Location Recording for Brass Bands

Covering North West of England & North Wales

Historically, my background is in live sound and studio engineering, spanning back to the 1990s. This included working on the entertainment circuit around the UK. I also gained a HND in Music Technology at City College Manchester. I learned a lot and gained invaluable experience as a live sound engineer, but I wanted to get away from the late nights and smokey clubs so I worked my way into composing music and audio production.

However, I am dusting off the old microphones (classics!) and offering a limited number of location recordings for Brass Bands. I have a few recording slots per month offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

The following demo is a two-microphone live recording, courtesy of Flixton Community Band, Recorded 2023.

How Does it Work?

I will record the band’s performance at your venue with a multi-microphone live recording setup, utilising up to ten mics.

Your Venue

The live recording is done at your location. This can be your rehearsal room or a venue you have hired.

About your venue

The Process

I will record the band live at your location. The mixing and mastering will be done in-house.

More about the process

The Booking

Get in touch to discuss your requirements and to secure your band’s recording session.

Book your session

Your Venue

You must have access to a suitable venue for the recording session. This can be a venue where you regularly rehearse or one that you hire for the purpose of live recording. Please bear in mind that the venue acoustics and any external sounds around the venue will have an impact on the recording. Ideally, you should avoid venues that have heavy traffic noise nearby.

I recommend that all phones be turned off while recording, not just on silent because they can still cause electromagnetic interference. I also discourage spectators as they have a tendency to chatter, use their phones or just generally move around at inopportune moments.

Chairs need to be considered too. There is nothing worse than a squeaky chair during a recording. Stands need to be rattle-free and not vibrate every time the tuba hits a pedal note for example.

Band members need to consider their ‘personal’ noises. Aside from the obvious involuntary actions such as sneezing and coughing, other actions like inhaling excessively loudly, emptying water keys loudly or fiddling with instruments during the recording should be discouraged. I also recommend that performers bring some snacks and enough to drink because even stomach rumbling can cause audible noises during a recording. The microphones I use are very sensitive.

The Process

This will be a live recording with the whole band playing simultaneously. It is not a studio recording with overdubbing of individual instruments/sections. With this in mind, there are a few factors that you need to consider.

There will be up to ten live microphones strategically placed around the room. The band can play as many times as needed, but if there are any mistakes there is no means to do overdubs in a live recording; you will have to play it again. If there are clean section breaks, for example, several movements in a piece, it may be possible for me to splice two good sections together. I will guide you on the day.

Recording Day

I will arrive at your venue 45 minutes in advance to set up. The chairs and music stands should already be in place. This way, when the band arrives we can get straight on to the sound check. My allocated recording time is 2 hours per session. This allows enough time for band members to have breaks in between pieces. If you require more time, we can discuss that when you book.

I will need to do a sound check with the band before we start. This involves me checking sound levels and microphone positions while the band plays. When I am happy with the microphone placement and tonal balance, I will ask the band to do a second test recording. I will then ask the band leader to have a listen through the headphones. Once everything is sounding good, we will start recording your set.

I will use a combination of professional studio condenser mics, dynamic mics and ribbon mics. There will be a stereo microphone array set up in front of the band and various spot mics on selected instruments. This will provide me with more balance control when it comes to mixing. I will use up to ten microphones to provide good coverage of the band and it will help get a fuller sound when mixed and mastered later. The number of microphones used and their placement may vary dependent on your requirements.

Mixing & Mastering

After the recording session, I will take the recording away and mix it in my private studio. I will send you a rough first mix so that you can hear the result and select the takes you want to keep.

I will then do the final edit and mastering before delivering it via file transfer for your approval.

You can also request the stem files too at no extra cost. Always good to have in case you want to remix and remaster it in the future.

The delivery will be a digital download in the format of your choice.

Guide Prices

The service is only available within a reasonable travelling distance of Urmston, Manchester. The rates below include a 60-minute roundtrip in the price. Additional travel time will be factored into the quote at £40 per additional 30-minute of travel time. The table below gives you an idea of costs, but for an accurate quote please get in touch via the booking enquiry option at the bottom of this page.

The Standard Session equates to about 6-8 hours of time when you factor in travel, setup, editing and production time. The actual recording time is typically 2-3 hours.

Session	Cost
Standard Session – 10 mics	£595
Lite Session – 2 mic Stereo	£350
Full-Day Session – 10 mics	£995

Multiple full-day sessions can be quoted for upon request. Please select this option when completing the booking enquiry form.

Please note: Prices and availability may change at any time. Bookings already confirmed will be honoured.

Brass Bands Recording FAQs

What if we have to cancel the recording day?

Things happen, so it is okay if you need to reschedule, as long as you provide me with advance notice. We can reschedule for a mutually convenient day. I only do a few fixed recording dates each month but I do have some flexibility.

Can you record our concert?

Recording a live concert is more challenging and not what I am offering here. I won’t rule it out but would need to speak to you before committing.

Can I do my own editing and production?

The price includes editing and production of the recording. However, if you just want me to do the recording and provide the stems for you to edit I am happy to do so and will adjust the price accordingly. Just let me know when you enquire about your booking.

Do you work evenings and weekends?

Yes. I understand that being in a band takes place in the evenings and at weekends. I am happy to fit around these times.

How many tracks can I expect to get recorded in the session?

This will vary depending on the skill of the band and how well-rehearsed the pieces are. The standard session is 2 hours of recording, but you can request more time when you book if you feel that it will take longer. You may just want to record a few pieces for a demo, which will give you time for multiple takes, or you may wish to produce enough for an album, which will mean there will be less time for retakes.

How can I use the recordings?

You can let people download them or stream the tracks. Use them on social media for band demos and promotional purposes or provide them as exclusive bonuses to your fans and supporters. Alternatively, you could produce a CD, although, I don’t know how many people use CDs nowadays. The choice is yours really. In any case, I can provide the final files in the format needed for your delivery method and I can offer you some technical guidance on this depending on how you wish to use them.

Isn’t recording scary?

It can be daunting, especially in a recording studio. With my service, the ideal scenario is that the band is well-rehearsed, confident and recorded in a familiar environment. The band members need to feel as relaxed as possible during the session and not feel too pressured. They need to have a bit of fun and enjoy the experience.

I have a policy of recording everything. Rehearsing a track first and then announcing that the next one is a take adds unnecessary psychological pressure. I set the recorders going and the band plays. Everything is recorded and unusable takes are removed later. There is plenty of memory in the digital audio recorders for hours and hours of recording so there is no benefit in stop/starting. I think this idea goes back to the analogue days when the tape was expensive 🙂

Can I pay when you have finished the recording?

No, sorry. It is paid upfront. I have always worked this way and it saves me time and energy on chasing unpaid invoices at the end of jobs. It also helps me to organise my schedule as I always have concurrent music and audio projects running.

Do you charge for travel?

Within the North West, and some areas of Wales, I am happy to include the travel time and fuel costs. I may travel further upon request but there will be additional costs for travel time/distance. I will inform you of any additional travel fees when you enquire.

What is your availability like?

My availability is dependent on my schedule and work commitments, which can change from week to week. The best way to check is to get in touch and book your session.

Do you have a refund policy?

If you cannot do your recording date, we can reschedule. However, if you cannot reschedule I will refund you in full as long as I am given advance notice of at least 7 days.

If for whatever reason I cannot complete your recording I will refund you in full.

Do you provide any other recording services?

My recording service is limited to a small number of niches. But I may be able to offer other services depending on the requirements. Send me an email at .

Ready to Book?

If you want to secure your session or have any questions not answered above, please use the form below.

Brass Band Recording Enquiry

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