Annapolis Recording,
Mixing & Mastering
for Serious Music

Studio time is $125 per hour with a one hour minimum. After you have booked four total studio hours with us, our loyalty rate is $112 per hour.

The hourly rate includes the studio, an engineer, and use of available in-house equipment and instruments during the session. Recording, mixing, and mastering are billed according to the time each part of the project requires.

There is no honest one-size-fits-all answer. Recording vocals over a finished instrumental is very different from recording a full band, several songs, multiple overdubs, or a project that also needs mixing and mastering.

Before recommending a session length, we will ask about:

• The number and approximate length of the songs
• Your music style
• The instruments and vocal parts being recorded
• Whether everyone will perform together or record separately
• Your recording experience
• Whether you need mixing, mastering, production help, or additional musicians
• Any release date or other deadline

Links to demos, live performances, or previous recordings are also helpful. Once we understand the project, we can recommend an initial block of time. It will still be an estimate rather than a guarantee, because every session moves differently.

Yes. Many projects begin with a prepared instrumental, demo, or song started in GarageBand or another recording program.

Once your session is secured, we will provide an upload link so the engineer can review the material and prepare for the session. Depending on how the project was created, we may ask for exported audio files or stems instead of the original session file.

Let us know whether you only need to record vocals or whether you will also need mixing and mastering so we can plan the session properly.

Yes. Severn Sound Studio can accommodate full-band tracking as well as individual overdubs.

The best approach depends on your lineup, style, arrangement, and the sound you want. Some bands perform together live, while others record the rhythm section first and add vocals, solos, and additional instruments separately. That decision affects the room setup, engineer assignment, isolation between instruments, and the amount of time required.

When you inquire, tell us the instruments, number of vocalists, number of songs, and whether you prefer to perform together or separately. We can then recommend the best approach for the project.

Recording is the process of capturing your performances.

Mixing happens after recording and brings the individual tracks together by adjusting levels, tone, panning, dynamics, and effects.

Mastering is the final stage, preparing the completed mix for distribution and helping it translate consistently across different listening systems.

Mixing and mastering are not automatically included in the hours booked for recording. They are separate parts of the project and are billed according to the time required at the same applicable hourly rate. Once we understand the project, we can provide a rough time estimate, but we cannot guarantee exactly how long the work will take before reviewing the recordings.

That is completely okay. You do not need to know studio terminology or arrive with every technical decision figured out. Your engineer will talk through the goal, listen to your references or existing material, help get the appropriate setup, and guide you through soundcheck and recording.

The best preparation is to:

• Rehearse until the material feels comfortable
• Bring your lyrics, chord charts, or other notes
• Choose a few reference songs that demonstrate the sound you are going for
• Send the exact instrumental, demo, or project files you plan to use
• Tell us about every instrument you intend to record
• Let us know about guests, videographers, or special setup requests
• Tell us about any firm release date or deadline

Specific instruments and equipment needs should be discussed in advance so the room and engineer can be prepared before you arrive.

Yes. The studio has instruments, amplifiers, microphones, and analog outboard equipment available for sessions. You are also welcome to bring your own instruments and equipment.

Use of available in-house gear is included with your studio time, but please tell us what you would like to use in advance. That allows us to confirm availability and prepare the appropriate room, microphones, and signal routing.

Instruments available:

• Electric guitars
• Acoustic guitars
• Guitar amps
• Bass amps
• 6 piece drum kit & cymbals
• Baby grand piano
• Hammond organ
• Rhodes
• Wurlitzer

Yes. Guests are welcome within reason, and you may film the session yourself or bring a videographer.

Please tell us in advance how many people will attend and whether anyone will be filming. Larger groups or video setups involving additional equipment should be discussed with the studio beforehand so we can confirm the space and prepare accordingly.

Submitting a booking request does not automatically confirm the session. We first review what you want to record, your music style, the amount of time requested, your preferred dates, and the room and engineer needed for the project. We may contact you with a few follow-up questions before confirming availability.

Our payment process:

• When you book, a card is placed on file. Nothing is charged yet, and the date is not secured yet.
• We review the request, and reach out first if anything needs to be adjusted.
• Once approved, we charge a 50% deposit to secure your date. The remainder is due at your session.
• Your booking is confirmed and the date is secured once the deposit has been received.

After payment, we send the studio address, pre-session information, and an upload link for any tracks or files the engineer should review before the session.

Yes, subject to reviewing the material first. Send us a rough mix and tell us what files are available. Depending on the project, we may ask for consolidated multitracks or stems rather than the original recording-software session.

Once the files have been reviewed, we can confirm whether everything is ready to work with, what additional preparation may be needed, and provide an estimate for the required mixing or mastering time. Exact turnaround, revisions, formats, and deliverables should be agreed upon before the work is scheduled.