On-location Live Recording
On-location live recording is ideal for a band’s concert or a demo recorded in a rehearsal room, church or similar venue. We offer this option for bands and solo artists who need a good demo on a limited budget.
Depending on the line-up, we record a rehearsal or concert live with up to 28 microphones and mix on site. It is important that the band is well rehearsed and knows its repertoire.
We reserve the right to charge a travel fee for locations more than 20 km from Schraubfabrik in Mannheim.
How it works:
1–2 hours to set up the recording session:
We optimise the space and position the musicians and instruments to minimise spill between microphones. We set up the microphones and, where needed, headphone mixes for individual musicians, such as singers. Test recordings ensure that everything is in phase and the microphones are positioned sensibly in relation to each other. Please allow enough time for this. We are also happy to set up the evening before to preserve the musicians’ energy. For concerts, we should meet at least four hours before the performance to finish the setup in good time.
Around 4 hours of live recording:
Each song can be recorded several times, including during a PA soundcheck without an audience. We can then select the best version or combine the strongest takes of the intro, verse, bridge and chorus through editing.
Please have a sufficiently large external hard drive ready for backup. Once the work is complete, we are happy to copy the full project folder to your drive. You can bring it to our studio later if you would like to take the next step:
Post-production in the studio
If the band is happy with the demo, we can refine it in the studio through overdubs, such as vocals, or by replacing individual tracks, such as guitar solos. The demo becomes the backing track for a headphone mix while instruments are re-recorded or doubled. This approach preserves the band’s live groove and feel, while allowing individual instrument tracks to be fine-tuned with analogue and software tools for a noticeable improvement in sound.
Depending on the line-up and instrumentation, other approaches may be possible or necessary to achieve the best live recording. Please ask us for an individual quote.
