CD Producer
FACT SHEET: RECORDING PRODUCTION
This is a general overview of FAQ. For more complete information about the process of making a recording, please read the article, “So you want to make a recording?”
POSSIBLE RECORDING LENGTH
From 55-80 minutes
RECORDING METHOD
Classical–Stereo pair with additional spot mics for individual instruments or room reverb (recorded in an ambient space like a large room or church)
Non-Classical– studio recording (multi-track recording with each instrument on a separate mic)
RECORDING LOCATION
Classical—church, large room, large recording studio
Non-Classical—recording studio
EDITING METHOD
Classical—doing a number of takes, making an edit chart, slice and dice
Non-Classical—fewer takes, punching in the fixes, mixing
TIME IT TAKES TO RECORD (if you know the music)
Classical—3-6 six hour sessions
Non-Classical—less time to record, more time to overdub, punch-in and mix
COST
Classical—you pay the engineer for set-up time as well as travel. The venue is rented separately.
Non-Classical— the engineer usually works out of a studio and the hourly fee includes engineer and venue.
IN GENERAL
To make the best use of your money, you should consider hiring a score reader/session producer, who acts as an interface between the performers and engineer.
For a detail sample budget read this
LABEL VS. SELF-PRODUCTION
LABEL: While many different arrangements can be made, one common one is that the performers give the label a finished master and a few thousand dollars, and the label releases a finished CD, giving the performers 100-500 CDs as pre-arranged.
SELF-PRODUCTION: Some performers prefer to go directly to a CD duplication plant like Oasis or Disc Master, hand them a CD Master and booklet text and have them design the package and print the whole thing. Others hire their own designer and provide both Master and booklet design. Cost—for 1000 CDs, from $1.20+ per CD, depending on number of panels, amount of text, other details of packaging. Fewer CDs can be ordered at a time for a higher per CD cost.