Pricing for Student Recordings
 | Audition Tapes, Recital Recordings, Simple Portfolio Recordings* |
|---|---|
| Audio Equipment & Setup | $50-100 per setup (depending on location) |
| Video Equipment & Setup (opt.) | $50 per setup |
| Recording Time (1 hour minimum) | $85/hour or $450/day (a day is 5-8 hours) |
| Audio Mixing & Mastering | Included |
| Video Trimming & Color Grading | Included for first hour of video ($50 per addt’l hour) |
| Livestreaming | $75 per stream |
Pricing for Professional Location Recordings
I use a fixed pricing model so you know how much each project will cost upfront. My services are extremely customized to your needs, and every project is different. Reach out to me so we can discuss what yours looks like. After I get to know your project vision, I will make you a customized proposal with a 2-4 package options that reflect a range of needs and budgets, so you can choose exactly which one is right for you.
Each package option outlines an itemized list of services including pre-production costs, equipment use, setup fees, recording session length (the only item based on hours), and post-production charges like mixing, mastering, and video editing. That way you know what you’re getting, exactly what it costs, and that every stage of the process from planning to final deliverable is included in the package price.
| Classical Recordings (Solo & Chamber) | Classical Recordings (Large Ensemble & Opera) |
|---|---|---|
| Audio-Only Recording Projects | Packages start at $350 | Packages start at $800 |
| Simple Video+Audio Recording or Streaming Projects | Packages start at $500 | Packages start at $1000 |
| 4-Camera Video+Audio Recording or Streaming Projects | Packages start at $1000 | Packages start at $1450 |
Pricing for Non-Classical Recordings (Jazz, Folk, Rock, and Other Genres)
For non-classical music genres, I offer:
- High-resolution, professional multitrack recordings for albums, songs, and live sets which feature mostly acoustic instruments and/or vocals (especially jazz, folk, music from non-western classical- and folk-traditions, and rock).
- Audio editing, mixing, and/or mastering.
- Multi-camera video recordings of sessions or live sets.
These projects can vary widely in size and scope, so get in touch with me to discuss pricing details and to find an area studio or room that fits your needs. I use fixed pricing so you know what each service will cost you upfront, and I am able to scale the work to fit within a wide range of budgets.
Discounts
I regularly facilitate livestreams at An die Musik in downtown Baltimore. Get in touch with the owner, Henry Wong, about booking the space to use for recordings (be sure to tell him I sent you). I will take $50 off of the setup charge for any sessions booked at An die Musik.
As a composer, I care about new works being heard. The New Piece Discount is for world premiere recordings (either live or for a recording session) of recently composed works, especially for when the composer is involved. I also care about classical musicians programming older works which have been ignored over time due to prejudices against composers who are women, people of color, or other historically marginalized groups. For classical music recordings which favor programming of such works (at least half of the music being performed), I will provide an Underrepresented Composer Discount. Each of these discounts entail 5% off the final invoice price (or, if both discounts apply, then I will take 7% off the final invoice price).
FAQs
Where should I plan to have my recording sessions? Do you provide the space? We can record any space in the Baltimore/D.C. (DMV) area. I am happy to discuss space options with you and can provide some insight on the feasibility of a space. Note that it is your (the client’s) responsibility to book the space and to cover any associated booking fees.
Do you have a studio? I don’t own a dedicated recording studio—as a location recording engineer, I can work anywhere! My equipment is a mobile rig which I transport and set up at any space: concert halls, live venues, churches, recording studios that allow third-party engineers, and more. If you are looking to record in a studio environment, we can arrange that together.
How quickly can you get me the finished products? It depends on the project size and how quickly you need them. If you have a deadline, let me know ahead of time and I will be sure to allot enough time to deliver quickly, even if it’s two days away. Even if you don’t have a deadline, I will be sure to deliver the finished product within a reasonable timeframe that I can generally estimate in advance. Keep in mind that the editing process (usually outside of my control) can draw out project lengths significantly.
Can you fix mistakes? For recording sessions, absolutely, provided we have sufficient coverage to make edits and multiple camera angles. For best results, all all material should be covered in recording at least three times. However, for live performances, I generally suggest that the expectation should be set that the live performance will inevitably have performance issues and mistakes. While audio engineering wizardry is possible, it is often very time-consuming and not worth the cost and time to make only slight corrections. If you are looking to get a perfect performance, then a recording session, not a recorded live concert, is probably better for your needs. The greater expense of the recording session is ultimately worth the better quality and the more efficient editing workflow to get that perfect performance, if that is what you are looking for. But there is a special magic in a live performance that is worth capturing, despite little flaws!
How do edits work? For audio-only classical editing, I will provide you (the client, or a producer) with reference audio of all the takes from the session. After you or the producer decide which takes are best, you send me a score either marked up with annotations or accompanied by a written key that references places in the score such as, “Measures 1-16 use Take 3; mm. 17-20 use Take 5; mm. 21 to the 3rd beat of 32 use Take 2…,” etc. Note that creating the edit map can be a very time consuming process, so you may want to consider hiring a producer to do it.
Can you edit my performance to single-camera video? It is difficult and depends on a lot of factors. I can’t guarantee that everything you ask me will work, but I can do my best. I will only send you edited content that is clean enough that I personally can’t tell it has been edited. Multi-camera video edits are much more flexible.
Do you master the audio? For archival recordings, audition tapes, etc., I master the mixes to standards consistent with most streaming services. But for more involved recordings meant for distribution, I prefer to have mastering done by a different engineer than myself. That being said, if you’re tight on time or on a budget and don’t want to hire a separate engineer to master for you, I will master any mix I create for an additional charge per track, and I can provide you with both the unmastered and mastered products.
Andrew Bohman 