Why preparation pays off
Studio time is measured in takes, not good intentions. At Labsterra you get an isolated booth and engineer support — that only works if lyrics are settled and your voice is not already spent. Many clients come straight from work or a local gig; if that is you, book a shorter block or a follow-up day instead of cramming everything into one evening.
Hourly vocal recording is €95 (including 21% VAT). A four-hour half-day is €340. The tighter your prep, the more of that time goes into performance instead of file hunts or last-minute rewrites.
The week before
Ease off long screaming sets, heavy smoking and nights where you talk over loud music. If you gig often, spread rehearsals and keep at least one quiet day before the session. Lock the lyrics — no open verses. Print or export lines with breath marks and dynamic cues.
Listen to the backing track daily at a sensible level. Note tempo, key and arrangement markers. If anything is unclear, message us via contact; we usually reply within 2 business days.
The day before
Sleep is the cheapest vocal upgrade. Go easy on alcohol; it dries mucous membranes. Avoid a very late, heavy meal — reflux shows up behind the mic.
Pack lyrics, your own headphones if you rely on them, water and optionally non-menthol lozenges. Prepare the instrumental as 24-bit WAV (see stems and file formats). Check Tram 10 stops at Czaar Peterstraat; it is about a three-minute walk to number 213. From Oostplein metro (lines 51, 53 and 54) allow roughly ten minutes on foot along Czaar Peterstraat. so you are not rushing to Czaar Peterstraat 213.
On session day
Sip room-temperature water through the day, not only at the door. Many singers skip dairy and ice-cold drinks in the hours before recording. A light meal about two hours ahead suits most people: too empty feels shaky, too full fights the diaphragm.
Arrive during Tuesday–Friday 10:00–20:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00. Closed Monday and Sunday.. Free cancellation applies up to 5 days ahead; closer to the date our 30% deposit rules in the terms and conditions apply.
Warm up without strain
Loosen shoulders, neck and jaw first. Long exhales on a hiss stabilise breath support. Lip trills or ng-sirens in a comfortable range beat diving straight into the highest chorus.
For rap or spoken word, start articulation drills slowly, then increase tempo. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough; you can keep warming while we set gain staging. We have 16 mic preamps ready — your job is a consistent distance to the pop filter.
Inside the booth
Ask for a headphone level that matches how you sing: too loud makes you pull back, too quiet makes you push. Many vocalists leave one ear out to hear themselves in the room — tell us and we adjust to keep bleed low.
Keep roughly a hand’s width from the filter, a little farther on loud consonants. Pause before fatigue sets in. During Vocal recording we flag good takes so you can focus on delivery, not file names.
What we set up for you
Before you arrive we load the backing track, tempo and markers, and shortlist mics for the voice type you described. Vocal sessions use our dedicated booth among 3 iso booths on site.
Afterwards we keep project assets per our archive policy (24 months — see privacy policy). Ask for exports for your own backup; mixing plans fit into mixing budget and next steps.
Checklist and limits
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Week ahead | Lyrics final, backing track familiar |
| Day before | Rest, light meal, files checked |
| At studio | Warm up, check headphones, take breaks |
- Book realistic time: a €340 half-day beats one frantic hour.
- Hoarseness or pain: see a clinician and reschedule.
- Book via contact or 020 244 18 06.
This is general studio information, not medical advice. Seek professional help for persistent symptoms before recording.
