time mixing your music as you do recording.  Often the mixing process can take much longer (two or three to one) than the recording process takes.  Your money is well spent getting your music sounding right.
• Remember this!  A recorded guitar sound that sounds good starts with a good guitar sound before the microphones are set up and recorder enabled …  If your sound is not right before recording, it will never sound good in the mix.  Don’t fix it in the mix.  Fix the track.
• Re-Mixing costs should be considered.  Once the mixing process gets closer to being finished those ugly things that were not even evident in earlier mixes become more and more obvious.  Just like wood working, you simply can not get a high gloss finish on wood without first planning the wood, sanding the wood several times (each time progressing with finer sand paper) and even then generally several coats of finish need to be applied before the truly beautiful shine begins to emerge.  Never think that one pass at mixing will do it.

• Mastering puts the real shine to mixes.  There are special tools that mastering software provides that even out sonic errors and make the CD sound as though the songs actually belong together on the same CD.  Recording EDGe offers mastering services at very reasonable prices.  Another option you have available is that Recording EDGe is an official Gold status Studio Partner with Disk Makers.  Through Recording EDGe (ask for Chad Fondren (206.394.7700) you can get some very attractive “package” deals for artwork creation, packaging and if you desire the mastering process as well.
• During mastering UPC-A (Bar) codes should be encoded in the Meta Data of your CD.  This is required if you plan on selling your music on iTunes and/or expect radio stations to play your music.  Bar Codes should not cost you more than $25.
• During mastering ISRC codes should be encoded in the Meta Data of your CD for each song.  This is critical if you plan on selling your CD on iTunes or expect radio stations to play your music.  These codes should be provided at no cost and should be encoded as part of the mastering process. 

 Pressing And/Or Duplication Costs

• Recording EDGe provides short run CD duplication, however, using a respectable replication house such as Disc Makers (ask for Chad Fondren (206.394.7700 and tell him Recording EDGe sent you his way) is the best way to go for any volume of CDs you want to sell.  Professional packaging always makes your marketing effort easier.

Marketing And Selling Your CD Costs

It is a good idea to put some thought to how you will take your music to market such as:

• Placing and marketing your music on iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, Napster, etc.
• Perhaps a CD release party is in order?  This can burn through some serious cash, but I bet you have friends that like a party too.  Network with them and offer them a piece of the CD sales revenue for hosting the party, providing food/drinks, providing the venue, etc.