Questions?
Why should I use Knock Box Studio?
Can Knock Box Studio record other instruments?
How do the tracks from Knock Box Studio line up with my music tracks?
I'm not sure what bit rate and sample rate are. What's the big deal?
What if I change a part in my song?
What is mastering and why would I need it?
What kind of files will I get?
Are there discounts for multiple songs?
I am ready to go! How do I contact Knock Box Studio?
Why should I use Knock Box Studio?
What used to cost thousands of dollars a decade ago costs only pennies today. If only gas followed the same model! Technologies that were only available to large studios are now available to anyone armed with a laptop and a little talent. Innovations in software and digital-to-analog conversion have given musicians the ability to make professional quality audio tracks at home and with minimal musical gear. You can even plug a guitar and microphone straight into a computer and get good sounds. But what about the drums? Drum machines only do so much and if anything, have proven that a human feel for music is always the best. Live drums are the best. However, recording a drumset is a daunting task that requires not only, well, a DRUMSET, but a good sounding room, lots of professional microphones and enough computing power to handle a bundle of audio channels at the same time. On top of that, you need a professional drummer to bring it all home. Let Knock Box Studio take care of that for you!
Your drum and percussion tracks will be played and engineered by Daren Pfeifer. Daren is a professional musician and specializes in drums, percussion, turntables and studio engineering. He is a proud endorser of DDrum drums, Regal Tip drumsticks and Evans drumheads (HQ percussion and Puresound snare wires). Daren is the drummer for Earshot. For more information on Daren Pfeifer, please visit Daren Pfeifer's Website, Myspace, Facebook and Earshot.
In the studio, many different elements are at play. The first element is made of of the instruments. Knock Box has a collection of vintage and modern drumsets, snare drums and cymbals. This gives Knock Box Studio the widest array of drum configurations, from 16" to 26" bass drums, 6" to 15" snare drums and 10" to 20" toms. The drums vary also in the type of material - Maple, Ash, Birch, Steel, Mahogany, Copper, Brass and even Plastic! In addition, Knock Box Studio has a collection of hand drums and percussion instruments from all over the world. These instruments include congas and bongos, tabla, doumbeks and frame drums, shakers and tambourines, bells and whistles, kitchen sink...9 yards...bag o' chips...
The other elements at play are the studio itself and the recording equipment. Knock Box Studio is specifically designed from the ground up for recording drum and percussion instruments. Knock Box uses microphones from AKG, Audix, Shure, Audio Technica, preamps from Focusrite and Octane, and the DAW platforms Protools (industry standard) from Digidesign and Logic from Apple.
Can Knock Box Studio record other instruments?
Yes! Knock Box Studio has many instruments available and a giant library of samples and sound effects. Anything from Guitars to Keyboards and even a Theremin can be recorded at Knock Box Studio. Knock Box Studio is available for sound design and film scoring as well.
How do the tracks from Knock Box Studio line up with my music tracks?
When you initially send your files to Knock Box Studio, make sure the file begins either at 00.00.000 in your DAW or on the beat. If your file begins with a count-off, Knock Box Studio will line up its tracks to begin from your cue. If your music is not recorded to a click, Knock Box Studio will match the beginning of your file with the beginning of the drum track files. The final tracks from Knock Box Studio are designed to be dragged-and-dropped into your session.
I'm not sure what bit rate and sample rate are. What's the big deal?
Bit rate and sample rate are the basis by which the incoming audio signals (sounds) are interpreted by the computer. It works much like megapixels on a digital camera. The sample rate is the number of times the computer looks at the sound per second. So, a sample rate of 44.1kHz means the the computer sees the incoming sound 44, 100 times every second. The bit rate refers to how much detail the computer sees every time it takes a look. Higher sample rates and bit rates result in greater resolution of what is recorded. However, higher bit rates can drastically inflate the overall file size. Keep in mind, a CD has the sample rate of 44.1kHz and a bit rate 1.46 Mbits/s (bit depth = 16 bits) - this is considered CD-quality sound. Knock Box Studio regularly records in 48kHz/24-bit.
A track basically refers to a single microphone input. How many tracks you need depends on a few factors. Some of the best drum recordings in history came from just two or three microphones. More tracks greatly increases the overall file size and does not necessarily result on a better overall drum sound. How many tracks you need primarily depends on the sound you are looking for. Typically, Knock Box Studio's input list is:
1. Bass Drum (inside)
2. Bass Drum (outside)
3. Snare (bottom)
4. Snare (top)
5. Hi Hat
6. Ride Cymbal
7. Tom 1
8. Tom 2
9. Tom 3
10. Overhead Left
11. Overhead Right
12. Room Mic 1
13. Room Mic 2This represents a typical 5-piece drumset recording setup - changes can be made to meet your requirements.
What if I change a part in my song?
What is mastering and why would I need it?During the review process, you receive up to three changes for free! Any additional changes in performance or arrangement are available for an additional charge, as outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
Mastering a track involves the addition of elements like compression, equalization, gating and other modifiers to the raw tracks. If you have access to your own DAW (Protools, Logic, etc) you will most likely want simply the raw sounds. This allows you to master the drum sounds to your liking. Knock Box will master the drums for your song for an additional cost, depending primarily on how many mastered tracks you require.
What kind of files will I get?
Initially, you will receive a stereo MP3 of the track for the sole purpose of reviewing the performance. Upon approval, you will receive high quality master audio in the format of your choosing (AIFF, WAV, etc), free from MP3 compression. The number of files you'll receive depends on the number of microphone inputs used. For example, you will receive one file of the bass drum (inside) mic, one file of the bass drum (outside) and so on for every microphone used. If the recording only uses three microphones, you will receive three high-quality files. These files are formatted and can be easily placed in almost every music recording software available. The file sizes can range from only a few megabytes to several gigabytes. The overall file size depends on factors like song length, bit rate and sample rate. Please make sure you are able to store large files. You may also have the recorded files (data) mailed to you on CD or DVD for an additional cost.
Are there discounts for multiple songs?
Yes! If you have several songs (3 or more) that need drums, Knock Box Studio will give you a custom quote for the entire package.
Payment is due upon final approval. Once the payment has been confirmed, you will receive a link to securely download the high-quality master files from Knock Box Studio. All payment to Knock Box Studio is through Paypal. You may pay securely with a major Credit Card (Visa, MC, etc) or by bank transfer. This transaction is fully documented through Paypal for your records.
I am ready to go. How do I contact Knock Box Studio?
You can go straight to the SUBMISSION FORM and upload your information.This info is send directly to the studio. You may also:
Call the studio: +1 (323) 282-7870
eMail the studio: Daren@knockboxstudio.com
Instant Message: knockboxstudio
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