yes as what I know. some studios even though they charge cheaper, but bands who are new to recording will realise when they record, the take (drums for example) is almost perfect except for a "missed" kickdrum. and they'll get you to re-take the whole thing.
whereas studios who charge higher tend to preserve the almost perfect take and get the "missing kickdrum" fixed within 10 mins. because seriously it's about the music being more important than the money.
then again this is just a basic example I've observed when I dropped by another band's/recording studio's session just to be extra lampost. do spare a thought that some studios are indeed cheap and sound decent at the same time too.
otherwise the money is just to pay for their time because if studios charity to bands. who's gonna charity to studios?
end of the day my tip is,
1) of course, watch the budget. (average range of studio charges at $40 to 50 as you can see.)
2) listen to the sound that the studio is capable of providing REGARDLESS of equipment. hear the past recording works rather than where the person "used to work/study". cos i believe some ppl can excel in theory and suck at hands on + vice versa.
3) believe it or not, some studios have a particular genre specialty. (because like you musicians who listen/play genres, we have a genre preference too) if you're a hardcore hard hitting band recording with someone who specializes in jazz, you might as well go to someone else who LOVES hardcore music.highly likely you'll sound better unless you play hardcore jazz.
4) tag along! if you've heard about your friends's band going to record. thats the best view you can get to have better understanding and you may learn something even. (my first recording-tag-a-long was on 5th Dec 1999) and that guided me to setup my own bedroom studio then later moving on to mobile.
5) learn to identify/understand the recording process.
a)Setting Up > b)Recording > c)Mixing > d)Mastering.
a) some studios charge slow bands for setting up still running at $40 per hour for wasting their time. (seriously get your guitars tuned in advance. change strings etc. and do your "practising" during jamming not recording)
b) this is usually a standard $per hour rate. unless some studios will charge per day system. if not the entire fat package per song system with *limits*
c) some still let the time ticking running at $X per hour. some (like me) let it be inclusive/free with the whole recording thing. and others will charge a $X per SONG system (usually recording cheap but per song mixing will rack up).
d) usually an optional process or included free with the mixing. because believe it or not, if you bring a perfectly fine mix to a guy who claims he can master without a high profile international portfolio background. he's could end up trashing the mix for a cost (bill's on YOU). this is why you guys probably have heard bands record here in singapore and sending it over to "somewhere over the rainbow" to some golden-eared guy to master.
thats about what I can remember for now.
99¢ worth.
