Live band recording
Drums, bass, guitars, keys and guide vocal recorded together, to keep the cohesion and energy of a band that really plays.
Overview
Live band recording in Lyon
Recording one track at a time has its advantages, but many bands sound better when they play together. Eye contact, shared breathing, the small tempo shifts that bring a song to life: all of this often disappears when everyone plays alone to a click. Live recording captures a real performance, which you can then polish.
Our 38 m² live room is sized for a five-piece band. Movable panels let us separate amps, reduce bleed between drums and vocals, or open up the room for a more airy sound. We record up to 24 simultaneous tracks and each musician gets their own headphone mix.
The adjoining vocal booth can host the singer or an acoustic instrument that needs to stay isolated, while keeping eye contact with the rest of the band.
How it works
Step by step
Stage plan
Before the session we agree on the setup: where musicians stand, what needs isolation, what is recorded live and what is overdubbed.
Setup
We place the microphones and set levels and headphone mixes before you arrive. You arrive, tune and play.
Takes
We record several full takes of each song, then the fixes or additions needed (solos, doubles, final vocal).
Selection
At the end of the day, a joint listening session to choose takes. Separate tracks exported, ready to mix.
Preparing the band
A studio day goes by fast. The bands that get the most out of it arrive with songs they know well, a fixed structure and agreed tempos. We suggest recording a rehearsal on your phone a few days before and listening together: that is often where you spot the parts that are still vague.
For gear, bring new strings fitted the day before, drum heads in good condition and your usual pedals. We provide the studio drum kit (five pieces), guitar and bass amps, and a Yamaha U3 upright piano tuned before every session that uses it.
Capturing drums and amps
Drums are usually recorded with eight to twelve microphones: kick in and out, snare top and bottom, toms, a pair of overheads and room mics. We adapt this setup to the style: jazz drums are often captured with fewer mics and more room, rock drums with more close miking.
Amps are miked, with the option of recording a direct signal in parallel to keep options open at the mix. Bass is recorded both direct and through the amp. Keys are recorded line-in, or miked for an amp or a piano.
Isolation or bleed: finding the balance
When everyone plays in the same room, each microphone picks up a little of the other instruments: that is bleed. It is not a flaw in itself; it often adds cohesion. But it limits the corrections you can make. We help you choose: a guide vocal in the booth and the final vocal later, or a live vocal if the song's energy calls for it.
We always explain what each choice means for the next steps, so you decide knowingly rather than discovering it at the mix.
After the session
You leave with all the separate tracks as 24-bit WAV files, organised by song and by instrument, plus a rough reference playback. You can mix with us, elsewhere or yourselves: files are delivered in a standard format, with no dependency on our equipment.
If the project continues with us, mixing starts from a session that is already organised and known to the engineer, which saves time on the final invoice.
Planning the band day
A successful live recording day starts the day before. We send you a technical sheet to fill in: band line-up, instruments, amps you are bringing, headphone monitoring needs, songs in the preferred order. With this information, we prepare microphone placement and patching before you arrive, which saves roughly an hour of setup.
We recommend starting with the safest song, the one the band plays best: it is used to dial in the sounds and builds confidence for the rest. The most demanding songs come mid-day, while energy is still high and settings are stable. Keep the end of the day for overdubs: solos, percussion, extra vocals.
Volume levels and listening comfort
An acoustic drum kit easily exceeds 100 dB close to the drums. We offer earplugs to musicians and set headphone monitoring at the lowest level compatible with good playing. Each musician has their own monitor mix, which we adjust on request between takes.
What is included
- Sound engineer for the whole day
- Up to 24 simultaneous tracks
- 6 individual headphone mixes
- Studio drum kit, amps and upright piano
- Selection playback at the end of the session
- Separate tracks exported as 24-bit WAV
Rates
| Option | Included | Excl. VAT | Incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live recording — half day (4 h) | 4-hour package, engineer included | €290 | €348 |
| Live recording — full day (8 h) | 8-hour package, engineer included | €520 | €624 |
All rates: Rates page. Booking, cancellation and withdrawal terms: Terms of service.
Frequently asked questions
Live band recording
How many songs can we record in a day?
For a well-prepared band, three to five songs as live takes with a few overdubs. If the band wants a lot of overdubbing, plan on two or three songs.
Can we use our own drum kit?
Yes. Allow 30 to 45 extra minutes for setup and tuning; this is included in the day.
Can the singer sing at the same time?
Yes, from the vocal booth, with eye contact. Depending on the result, we keep that vocal or redo it afterwards.
Do we have to play to a click?
It is not required. A click makes editing and adding programmed parts easier; without one the song breathes more. We discuss it before the session.
A project to record in Lyon?
Tell us about your project: we get back to you with a proposed slot and a written quote, with no obligation, within one business day.