Why prep saves studio time
In the booth, minutes matter. Namdazivo charges €95 per hour for Vocal recording, or €320 for a four-hour block. When lyrics, backing track and tempo are settled, you spend time on takes instead of hunting files or debating arrangement.
The booth is isolated yet connected to the control room; monitoring is tuned per session. Singers who rehearse beforehand notice breath, diction and pitch drift earlier — which means fewer fixes at mixing later.
One week out
Avoid back-to-back gigs or shouting-heavy nights right before recording. Short, regular practice beats one exhausting day that leaves the voice raw.
Lock the lyrics: print or export, mark breaths, breaks and dynamics. Loop the instrumental or click daily until every intro, bridge and outro feels automatic. Send tempo, key and references ahead via contact; we prep the session and pick mics from our 24-mic locker.
The night before
Sleep is the cheapest upgrade. Too little rest shows in pitch, stamina and patience. Go easy on alcohol; it dries mucous membranes. Very spicy or fatty meals can trigger reflux overnight — awkward behind a pop filter.
Pack lyrics, a charged phone, familiar headphones, water and non-menthol throat sweets if you use them. Check route: From Amsterdam Westerpark station it is about a five-minute walk via Van Hallstraat. Tram 13 stops at De Wittenstraat, roughly four minutes on foot from there. On-street parking is limited; bike racks are right outside the entrance. Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00, closed on Sunday..
Recording day: food, drink, voice
Sip room-temperature water through the day; vocal fold hydration takes time. Many singers skip dairy and heavy milk products for a few hours before tracking. A single coffee is usually fine; a triple espresso right before the booth rarely is.
Eat lightly about two hours ahead — banana, nuts or soup often beat a huge plate of pasta. Rap and spoken word need breath discipline just like singing; build short pauses into your text.
Warm-up: body, breath, sound
Release shoulders, neck and jaw; tension there ends up in the mic. Long s or f exhales stabilise airflow. Ng sirens and lip trills wake the voice without pushing.
Finish with exercises in the song’s range instead of jumping to the highest chorus. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough; part of it can happen in our lounge beside the booth. Want guidance? Book €140 per hour with a coach — see about us for the team.
In the booth: distance, monitoring, takes
Keep a consistent distance to the pop filter — roughly a hand’s width — and lean back slightly on loud peaks. Ask to adjust headphone level: too loud makes you sing quietly; too quiet and you strain.
Many artists drop one earcup to hear themselves in the room; tell us so we can control bleed. Take breaks before fatigue sets in. We flag strong takes while you focus on performance, stretching booked hours further.
What we handle vs what you bring
Before you arrive we load your backing track, set tempo and structure markers, and test 8 headphones for you and any guests. The booth is one of 3 rooms on site; engineer and artist stay in touch through the window.
Send WAV or AIFF for your beat if you mix at home; avoid a heavily compressed mp3 as the only source. Unsure about delivery for later mixing? Read our mix file guide. Bookings need a 30% deposit; free rescheduling up to 7 days ahead — see terms and conditions.
Checklist and next steps
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 7 days | Finalise lyrics, learn the track, send session info |
| Night before | Rest, plan route, pack bag |
| Recording day | Hydrate, eat light, warm up |
| In booth | Keep distance, tune monitoring, pause early |
General tips do not replace medical advice. Persistent hoarseness or pain: see a doctor and reschedule via contact or 020 228 7654.
Rates and workflow: Vocal recording. Bands tracking live material next should read plan a band budget.
