The Formulation Room - Sacramento Recording Studio

Does the studio rate include an engineer?
The Formulation Room studio A rates include the engineer, studio B rates do not.

Are there hidden costs?
There are no hidden costs besides the device(s) you would like to record to...ie: Tape cost, or a FireWire drive for file transfer. You will not be charged extra for using our instruments.
Can we get a tour of the studio?
Of course. The only thing we ask is that you are serious about recording here; we do not currently have staff on hand to give tours at will, so tours depend on the studio's and on our engineers schedules. We do not charge for consultations either.
What are the hours of operation? Are weekends included?
There are no set hours, all studio hours--at this time--are scheduled according to client's requests and engineer availability, therefore, you are encouraged to call if you are seriously interested in recording.

What is a recording engineer and what does one do?
A recording engineer is someone who understands signal flow, how to patch into and monitor back signal from all of the equipment in a recording studio. The engineer has training and experience in tracking and mixing. An engineer also has a keen ear for subtleties, levels, and pitch...etc. The most valuable tool in an engineer's arsenal is their ears and communication skills!
Exactly what is a studio?
A studio is a place where music is played and the sound is recorded. A studio is not necessarily associated with any type of record company, record lable, managing firms, or booking agents. The Formulation Room is only a recording studio.
Do you do voiceovers, video editing, music for film or radio spots?
Nothing is impossible. TFR has recorded voiceover demos in the past, but currently we are mainly geared towards performance based projects.
Can you do live on-site recordings?
Yes, just check with our availability and give us ample notice of the performance. Dustin has been engineering live sound for years.
What is mastering?
Mastering is the final stage in the recording process. Mastering deals with the overall equilization, compression and phase coherency of a mix. Peak limiting is used to make your song loud and punchy in order to compete with todays high audio standards.The Mastering engineer also arranges the songs in their proper order (with proper spacing between them) to get your CD ready for duplication.
Do you do mastering?
While TFR has mastered in the past... and wouldn't mind doing it again, we definately recommend (if you can afford it) having your album / songs professionally mastered. For this, we point you to Eric Broyhill at Monster Lab Audio or Scott Reams at Road Rec.
Can you make beats?
The Formulation Room does not currently sell or lease Beats. We have been known to: add instruments to pre-existing beats, rearrange the song structure or even add a bridge.

Are you looking for assistants or interns?
The need for assistants and interns fluctates with buisness.

Can we all play live in the studio?
Yes... if that is what you want to do. We do have a large live room along with 2 isolation booths for amps. Over-dubbing to a click track is our prefered method.
How long will it take to record an album?
We don't know, that all depends on YOU. A well-rehearsed band will always take less time tracking vs. a band looking to experiment and gather inspiration from the studio. Both approaches have their strengths and weakneeses. It really depends. For mixing, budget about two or three hours per song. Always add time to your estimates!