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and FAQs Updated for 2005 |
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and FAQs Updated for 2005 |
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Michael Lewis, owner/operator of Rushing Wind Music in Nashville has accumulated 25,000+ hours in more than 20 studios on the West Coast and in Nashville working on well over 40 albums plus many demos, commercials and more. For over 19 years, Michael has specialized in recording album masters and has developed a keen ear for professional mixing and mastering. He also has extensive experience as a studio musician, producer for major label projects, independent records and demos, national radio and TV advertisements and music for picture. From a two year stint as a DJ in Portland, Oregon, Michael has experience with the world of radio as well. He is a valuable resource to consider for your next project. |
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Length | Price Sale |
| 00-14 min. | $325 | |
| 15-24 min. | $400 $375 | |
| 25-44 min. | $475 $400 | |
| 45-59 min. | $525 $450 | |
| 60-74 min. | $600 $500 | |
| Additional Mastering Services | ||
| Digital Editing | $50/hour | |
| Digital Transfer of Master to Computer from DAT | $50/hour | |
*Sample Rate Conversion (to 44.1k from 48k master) |
at studio rate |
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| Cassette Masters |
add $90.00 to the Mastering Package. Price includes 2 DATs or CD's (Master and backup) |
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| **Additional Test copies | $25.00 each | |
Q. What is Mastering? Q. Why Would I Need A Producer? Q. How do I pick a recording studio for my project? Q. Can I legally record a song written by another artist? Q. I want to record a song I've written, but I'm not a great vocalist. Q. Can I have my musician friends play on my project? Q. How much will it cost to record a custom album? Q. How long does it take to record a project? Q. How can I get a great deal on a quality recording? Q. Is it worth the investment to have my album professionally produced? Q. Would I be better off buying my own recording gear? Q. Where can I find songs that I can use on my project? Q. Where can I go to get a good critique or pitch my songs?
CONTACT THE
STUDIO -- >>
A. Mastering is the critical last step between the final mixes and mass duplication of your album. Song-to-song levels are matched, songs are ordered with proper spacing, EQ and compression is applied and the digital information is properly dithered to make your music sound professionally smooth and clear.
In the studio, complete objectivity is hard to come by. Often by the time you get done mixing your project, you may have listened to the point of ear fatigue. More often than not, the mixes could benefit from a little sweetening with EQ or compression. That's when it makes sense to enlist a fresh set of trained ears to evaluate and correct any sonic inconsistencies. Afterward, we put the final touches on your master and take it through the steps necessary to prepare it for CD manufacturing. Rushing Wind offers affordable, professional quality mastering to enhance your final product. We care about making your music the highest quality it can be!
Q. Why Would I Need A Producer?
A. Anyone can produce a "demo" -- but it takes the skill and experience of a producer to elevate your song to professional "master quality." The producer is able to take your rough ideas and make them come to life! He is responsible for the overall outcome of your project and has foresight to know how the tracking will sound when it's been mixed. Producers assist with song development, direct all stages of recording and mixdown, and obtain the best musicians for your genre and style. The producer has marketing sense and knows what approach will appeal to your target demographic. The producer also knows how to make a project sound it's best for the people you want to get noticed by -- the A & R departments of major labels and the discriminating ears of major radio stations. To have Rushing Wind produce your project does incur an additional charge, plus the customary "points" for units sold. But the end result is a wider acceptance of your recording translating into more album sales. Your investment on the front end will result in a greater return in the long run.
Q. How do I pick a recording studio for my project?
A. At Rushing Wind Music, we have no hesitation showing off the projects that have been recorded at our studio. Any studio you go to should be able to play a recent recording for your evaluation -- listen to the sound quality, listen to the musical performances, listen to the production. A good engineer is a "heads up" engineer -- catching weak performances so they can be corrected to avoid disappointment when the project is finished. How do you feel about the engineer? Do you feel comfortable around him? This person will be working closely with you for many, many hours on a project that is near and dear to you. You may need to rely on his judgement in the middle of a hectic or grueling session.
Q. Can I legally record a song written by another artist?
A. Yes. You need to obtain permission in the form of a Mechanical License from the publisher. Payments are based on the number of units sold. Fees for a mechanical license are currently $ .08 cents per song, per unit sold (as of this writing).
Q. I want to record a song I've written, but I'm not a great vocalist.
A. If your goal is to pitch your song to publishing companies or other artists, we can bring in a professional studio vocalist. The pro's are able to enhance your song with emotion, style, great tone and pitch in the shortest amount of time. An inexperienced vocalist typically spends hours and hours recording a lead vocal that may not be professional enough to gain the respect of the professional listening community whom you'll be pitching your song to.
