Frequently Asked Questions
 

This is too much to read... Can I just call you?
Sure, we have this F.A.Q up just in case. Please call us at 323-953-NASH Press 1 for Music Production, 2 for Video Production!

 

I am interested having three songs record.....can you explain the procedure?
Whenever you have 3 songs or more, you can always book your own session without having to wait for the next Nashville Tracks session.  You simply email us any rough mp3s of the song. A guitar or Piano/ vocal is fine. If you do not have roughs. We'll include 1 hour (per song) of studio time for pre-production. Find out and choose your timeslot on a public session. Payment for the track(s) will be due immediately to ensure the players for the session.  If you're planning to record on the public session, the time slots are 1st come 1st serve with club members having preference.  During the session, we converse with the players giving them direction of style, tempo, etc.  The tracks are mailed to us within a few days and we can usually schedule your vocal sessions for the following week. 

Are there really 5 guys recording and what instruments are they playing?
Yep!  5, stellar musicians, Live acoustic drums, Bass, Electric guitars, Acoustic guitars, Keyboards and they all usually double on something else for a full sound!

“How do I know when the Next Nashville Tracks Session is?”
We usually send out an email announcing when the next date is.  We max out at 10 songs. Sometimes with just 1 or 2 clients, and sometimes with 10 people with one song each. Sometimes we don't always announce the next session because we already have 10 songs. Therefor it's always good to check in.

Note: The Nashville Tracks Session Date is always subject to change. Due to events we cannot control, such as emergencies or the fact that our musicians are often called to play on master recording sessions, we have to sometimes change the session date. In the event of a scheduling change, confirmed clients will be contacted immediately.

"I have songs but I'm not ready to record all of them yet, Can I just do one song?"
Yes!  With Nashville Tracks, you can record 1 song or 10 songs on one session. If you have more than 3 songs, we recommend a private session that can scheduled at anytime.

“Why would I book a private recording session?”
We try to schedule & predict the time of when each song slot will occur on the session. It can be difficult. Some songs just take more time than others and people end up waiting. We have a 3 song minimum for private sessions and you can schedule a "private session" at any time. If you don't have 3 songs, find a buddy who hasn't recorded here before. It's a great way to earn a discount in our referral rewards program.

"The samples .. are they representative of the typical $500 demo, or are there other costs to get the result on your sample demos?"
 What you hear is what you get except that it's your song!  Your tracks will sound like the samples right away. How much time spent on your vocals and background vocals is up to you. 1 three hour vocal session allocates enough time to comp, punch in and edit a vocal. As for background vocals, we can usually do 2 songs in one session, full stack arrangement if need be.

"How do the vocals get added to the mix?  Would I come down to your studio and sing the vocal before it gets mixed?"
Yes, we have a recording studio in downtown L.A.   You simply book a 3 hour vocals session and we'll add it to the rest of the tracks.

How does the "virtual session" work?
The virtual session happens here in our L.A. studio while the studio musicians are recording simultaneously in our studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
We're simply monitoring the session and communicating what we need in the recording. Style, tempo, groove etc.  The slots on the virtual session are first come first serve, with the exception that club members may get to choose which time slot they prefer.

“How do I schedule my song to be on a Nashville Tracks session?”
Email us your contact info & how many songs you wish to record. If you have a rough draft(s) of the song(s) already recorded, email mp3(s) separately.
If you do not have pre-production recording(s), please contact us to schedule a pre-production session.

"What kind of Turnaround time can I expect?"
You should expect a preview of your Nashville tracks within one week of the recording session. Rough Mixes will be sent to you via YOU-SEND It (email)  
If you have a specific deadline, please call us and upon availability we will try to expedite the process without a rush fee. If we need to overnight tracks from Nashville, rush fees will apply. In some very rare cases, we reserve the right to extend our turnaround time.

"Do I have a say in the Final Mixes?"
Of course, However, all final mixes are completed at the studio's discretion. If you wish to "nit pick" anything you'd like to hear or not hear in a mix, you can book a session (3 hour minimum).

"What if I just don't like the mix, are there any revisions?"
Any obvious revisions such as a vocal being way too loud or too low or perhaps something in the mix is distorted, will be made free of charge as long as there are not any pending balances. Otherwise, you can book a mix session (3 hour minimum).

“Where are the songs recorded?”
The studio musicians are in Nashville while we're here in downtown L.A.  The process is like recording in any other studio except the other side of the glass is 2,000 miles away.
Communication is a breeze with five charming Nashville Studio Musicians recording live, in our Nashville, Tennessee studios. Instrumentation includes live acoustic drums, bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitars & keyboards.  Fiddle, Steel Guitar, Sitar, String Section can be overdubbed for an additional fee.

“How much studio time should I book for my vocal session?”
Each session is 3 hours. Depending on your studio experience and abilities, 3 hours is ample enough time to record a vocal and send you a completed mix-down via email. However, if you wish to add one of our studio vocalists, you should book a separate session for just background vocals & editing. We can usually create a very nice arrangement within this timeframe. Studio vocalists fees vary per song.

“What is the payment policy?”
Each song recorded via Nashville Tracks must be paid up front and any studio time be paid at the end of each session. Forms of payment can be cash, check and credit cards via pay pal. For Videos, 50% down is required to get started.

“In what format are the sessions recorded?”
48k 32bit float Wav files.  For take out projects, The bit rate can be converted to 24 bits and the file format to AIFF if need be. 

“Can I play on my song?”
Sure! As an overdub. Time is of the essence on our virtual sessions so plan to overdub here in L.A. Also, make sure you allocate enough studio time for this. It is not recommended to try and cram vocals and an instrument overdub in a 3 hour session. In addition, the studio does not provide instruments (besides a keyboard), cords, amplifiers, tuners etc. So come prepared with your own equipment. If you have your own recording system at home, a  "consolidated" & "stemmed" 2 mix can be provided for you to overdub with.

“How do I cancel a recording or video editing session?”
We understand that sometimes you may need to reschedule your session. A 24 Hour Cancellation Notice is required to cancel at no charge. However, in the event that you must cancel within less of the 24 hour time frame, the full 3 hour session fee will apply. 

“How do I cancel a Nashville Tracks Session?"
Once you have decided to reserve a slot (per song) on the next Nashville Tracks session, your payment is due immediately. This confirms the musicians and the studio in Nashville as well as your slot on the session. Once you have paid for your Nashville Tracks session, your session is considered confirmed and the session fee is non refundable.

“Do you offer videotaping services for private sessions?”
Yes, please let us know beforehand if you wish to make a behind the scenes or making of video. This footage is always useful when making your own musical documentary.

"Do you lend or rent recording equipment for sessions?”
No. MRL Inc. does not lend or rent any recording or video equipment under any circumstances.

I'm a pretty good singer but do you guys tune vocals?”
Yes, we use a few different pitch correction techniques.

If you have further questions, please email us.