Listen To The Music
We live in an amazing era when, almost every day, science provides a new, easier, way to accomplish what could be done only with difficulty the day before...if at all.
150 years ago, sound
recording was, simply, impossible. 50 years ago, it could be done at high
quality only by buying time at an expensive recording studio. 20 years ago,
fairly good recordings could be made at home, but distribution
(via
vinyl records) was still an expensive proposition, although small-scale,
lesser-fidelity distribution via cassette tapes had also become possible.
But, now...
It
is possible to produce high-quality, high-fidelity, CDs in small or large
numbers, quite inexpensively, using a computer as both recording and mixing
device, and a computer's CD burner to produce a small-to-moderate number of CDs,
or the master for a major run. And, it's inexpensive! If you prefer not to
master the techniques of sound recording yourself, you'll still need to hire the
services of a recording engineer—but, since the equipment itself is so much
less expensive, so is the cost of a recording session. And now, suddenly, it is
possible for you to produce your very own album!
Cost
Here's where you can figure out what it'll cost you. I'm including the hourly cost and an average based on how long it "usually" takes. Obviously, this average tends to vary; but it's amazingly consistent over the course of an album. I am also using an average of ten songs per album. Many albums have more; a CD can hold up to 80 minutes of recording.
|
Task |
Cost | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Arranging MIDI music | $20/hour | 5 hours per song |
| Recording session | $20/hour | 1 hour per song |
| Design of CD insert and label | $20/hour | 1 hour |
| CD duplication (50) | $169/B & W inserts $199/color inserts |
|
| CD duplication (100) | $299/B & W inserts $349/color inserts |
|
| CD duplication (bulk) | Under $700 / 1000! |
Audio Restoration
Do
you have old recordings of your family, or old records you love that have never
been released on CD? It is now possible to take such recordings and clean
them up, bringing them to or near CD-quality—for only $20 an hour, plus one
hour's setup. Includes a simple CD insert!
Samples
Okay, so now you're wondering...is this really possible? Well, hearing is believing. Here's a sample, recorded recently, entirely at my desk, on my computer. If you have a high-speed cable connection, be sure and download the high-speed version...and, if you have surround-sound equipment, prepare to be amazed!
- Altronia (256 kbs, 6.1 mb)