Pricing for Student Recordings
 | Audition Tapes, Recital Recordings, Simple Portfolio Recordings* |
|---|---|
| Equipment & Setup (Audio+Video) | $100-175 per setup (depending on location) |
| Recording Time (1 hour minimum) | $85/hour or $400/day (a day is 5-8 hours) |
| Audio Mixing & Mastering | Included |
| Video Trimming & Color Grading | $25/finished hour |
| Livestreaming | $100 per stream |
Pricing for Professional Recordings
- I use a fixed pricing model based on day rates so you know about how much each project will cost upfront, including post-production.
- My services are extremely customized, and every project is different. Reach out to me so we can discuss what yours looks like. I’ll send you a questionnaire to make the discussion as efficient and thorough as possible.
- After I get to know your project vision, I will make you a customized proposal with 2-4 package options (quotes) that reflect a range of needs and budgets, so you can choose exactly which one is right for you.
- Each package option will have an itemized list of services (equipment charges, recording time, post-production, etc.) to help you understand where every cost comes from and to show you how we can adjust the quote to fit within your budget and meet your exact needs.
The below chart outlines the starting points for my professional recording rates. For recording projects, simple projects will start here for a baseline package and then go up from there according to complexity, time, location, and amount of music to be recorded.
| Classical Recordings | Non-Classical Recordings (Jazz, Folk, Rock, and Other Acoustic Genres) |
|---|---|---|
| Audio-Only Recordings | packages start at $550 | packages start at $450 |
| Video+Audio Recordings | packages start at $750 | packages start at $650 |
| Post-production Rates (Mixing, mastering, noise removal, video) | $450/day, $250/half-day, or $75/hour (typically) | (Same as classical) |
| Performance Editing Rates | Billed per splice ($10) or per edited minute | Billed hourly ($75/hour) or per edited minute |
| Live Sound Reinforcement | Basic speaking amplification starts at $100 additional | packages start at $850 |
Pre-set Professional Packages
Here are some common pre-made packages for your reference. They are selectable! Please note that additional billed-per-mile travel costs may apply to locations outside of Baltimore City.
| Includes | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Classical Concert Video (MAX) | 1-day recording of an orchestra, large ensemble, or choir concert. Up to 40 channels of audio, 6 cameras, 3 lights, and 3-4 technicians onsite. 1 day of mixing, 1/2 day of mastering, and 90-120 minutes of finished, graded multicam video. | $5,500 all-inclusive. |
| Classical Concert Audio (Moderate Large Ensemble) | 1-day recording of an orchestra, large ensemble, or choir concert. 20-32 channels of audio, 1 full day of mixing/mastering for a pristine, album-quality product. | $1,650 all-inclusive. |
| Classical Concert Video (Moderate Chamber or Simpler Large Ensemble) | 1-day recording of a professional chamber music, choir, band, or orchestra concert. Up to 20 channels of audio, 3 cameras, 3 lights, and 2-3 technicians onsite. 1 full day of mixing/mastering, and 75-100 minutes of finished, graded multicam video. | $3,400 all-inclusive. |
| Live Jazz Video – Special Offer for Baltimore Bandleaders Only | Full stereo recording (up to 16 channels, m) and single-camera 4K video for combos, up to 2 back-to-back sets in Baltimore. | $1,050 all-inclusive. $500 per extra camera with editing, $500 to add basic sound reinforcement. |
| Concert Sound Reinforcement | A&H SQ-5 console, QSC speakers and monitors, up to 24-channel audio with mics, etc. included. FOH and simple monitor mixing, and an archival stereo board mix is included free of charge. For jazz, rock, folk, etc. shows. | $1,350 all-inclusive. |
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 location sessions booked at An die Musik.
My studio of choice is Heartwood Sound Studio in Baltimore. Contact the owner, Ben Frock, about booking, and tell him you’re planning to have me engineer the session. I will take my standard $200 off for booking in an equipped studio plus an extra $50 off because it’s at Heartwood.
As a composer, I care about new works being heard. The New Piece Discount is 5% off the final invoice 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, also 5% off the final invoice price. (If both discounts apply, then I will take 8% off the final invoice price.)
Affording Recordings
I get it—recording is pricey! It takes a lot of time and expensive equipment on my part to produce the excellent results your music deserves, and I have to charge enough to support my business and my life so I can keep doing this full time. But if you aren’t used to the market price for professional recordings, it can seem unattainable. Fortunately, there are lots of grants available for recording music, and a good proposal for your project might get you far. Here are some links for you to start looking:
- https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/music
- https://newmusicusa.org/get-funding/ and https://newmusicusa.org/program/new-music-creator-fund/
- https://www.recordingfund.org/
- https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/
- https://ditsonfund.org/programs/recording-projects
- Grants from your affiliated college or university (For example, Peabody’s LAUNCH Grants)
