Frequently Asked Questions About Recording at Q Division

Below are a few of the questions our studio manager and engineers get. If you have a question and don't see it here, we'd be glad to try to answer it. If it's a frequent one, we'll add it to our list!

How long is a lockout/half day?

A full day lockout at Q Division is 12 hours. A full day lockout means that NO ONE will book the studio AFTER you, allowing you to stay later should the need arise. Overtime charges apply when this happens. If you book consecutive lockout days, which we highly recommend, you can leave your gear setup and where ever it is in the studio and lounge you're working in so everything's ready to go the next day. Please be aware that overtime charges may still apply should you work more than 12 hours a day even during consecutive lockout days.

Can we leave our gear until our next session?

If you've booked consecutive lockout days, you can leave everything set up. If you're coming back within a reasonably short time period (a few days or a week) your staff engineer can help you find a place to store a reasonable amount of gear for a short period of time.

At what time should we arrive for our session?

It's your session, so you should choose a start time that's comfortable for you in consultation with the studio manager and the staff engineer who you're working with.

We're tracking to Pro Tools, how is our data being protected?

Safeguarding your data and all the hard work that's gone into your recording is critical to us. Since hard drives are prone to failure, the only way to avoid catastrophic data loss is to employ a comprehensive data backup protocol. Data must ALWAYS exist in two places at all times -- the original, and a copy.

It is our policy that:

(1) all data MUST be backed up at the conclusion of EVERY recording session
(2) we do not keep copies of data once the project is complete unless specifically requested to archive it digitally. When you confirm your recording session we'll discuss this in further detail.

We cannot be responsible for your data if IT'S NOT BACKED UP daily. The most efficient way for US to do that is using our in-house data backup system on a daily schedule.

Does Q Division have instruments and amps we can use? Is there an extra charge for using your instruments and amps?

Yes! Check out the Amps and Instruments page for an idea of what we have. We'd be glad to try and help you find a specific instrument if we don't have it.
No, we do not charge extra for the usage of our amps or instruments.

Does Q Division have drums we can use?

Drums are the only instrument we have that generally must be rented. The drums at Q Division belong to, and are maintained by, world renowned drum tech Carl Plaster. Carl has made available many many drums for our use, and there's bound to be the perfect sounding kit for your record or song somewhere in the building. In addition, you're welcome to choose from a small handful of drums at Q that aren't Carl's -- those might work fine for your song.

Should we rent drums?

Well, Carl's drums sound pretty awesome. Your drums might be in perfect order for recording, but if you have any doubt (and were out late at a 3 hour gig the night before), it might be best to rent some of Carl's drums. You may only want to rent a kick drum or a snare, but whatever you need, Carl's probably got it. For best results, consult with your engineer ahead of time.

We don't have a drummer/bassist/trombonist/kazzoist. Can you recommend someone?

Yes! If you're looking for musicians to perform on your recording, we have all sorts of players we'd be happy to put you in touch with. Just let us know and we'll help you connect with musicians.

We don't have an engineer. Do we need one? Can you recommend someone?

Yes. Please check out the staff page to hear and become familiar with our staff engineers. We will always staff your session with one of our engineers or assistants (even if you have your own engineer) to make sure your session flows as smoothly as absolutely possible. You'll probably notice an intern helping out - they're around to speed things up and to act as runners. If you don't want an intern on your session, please let your engineer know!

We don't have a producer. Do we need one? Can you recommend someone?

In our humble opinion, yes. Like your engineer, a producer is another (temporary) member of your band. Much has been written about the role of the producer, and this FAQ is not the place to get into it in any depth. However, if you'd like help finding the Fifth Beatle for your band or project, let us know.

How long does it take to record a song/album/kazoo solo?

The answer to that question depends on a bunch of things:
How long are your songs? How many people are in the band? How is the song going to be recorded? Are the songs very overdub intensive? How much time do you have? Is the band well rehearsed? How well are your instruments behaving? Can the singer sing reasonably well?

A basic rule of thumb is that it takes about a day to record a song from basics to mixing, on a fairly tight budget. You can budget less time if your songs are short, super simple and there are few people in the band. But budget more time if your songs are epic, complicated, or require multiple overdubs! Keep in mind that many of the songs you hear on the radio, or on the iTunes, have most likely taken substantially more then a day to produce.

Talk to your producer, engineer, and the musicians involved to set a reasonable budget and schedule together. Don't forget that things tend to take longer in the studio then they do in rehearsals and at shows. Budget time (and money!) for breaks, eating, and getting to know each other better while confined in specific spaces for long hours!