Q. Can I have my musician friends play on my project?
A. Of course you can, but consider... Recording with musicians who are not "seasoned" studio musicians could slow down the recording process, costing you more in the long run and you may end up with a project that sounds unprofessional. Nashville is abounding with some of the world's finest musicians. Studio experience is very different from live experience and the drummer that you think "rocks" at your church may not sound very good in the studio. It could end up saving you money to use studio players who record all the time -- and their experience can make your song the best it could be! They know how to record quickly and know the secrets to getting the best "sound to tape" plus will add their years of experience and ideas to enhance your project..
Q. What if I have a band?
A.if you have a band that needs to record as a group or you have a group of musicians that just want to get more experience recording, getting them in the studio is a great way to do it. Be aware of the extra time and expense involved and understand it may not have the polish that pro records have. We'll do our best to make it sound as good as it can be and yes, everyone usually has a fun time doing the recording!
Q. How much will it cost to record a custom album?
A. Actual costs depend on your purpose for the album and the complexity involved to meet your needs. Send us an email at the address below to discuss your options. We can help you determine how elaborate your production needs to be to fulfill your goals. One thing that sets us apart from other studios is that we help brainstorm ideas for recouping your investment. Our goal with every client is to see you succeed in a manner that enables you to return to record another project! At Rushing Wind Music, almost all of our business comes from repeat clients or direct referrals!
Demo-quality productions can start as low as $750 to $1,000 per song and go up from there (including musician costs & studio time). Master quality productions start at $3,000 per song (Producer, engineer, musicians and studio time) and go up from there. We are only taking serious projects that need a high level of production quality. We produce records that are of a quality worthy of air play and widespread distribution. Great recordings with innovative productions take time and therefore cost money. In addition, musician's rates can vary according to the usage of the project (in accordance with the Musician's Union rates.)
Q. How long does it take to record a project?
A. A single song demo can be recorded in as little as a day or two. For a master quality project, I prefer to have 1-2 weeks per song. If you are doing a 12 song project that can take up to 24 weeks plus mastering, for your entire project -- so please plan ahead. In addition, we may have production schedules for other projects that need to be met which could slow the process a bit. Be realistic about your deadlines. Anything worth doing is worth doing well... we work hard to make records here, not break them.
A. How can I get a great deal on a quality recording? If you booked 8 days of studio time at Rushing Wind it would cost you $3,600 without a producer. If you book 5 top quality musicians to do one song it would probably cost you another $750. plus 3 background vocalists costing $150 each per song. That totals $4,800. + producer fees for one song!! So When you consider what your getting for the money, you'll see that it's a great value.
One of our clients had two other albums produced for him in Nashville, but the project we produced for him here at Rushing Wind Music was the one that got attention from radio people, record companies and music attornies! One of the songs we wrote for him even got picked up by Direct TV! That client told me his other projects were a waste of time and money.
Q. Is it worth the investment to have my album professionally produced?
A. The key word here is "investment." A high quality recording is an investment with a purpose... It can launch your career or simply earn back what you've put into it -- it's up to you. Before you start your project, guesstimate to yourself how many units you can sell on your own. For example, If you record a great sounding project, you may be able to go sing at the mall every weekend and sell the albums yourself from your own CD table. Could you sell 2,500 copies without getting outside distribution? If you can, you will earn $37,500. back on your investment without any debt incurred from signing with a major label.
Q. Would I be better off buying my own recording gear?
A. To help get you studio ready? Yes! For recording an album master? It depends. A personal multi-track recorder or PC based home recording set up is a great place to help develop your vocal chops. Producing an album that will launch your career or get you serious airplay is another matter. Home recordings are being aired on MP3.com but they are not often finding their way onto the airwaves of serious radio stations to compete with projects done at professional studios. If you have a little larger budget, some technical savy and a real interest in recording, you may want to purchase something that is partially compatible with the studio or producer you plan to work with. This will enable you to do some of the recording at home. It will save you money and it can be used in the master recording. We are happy to work with people who have set ups at home.
Q. Where can I find songs that I can use on my project?
A. There are a number of good resources for songs here in Nashville. Many songs are rejected from major label projects simply because it didn't fit the artist and yet the song may be perfect for you.
Probably the best resource to connect you with Nashville songwriters is the Nashville Songwriters Association (www.NashvilleSongwriters.com) We also have writers that work with us directly, who pen some excellent songs and make it available to artists like you.
We can even craft songs specifically for you or develop your song ideas into well crafted works. So there are many avenues to look at, but it is not difficult to come up with good material. There is a lot of it here in Nashville -- the #1 songwriting town in the world!
Q. Where can I go to get a good critique or pitch my songs?
A. Probably one of the best resources I've found is Taxi. Taxi is an organization that will help you to connect with music industry personel that are looking for the type of material you have. Our Christmas album became a production library project through Taxi. They are a great resource for anyone looking to make a living in the music industry. http://www.taxi.com The Nashville Songwriters Association (www.NashvilleSongwriters.com) is another great resource for song critiques.
If you have any other questions or schedule your next production, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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