Vocal recording
In our 12 m² vocal booth at Overtoom 376A you track leads, doubles and ad-libs with an engineer who listens for performance and take selection — without rushing the session clock.
Most listeners decide on the vocal before they notice the snare. At Fractaltrail in Amsterdam we therefore start by hearing your song, not by arming tracks: dynamics, references, and how much space the mix still has for air and sibilance. Recording begins once you recognise your voice in the headphone mix.
Vocal recording is for singers, rappers, spoken-word artists and bands that only need vocals. Bring an instrumental, a DAW export or a rough guide; we align tempo, key and routing beforehand. Practical prep is covered in our session preparation guide.
Process
Brief
Send tracks, lyrics and references ahead via contact. Within 2 business days we confirm date, price and who will engineer.
Setup
Mic shoot-out, pop filter, gain staging and a custom headphone mix. Allow fifteen to thirty minutes in the booth before the first full take.
Record
Full passes first, then targeted punch-ins per section. We flag favourite takes in the session so comping stays fast.
Handover
Comping agreed lead parts, light editing where needed, WAV export at project sample rate. Backups stay 24 months on our servers.
Who books the booth
Independent artists finishing a single, rappers on a mixtape timeline, bands adding vocals after a live-room day, songwriters needing a clean demo — all fit our workflow. We operate 3 rooms; the vocal booth is one of 2 isolated spaces, separate from the 45 m² live room.
Minimum age 16 unless a legal guardian accompanies a younger artist; minors need written parental consent in advance. General studio questions live on FAQ.
Microphones and signal path
We stock 18 microphones: condensers for detail, dynamics for loud rap or rock, occasionally a ribbon to tame harsh highs without EQ. You perform the same line on two or three capsules; you hear the difference in the control room and choose with us.
Signal runs through preamps and converters into Pro Tools; monitoring is dry and honest on nearfields. No hidden input processing unless you ask for it — for example a touch of reverb in the headphones for vibe.
Session flow
Arrive at Overtoom 376A, 1054 JT Amsterdam at the agreed time. Tram 1 and 7 stop Overtoom (Hoofddorpweg), 3 minutes’ walk to Overtoom 376A. Bike parking in front; on-street parking with permit or Q-Park Baarsjes 600 m away. In the control room we agree song order, doubles and ad-libs. Then you enter the booth with lyrics on a stand, water and adjustable light.
Breaks happen when you need them; a tired voice rarely yields usable material. Our engineer (often Maarten van Dijk or another recording colleague) logs take numbers and mood so you do not relisten to everything at the end.
What to bring
At minimum send:
- Instrumental as WAV, ideally without guide vocal, at a fixed sample rate;
- Lyrics, spoken tempo and key if you know them;
- Two or three reference tracks for vocal tone, not for copying production;
- Your own headphones if you rely on them.
See the prep guide for rest, hydration and file naming. Without prep we spend billable time importing and searching files.
Delivery and formats
Default delivery is 24-bit WAV at 48 kHz, aligned from bar 1, with clear names (Lead, Double, Adlib). On request we export at your project rate or deliver one consolidated bounce per song.
Files go via secure download or to your drive if you bring one. Full DAW sessions are not included unless agreed upfront and within booked time. For loudness and release masters, continue with mastering or stereo mixing.
Rates and VAT
Listed rates are consumer prices including 21% VAT. Business invoicing is available; payment terms of 14 days apply to approved B2B clients under terms and conditions.
| Option | Price incl. VAT | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Studio hour | €98 | Hook, short demo, retake |
| Four-hour block | €349 | Single with doubles and comping |
A 30% deposit confirms the booking. Free cancellation up to 7 days before the session; after that see article 7 on cancellation.
Not included
Hourly rates cover studio, engineer and basic editing (comping, breath trims). Not included: heavy tuning as a standalone service, full mixing, mastering, songwriting coaching outside recording, extra musicians and travel outside Amsterdam.
Need more time for tuning or a rough mix? Book extra hours or route the project to our mixing service. That keeps vocal time focused on performance.
Hours and contact
We are open Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–22:00; closed Mondays (pick-up by appointment).. Call 020 737 0294 or email [email protected]. On session day use the number on your confirmation for urgent questions.
Combine vocals with about us if you want a studio tour, or browse all services if podcast or mastering belongs to the same release. Take confidentiality is covered in privacy policy.
Included
- Engineer for booked time
- Mic choice from 18 models
- Personal headphone mix
- Comping of agreed lead takes
- Same-day WAV export
- Session backup for 24 months
- Access to 12 m² isolated booth
FAQ
How long to record one song?
For a three- to four-minute pop or rap track with doubles, plan two to four hours depending on prep and perfectionism. The four-hour block covers most singles; albums span multiple days.
Can someone sit in with me?
One or two guests fit in the control room. Larger groups distract; mention it upfront via contact.
Do you mix as well?
Mixing is separate at €295 per track. You may mix elsewhere: we deliver clearly named dry or lightly comped vocals.
What if I am ill on the day?
Tell us early. Reschedule free within 7 days; closer to the date the deposit may roll once per terms. Force majeure: we find a new date together.
How long do you keep sessions?
24 months on secure storage, then deletion unless you extend. Keep your own backups; see legal notice on retention.
Project in Amsterdam?
Plan your session at Fractaltrail
Tell us briefly what you want to record or have mixed. Within 2 working days you receive a slot proposal and a written quote.