Recording Studio Prices in Exeter
How Much Does it Cost to Record a Song?
Recording a song doesn't have to cost thousands of pounds — and you shouldn't need a record deal or a huge budget to make something you're proud to release.
At The Source Studio Exeter, we work with independent artists, bands and musicians at different stages of their journey, from people recording their first ever single to established bands working on their next EP or album.
Our full studio rate is up to £300 per day, but we work on a sliding scale depending on the project, what you need and what you have available to spend.
Tell us what you're making, what you want to achieve and what you've got to spend.
We'll tell you what we can realistically do.
How Much Does a Recording Studio Cost?
There isn't really a useful one-size-fits-all answer.
Recording a singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar is very different from recording a five-piece band with live drums, multiple guitars, keyboards and layers of vocals.
The cost of recording your music depends on things such as:
- How many songs you're recording
- How many musicians and instruments are involved
- Whether you're recording live or one instrument at a time
- How well rehearsed the material is
- How much editing and production is required
- Whether you also need mixing and mastering
- Whether you're making a demo or a finished commercial release
That's why we'd rather talk to you about your music and your budget than sell you studio time you don't actually need.
What Can You Record in a Day?
Quite a lot.
A well-rehearsed band can potentially record a complete song in a day, particularly when everyone arrives knowing the material and ready to play.
We've worked with young bands recording their first ever single, experienced musicians creating release-ready recordings and artists building more complex productions with overdubs, harmonies and additional instrumentation.
But we don't believe that getting through a session as quickly as possible should be the goal.
The goal is getting the best performance.
We like recording sessions to feel relaxed and unrushed. Sometimes another take is worth doing. Sometimes the first take captures something you'll never reproduce. Sometimes a song needs space to develop once you hear it coming through the speakers.
The studio should give you room to make those decisions.
Recording a Single
If you're planning your first single, don't assume you need an enormous budget.
Come and talk to us before deciding what's possible.
Depending on the song and the way you want to record it, we can help you work out the most efficient way of getting from an idea or rehearsal-room version to a finished recording.
That could include:
Recording → Editing → Production → Mixing → Mastering
And, if you need them, we can also help with:
Photography → Artwork → Video → Release Support
You don't have to buy all of those services. We can build the project around what you actually need.
Recording an EP or Album
Recording several songs changes the economics considerably.
Rather than treating every song as an entirely separate recording session, we can plan the project intelligently.
For a band, that might mean recording drums for several songs together before moving on to bass, guitars, vocals and overdubs.
Alternatively, if the energy of the band playing together is important to your sound, live recording may be a better approach.
Before you start spending money, we'll help you think about the most practical recording method for the music you're making.
Recording Studio Prices for Different Budgets
£100–£250
If you're working with a smaller budget, let's concentrate on the things that will make the biggest difference.
That might mean recording a demo, capturing a live performance, completing part of an existing project or concentrating the available studio time on the elements that are hardest to record well at home.
You don't necessarily need to do everything in a professional studio.
£250–£500
This gives us more room to develop a complete recording.
Depending on the project, this could cover a substantial recording session and allow us to start building something intended for release rather than simply capturing a demo.
Tell us what you're trying to achieve and we'll help prioritise the budget.
£500–£1,000+
At this level we can start looking beyond simply recording the music and towards the whole release.
Depending on the project, that could include recording, production, mixing, mastering, photography, artwork, video or other release assets.
Again, these aren't fixed packages.
Your project determines the package — not the other way around.
Can I Record Some of the Music at Home?
Absolutely.
You don't have to record every element of a song with us.
If you've already recorded guitars, keyboards, vocals or other parts at home, send us what you've got.
Likewise, you might decide to use the studio for the things that are difficult to capture in a bedroom — such as drums, loud guitar amplifiers or a whole band — and continue working on other elements yourself.
We can also take recordings made elsewhere and help with editing, production, mixing and mastering.
Sometimes the most affordable way of making a professional recording isn't doing everything in the studio.
It's knowing which parts benefit most from the studio.
How Can I Keep My Recording Studio Costs Down?
The single biggest thing you can do is arrive prepared.
Know your songs.
Rehearse the arrangements.
Make sure everyone agrees on the structure.
Practice to a click if you're planning to record to one.
Put new strings on instruments where appropriate and make sure your equipment actually works before the session.
The less time we spend deciding whether the second chorus should be eight or sixteen bars, the more time we can spend making your recording sound great.
You can also use our equipped rehearsal room in Exeter before your recording session to get the band ready. Or, come to our monthly Full Moon Open Mic and try your songs out in a low-key way in front of an audience.
Live Recording Can Be a Cost-Effective Option
Not every band needs to record one instrument at a time.
If your sound comes from everyone playing together, recording the band live can be both an exciting and efficient way to work.
Rather than building the song piece by piece, we capture the performance of the band and then work with that recording.
It's particularly suited to bands whose chemistry, dynamics and interaction are an important part of their sound.
What About Mixing and Mastering?
Recording is only the beginning.
Mixing is where the individual recordings are balanced and shaped into the finished song. Levels, EQ, compression, panning, ambience, effects and automation all contribute to how the finished record feels.
Mastering is the final stage before release, preparing the finished mix so it translates properly across headphones, speakers, cars and streaming platforms.
We offer mixing and mastering whether you've recorded at The Source Studio or somewhere else.