Vocal recording

Who this service fits

Vocal recording is for artists who need a clean, professional vocal stem for a single, EP or demo. That includes pop and R&B singers, rappers, songwriters replacing a chorus, or producers capturing a guest voice without a treated room at home.

You do not need a full band in the room: the booth is built for one performer at a time. Duets for double hooks are possible if you tell us in advance so we can set extra headphones. Minimum age in the studio is 16; younger guests only with a parent or guardian arranged beforehand.

Mixing, mastering and heavy tuning are separate services but continue smoothly through mixing and mastering if you keep the chain at Namdazivo.

Booth, acoustics and line of sight

The vocal booth is about 12 m² and tuned for a dry, controllable signal with little reflection behind the capsule. A window into the control room lets you see the engineer and signal when something in the mix feels wrong.

We keep 8 studio headphones on hand; bring your own pair if you rely on a familiar fit. Level, balance between instrumental and self and a touch of reverb in the cue are set together — not a one-size preset.

Water, a lyric stand and adjustable lighting are ready. In Westerpark the studio is open Mon–Fri 10–22, Sat 11–18; directions are on contact and in 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..

Microphones and technical baseline

We carry 24 microphones and preamps in total; for vocals we usually start with a large-diaphragm condenser, sometimes a dynamic for louder rap or gritty rock, depending on your tone and the track. We compare briefly on your voice before committing.

Default recording is 24-bit WAV at 48 kHz unless your project uses another sample rate — tell us ahead of time to avoid unnecessary conversion. The path stays digital from the interface onward.

Need to know which mic and chain were used later? We note it in the session folder so an overdub or an external mixer keeps the same context.

How a typical session runs

After you arrive at Van Hallstraat 74 in Amsterdam you sit down with the engineer: which sections must land today, which references describe tone and dynamics, and where the vocal sits in the arrangement. Setup follows (about 15–25 minutes), then recording blocks of 20–40 minutes with short pauses.

Between takes we can discuss articulation, timing against the grid and emotional nuance — only if you want that input. Some artists prefer lots of feedback, others want space to experiment; say which at the start.

On the coached rate, studio owner Maarten de Vries or podcast and vocal coach Jonas Meijer joins for breath, warm-up or unsticking difficult lines. That rate is €140 per hour incl. 21% VAT and combines tracking with coaching in the same clock time.

What to prepare and send

When you can, send: instrumental WAV without the lead vocal, BPM and key, lyrics and a short list of reference tracks (for direction, not copying). More detail is in prepare your voice for the studio.

• Instrumental without clipping, with headroom
• Guide vocal on its own track if you use one
• Lyrics in a readable format
• Contact details for anyone who needs credit

An MP3 beat can work, but WAV avoids surprises at mix stage. Do not come exhausted or ill: rescheduling is free up to 7 days before the slot; see terms and conditions.

Delivery, formats and retention

After the session we usually deliver consolidated vocal files the same day: per section (verse, chorus, ad-lib) or per full pass, depending on what you or your mixer needs. Files go to a secure download link; bring your own SSD if you prefer a local copy.

Light comping of takes you marked together is part of studio time. Heavy tuning, time-stretching or creative effects are not default; discuss them separately or handle them in your DAW. For stem naming and handover, our workflow aligns with the mixing file formats guide.

We keep session material for 12 months, then delete unless you arrange an extension. Keep your own backup.

Rates and how to choose

All amounts below are consumer prices incl. 21% VAT. Business invoicing is available with 14-day payment terms.

Extra time beyond a block is billed in started half hours at the hourly rate. Mixing is a separate service with its own revision rounds (2 at mixing); vocal recording does not include a finished song mix.

Full service list: services. For quotes: 020 228 7654 or [email protected].

What is not included by default

We bill studio time with engineer, not a finished master. Not included: extensive vocal editing for other studios, arrangement, hiring session musicians, lyric translation, moving gear outside Amsterdam, or collecting society registrations.

If you want the full song mixed here, book extra time or schedule mixing afterward. Mastering runs through mastering.

Planning and payment questions: FAQ. How we handle data from sessions: privacy policy.

Included

• Engineer at the desk for your booked time
• Microphone choice from our vocal collection
• Personal headphone mix with live adjustments
• Basic comping of agreed takes
• 24-bit WAV export on session day
• Session backup for 12 months
• Access to booth and control room at agreed times