Studio Rates

At Free River Studios, we believe in transparent pricing that helps you plan your recording project effectively. We've structured our rates to provide professional quality recording while remaining accessible to independent artists. While we recommend keeping the mixing and mastering process separate from the actual recording, we can work with your timeline to complete your project.

Recording Sessions

Weekend Sessions ($600)

Our eight-hour weekend sessions give you the time and space needed to capture your best performance. These sessions work especially well for full band recording, where setup time and group chemistry are important. Most bands complete two to three songs in a weekend session, though this can vary depending on the complexity of your music and how well prepared you are.

A weekend session includes:

  • Eight full hours of studio time (10am-6pm or 11am-7pm)
  • Dedicated setup time without rushing
  • Multiple takes to capture your best performance
  • Short breaks to maintain fresh ears
  • End-of-day review and planning
  • Basic editing and comping
  • Professional mixing and mastering after tracking

Evening Sessions ($300)

Our four-hour evening sessions are perfect for focused recording work. Many bands book these sessions for vocals and overdubs after their main weekend tracking. These sessions also work well for solo artists or small ensembles who can set up quickly.

Evening sessions are ideal for:

  • Vocal tracking
  • Overdubs and additional instruments
  • Solo acoustic projects
  • Podcast recording
  • Voice-over work
  • Single song completion

Hourly Recording ($80)

Sometimes you just need a couple of hours to finish a project. Our hourly rate requires a two-hour minimum booking and works best for:

  • Final overdubs
  • Quick vocal fixes
  • Single instrument tracking
  • Simple acoustic recordings
  • Short voice-over projects

Mixing and Mastering

For recording sessions done at our studio we provide professional mixing and mastering on a flat rate basis and at our affordable studio rates.

Here's how the process works:

$300 Mix / $100 Master - Flat Rate: After tracking, we'll schedule time to mix your songs. Initial mixes are typically ready within a week of your recording session. You'll have time to listen and provide feedback, and we include two rounds of mix revisions to ensure we achieve your vision. Once the mixes are approved, we'll master your songs for consistent sound across all platforms.

Additional mix revisions beyond the included rounds are available at $50 per revision.

Hourly In-person mixing: If you want to be in the studio during the mixing or mastering process you can book studio time at our normal rates in 2, 4 or 8 hour blocks. 

Additional Services

Raw Track Delivery: $50 per song

  • High-quality WAV files of all recorded tracks
  • Consolidated and labeled for easy import
  • Perfect for remote collaboration or future remixing

Rush Delivery: $100 per song

  • Expedited mixing and mastering
  • Initial mixes within 48 hours
  • Perfect for tight release schedules

Session Musicians: Starting at $100 per song

  • Professional local musicians
  • Remote session players available
  • Rates vary by instrument and complexity

Planning Your Project

Here are some typical project examples to help you plan:

Single Song

  • One 4-hour evening session for tracking ($300)
  • Mixing per song ($300)
  • Mastering per song ($100)

Three-Song EP

  • One 8-hour weekend session for main tracking ($600)
  • One 4-hour evening session for vocals and overdubs ($300)
  • Mixing for three songs ($900)
  • Mastering for three songs: ($300)

Full Album (8-10 songs)

  • Four 8-hour weekend sessions for main tracking ($2,400)
  • Two 4-hour evening sessions for overdubs and edits ($600)
  • Mixing 10 songs ($3000)
  • Mastering 10 songs ($1000)
  • Total Investment: $7,000

Payment Options

Standard Terms:

  • 50% deposit to secure your booking
  • Remaining balance due at the end of your session

Payment Plans Available:

  • Projects over $600 qualify
  • Three monthly payments
  • First payment serves as deposit
  • No additional fees

We accept:

  • Credit/debit cards
  • Cash
  • Electronic transfer
  • Local checks

Student and Non-Profit Discount: 10% off any session with valid ID or documentation

Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans sometimes change. Here's how our cancellation policy works:

  • More than 48 hours notice: Full refund or reschedule
  • 24-48 hours notice: Deposit becomes studio credit
  • Less than 24 hours notice: Deposit is non-refundable

Ready to book your session? Contact us to get started

Not sure which session type you need? Read our Recording Guide

Have more questions? Check our FAQ