Why preparation saves studio time
Studio time is billed by the hour or block. At Murkiernode, vocal recording starts at €89 per studio hour, or €320 for four hours back to back. Every minute spent hunting lyrics, fighting a sore throat or low energy is a minute that never hits the recorder.
Good prep does not mean singing yourself hoarse at home. It means locked lyrics, rest, fluids and a short, focused warm-up just before the session. In the booth you can focus on performance while we handle mic choice, pop filter and headphone mix.
Days ahead: lyrics, rest and travel
Lock your lyrics or script at least a week out. Last-minute rewrites cost takes and focus. Print or export the text, mark breaths and awkward consonants, and make sure your backing track plays reliably from the drive or link you will bring.
Plan the trip to Van Boetzelaerstraat 35, 1051 DT Amsterdam: Tram 13 or bus 18 to Surinameplein, then about seven minutes on foot via Van Hallstraat; bike rack next to the entrance.. Arrive a little early rather than rushed; breathing stays calmer. We are open Monday to Friday 09:00–21:00, Saturday 10:00–17:00, by appointment only; sessions are by appointment.
Sleep the night before. Alcohol and smoke dry mucous membranes; a heavy night out often shows up only at the mic. If your voice has been rough for days, move the date via contact — cancellation is free up to 5 days ahead under our terms and conditions.
Food, drink and what to skip
Drink water through the day, not only at the door. Room-temperature water or non-menthol herbal tea works for many singers. Skip large amounts of milk or cream on session day if you notice thicker mucus.
Eat a light meal about two hours before: slow carbs, not a heavy sauce. Hunger makes pitch wobble; a full stomach restricts breath. Bring a banana or nuts for a break if needed.
Moderate coffee is fine for most voices; a big caffeine hit right before recording can add tremor. Sugary energy drinks spike then crash — rarely a good trade in the booth.
Warm-up: body, breath, voice
Loosen shoulders, neck and jaw first. Roll shoulders, gently massage chewing muscles, yawn on purpose to release tension. Breathe low into the belly and exhale on a long s or fffff to steady airflow before pitch work.
Then soft sirens on ng or lip trills, slowly up and down within comfort. Do not start on your highest note; climb toward the song’s range. For rap or voice-over, run articulation drills slow, then faster.
Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for most sessions. Do this at home or in the lounge while we load the session; save fresh energy for takes inside the booth.
What to bring to Murkiernode
Bring final lyrics, instrumentals in a common format (WAV or high-quality files), your own headphones if you rely on them, and water. Mention allergies or medication that affects your voice so we can plan breaks.
Tell us upfront if you are tracking leads, doubles, ad-libs or spoken word. That way we book enough time in the block you choose. For longer projects, contact helps decide whether an eight-hour day (€590) beats scattered hours.
Minimum age in the studio is 16; younger artists attend with a parent or guardian as set out in our terms and conditions.
In the booth: distance, mix and breaks
Our vocal booth is 10 m² with treatment for a controlled sound. Keep roughly a hand’s width between mouth and pop filter; step back slightly on loud phrases. Ask for headphone changes — too loud and you sing quietly, too quiet and you push.
Many singers leave one earcup off to hear themselves in the room. Tell us; we balance so bleed into the mic stays low. Take a short break every twenty to thirty minutes: silence and water keep the second half of the block clean.
The engineer logs takes and flags favourites while you perform. Trust that feedback: the take you almost rejected is sometimes the cleanest for mixing later.
When postponing is smarter
Sore throat, hoarseness lasting more than a couple of days, or voice loss: do not push. Reach us via [email protected] or +31 (0)20 214 18 52; we reschedule within 5 days without a late fee, or under the policy after that window.
These tips do not replace medical advice. When in doubt, see your GP or an ENT. We would rather move a session than burn hours on a voice that cannot cooperate.
After recording we keep project files for 12 months; see our privacy policy for how session data is handled.
Checklist and next steps
- Lyrics final and marked; backing tested at home.
- Full night’s sleep, water through the day, timed light meal.
- 10–15 minute warm-up: body, breath, soft sirens.
- Travel to Westerpark planned; contact details ready.
- Breaks before fatigue sets in.
Ready to book? See rates and workflow on vocal recording. If mixing or mastering follows, our guide on delivering stems for mixing keeps handover smooth. Recording with a band? Read band recording budget planning.
