Vocal recording sessions
Your voice behind glass, an engineer on gain and headphones, and time to stack takes without rushing — that is how we capture vocals on Bilderdijkstraat.
At Culticlayer you book one of our 2 vocal booths. Sophie Willems or another engineer matches the condenser to your voice, builds a headphone mix and watches levels while you focus on pitch and delivery. The live room stays available if you later want to layer with a band via Live band recording.
The service suits singers, rappers, spoken-word artists and producers who need a clean vocal for a demo, single or album. Bring an instrumental or guide; we deliver raw takes and a sensible session export. Preparation saves billable time — read vocal session checklist before you book.
How it works
- 01
Intake
Send tempo, key and a rough mix to [email protected]. We confirm date, rate and a 25% deposit within 3 business days.
- 02
Setup
Mic choice, pop filter, headphone mix and test pass. Allow fifteen to twenty-five minutes before the first serious take.
- 03
Tracking
Full passes, targeted punch-ins and optional backing layers. The engineer labels takes so comping stays organised.
- 04
Handover
Vocal stems as wav, session backup and a short note on file names. We keep archives for 18 months.
Who books vocal time
Solo artists locking a chorus, rappers with a tight flow, songwriters pitching a publisher and bands that already tracked instruments during live band recording but still need leads and ad-libs — the booth is built for that. Short artistic voice pieces tied to music fit; pure commercial VO without a musical context is a separate conversation via contact.
Minimum age to book alone is 16; younger performers need a parent or guardian on site. We work in Dutch and English in the room; mixed-language lyrics are fine when the guide track is solid.
Booth, headphones and acoustics
Booths are dry enough for an upfront vocal, with sight lines to the engineer in the roughly 38 m² live room. You hear yourself with adjustable reverb send — enough to feel pitch, not so much that timing drifts.
We stock more than 22 microphones; vocals usually start on a large-diaphragm condenser, sometimes a dynamic for aggressive rap or a ribbon to soften harsh highs. We do not run ten-mic shoot-outs unless you book that explicitly; the default is one good match within the first quarter hour.
What to bring and send ahead
- Instrumental or guide as wav or aiff, without an old demo vocal if you do not want it in the cans.
- Lyrics with verse/chorus markers; digital plus paper helps.
- BPM and key in your email, plus two reference tracks for vocal tone (direction, not copying).
- Your own in-ears if you rely on them; otherwise studio headphones.
Getting here: Tram 7 stops at Bilderdijkstraat; from the Bilderdijkstraat stop it is about a 3-minute walk to number 112. From Amsterdam Centraal, tram 7 towards Slotervaart takes roughly 12 minutes. By bike from Leidseplein it is about 8 minutes via Overtoom.. Hours: Tuesday–Friday 10:00–19:00, Saturday 12:00–17:00. Closed Sunday and Monday..
Time estimates and rates
One song with lead, double and short ad-libs often needs two to four focused booth hours. Backing stacks and multilingual doubles add up fast. Besides €92 per hour we offer €310 for a four-hour block and €565 for eight hours.
| Option | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Hourly | Single hook, quick double or trial session |
| Half day | Single with several sections and comping |
| Full day | EP vocals or many backing parts |
Quoted amounts are consumer prices including 21% VAT. Business invoices with 21-day terms are available — share your company ids on contact. Net reference: €76.03 per hour if your finance team needs it.
Delivery, formats and turnaround
Default export is 24-bit wav at 48 kHz, aligned to the start of your guide. Other sample rates are possible when your project requires them — mention it at intake. You receive labelled takes and a consolidated lead when time allows inside the booked block.
Light comping and breath edits can happen in session; heavy tuning or time-stretch belongs under Mixing if you want us to handle it. Files go out by download link or copy to your drive on site; we do not email audio without consent per our privacy policy.
Revisions and exclusions
Studio time is for recording, not unlimited mixing afterwards. Mix and master carry their own rates and 2 revision rounds on those services — not automatically on raw vocal takes. Need an extra hour only for comping? Book it upfront or leave buffer in a half or full day.
Not included: writing arrangements, producing instrumentals from scratch, lyric translation, video capture and travel outside the studio. Obvious pitch-correction as an effect is by agreement; subtle correction is discussed honestly before we burn time.
Deposits, cancellation and policies
Confirmed bookings need a 25% deposit; the balance is due around the session per terms and conditions. Free reschedule until 5 days before your slot; after that the deposit may be forfeited as described there. Call 020 737 4821 if you are ill or hoarse — shifting beats saving takes you will discard.
Recordings fall under our terms and data policies where applicable; see legal notice for Culticlayer B.V. details.
After vocals: mix, master and guides
If you mix elsewhere, read delivering stems for mix for naming and headroom. If we keep the project, mixing follows your vocal exports and Mastering can close the release chain. Questions on loudness? Loudness for streaming explains targets without chart promises.
More services on services; general questions on FAQ. Ready to schedule? Contact us with your preferred date.
Included
- Recording engineer for booked time
- Iso vocal booth and core mic selection
- Headphone mix adjustments on request
- Gain-staging and take notes
- Wav export of captured vocals
- Session backup for 18 months
- Water and lyric stand in the booth
FAQ
Can I bring my own DAW session?
Yes when your laptop and interface match our patch. Send DAW version and plug-in list beforehand so we do not lose an hour loading. Without a session we work from your stereo guide.
How many guests can watch?
One or two people in the control area is normal. Larger audiences often distract takes; mention it at booking if you plan to film.
Do you tune and comp later?
Light comping fits when time remains in the block. Heavy tuning or bespoke editing is a separate booking or part of mixing. We do not sneak Auto-Tune without asking.
I only have a hook — is that enough?
Often yes at €92 hourly. Send the hook and guide ahead so mic and monitoring are ready.
Where do I park?
Street parking in Oud-West is tight; many clients take tram or bike. Tram 7 stops at Bilderdijkstraat; from the Bilderdijkstraat stop it is about a 3-minute walk to number 112. From Amsterdam Centraal, tram 7 towards Slotervaart takes roughly 12 minutes. By bike from Leidseplein it is about 8 minutes via Overtoom.
Other services
- 01
Live band recording
Drums, bass, guitars and keys together in the live room with multiple mics and space for amp cabs.
€118 · per hour (engineer included)
- 02
Mixing
Finishing your multitrack into a stereo mix; in the studio or from delivered stems.
€175 · per track (offline)
- 03
Mastering
Final loudness and tonal balance for streaming and download; includes one revision round.
€68 · per track
- 04
Talk and podcast recording
Two to four hosts on fixed table mics, basic editing and export in your preferred format.
€72 · per hour
Recording in Amsterdam?
Let's plan your session
Outline your idea: we reply within 3 working days with a slot proposal and written quote, no obligation.