Live band recording

Drums, bass, guitars and keys play together in our live room while you see control — one room, one groove, click track only if you want it.

Band playing together in live room with control room window

Live band recording is about ensemble energy: everyone hears each other, nobody plays into a void. The live room is 36 m² with a window to control so the engineer can cue visually without breaking the flow.

We host rock, indie, funk, jazz combos and similar setups up to 5 musicians at once. Arrive with songs that work live, not sketches you plan to invent on the spot — rehearse first, see rehearse before recording. Book mixing or mastering separately afterward.

Process

01
Planning
Send setlist, tempos and a rough stage plot via contact. We reply within 1 business day and hold time under our terms and conditions.
02
Patch and check
Drums mic’d, DIs run, amps baffled where needed. Individual headphone mixes; soundcheck usually thirty to forty-five minutes.
03
Live passes
Full songs first, then targeted sections. The engineer logs take numbers and issues per instrument for later editing.
04
Handover
Multitrack WAV per channel or session export, plus an optional rough monitor mix. Backup kept 12 months; see privacy policy.

The live room

The live room is 36 m² with a floating wood floor and height for drums without burying bass and guitar. Gobos and panels keep amp bleed under control. Maximum 5 players at once; larger line-ups need a custom plan or split sessions.

The control-room window shows when to redo a section — fewer hand signals during loud choruses. Nitentxara has operated from Oud-West in Amsterdam since 2018.

Instrument setup

Drums: overheads, close mics and optional room. Bass: DI plus amp mic or DI only for a tighter source. Guitars: combos in the room with baffles, or direct/sim if that is your sound — decide before the day. Keys: DI or small monitor if the player wants acoustic dynamics.

With 16 preamp inputs we capture many sources without renting extra racks. Bring your snare, pedals or amp if that defines your tone; we carry basic backline, not every model you might want.

Click, guides and overdubs

Click is optional. Some bands play to each other; others want a grid for editing. Guide vocals or scratch bass can sit in headphones, but book a separate vocal session if the guide is too good to replace.

Overdubs after the live block — extra guitar, percussion, BVs — can happen same day if time remains, billed at the hourly rate. Otherwise book a short follow-up.

Prep at home

Know arrangements: intro length, endings, dynamics. Agree who starts and how transitions work. Mark tricky bridges in rehearsal. Our guide rehearse before recording covers tempo stability, drum tuning and setlist discipline.

Bring strings, sticks and spare snares. Tune guitars and bass before travel; we fine-tune in studio but large gaps eat soundcheck time. Every member should know terms and conditions — minimum age 16 unless accompanied.

Engineering and monitoring

Maarten van den Berg and Sanne de Vries rotate recording and mix shifts; band days usually have a dedicated recording engineer in control. Each musician gets a separate headphone mix with their instrument slightly forward — not a generic foldback.

We listen on nearfields in control; your balance is representative, not festival PA. Want a rough mix to go? We deliver stereo WAV after the session — not a substitute for proper mixing.

Delivery

Default is synchronized multitrack WAV (24-bit / 48 kHz) with clear names: DRUM_Kick, GTR_Lead, etc. Session format by agreement (Reaper, Pro Tools). Rough mix optional.

Secure download link. We retain data 12 months, then delete per privacy policy. Copy everything locally within that window.

Rates and blocks

Prices include 21% VAT; business invoices with 30-day terms available. 30% deposit on confirmation. Free cancellation up to 7 days ahead — terms and conditions.

Typical band day
Phase	Duration	Note
Patch + soundcheck	30–45 min	First visit may run longer
3 songs live	3–4 hours	Incl. retakes
Overdubs	1–2 hours	Same day optional

Half day (4 h) often suits an EP demo; full day for multiple album tracks. Mon–Fri 10–20, Sat 10–18 by appointment.

Out of scope

Mixing, mastering, vintage instrument rental, backline transport, outside producers and video shoots are not part of Live band recording. Drum editing to grid without prior agreement is not default — discuss tightness expectations upfront.

If a member falls ill we reschedule together. We do not start under-staffed: live magic fades when the drummer is missing and you “just try anyway”.

Included

Recording engineer for booked time
Standard drum, bass and guitar miking
Individual headphone mixes
Multitrack WAV per channel
Rough monitor mix on request
Session backup 12 months
Basic DIs and cables

FAQ

Do five of us fit?

Yes, up to 5 at once in the live room. More requires a different setup — email contact with your line-up.

Should we bring our own amps?

Many bands bring combos for tone. Backline is limited; send a wishlist when booking.

How soon can we mix?

Mixing starts after stem delivery. Turnaround depends on load; expect a first reply within 1 business day.

Parking?

Paid parking on Overtoom; bikes at the door. Public transport: Tram 1 and 3 stop at Overtoom/Vondelpark, a short walk from the studio. From De Vlugtlaan metro station (line 50) it is about a 12-minute walk via Overtoom.

What if one take falls apart?

We mark sections and redo them. Full song retakes only if everyone wants them — no automatic perfectionism marathons.