Clients who record at The NatCave Studio pay for studio time based on a variable rate. Your rate will decrease depending on the amount of hours your purchase in advance. Your studio rate can drop as low as $20 an hour or stay at the standard rate of $50 an hour. The first price break comes at 5 hours where you get a rate of $40 and hour. In other words, you would be paying for 4 hours and getting one free.

Most of the artists that work with us will tell you there is not one specific thing that makes us the best studio to work in. It is a combination of all the benefits that make The NatCave such a great place for artists to exercise their talents. A few reasons are:
a. Low studio rates
b. Professional service
c. Flawless scheduling
d. Latest technology
e. Minimal downtime
f. Relaxed environment
g. Friendly and courteous staff
h. Valuable experience
i. Industry-recognized results
j. Easy-flowing, organized sessions

Its founding artists gave The NatCave Studio its name. Working closely with the chief engineer Nathanial Foreman brought up the prefix: "Nat". The suffix "Cave" came from the feel of working in the studio. There are no windows so the ambience starts to feel like your very own private cave after a while. Artists have respect for The NatCave similar to a clubhouse, a place to get away from distractions and work on what you really want to do with your life. We have had thousands of artists come through our doors and have not met one yet that would rather be anywhere else than inside the cave. The suffix C.A.V.E. is also an acronym for Complete Audio Video Enterprise.

We have been in business for over 10 years. Nathanial Foreman, the chief engineer, has over 15 years experience in the industry and is an honor graduate from The Institute of Audio Research.

The address to the studio is:

The NatCave Studio
1304 Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11213

We are located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY on Union Street between New York Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue.

The closest trains are the 2 or 5 train to President Street or the 3 train to Nostrand Avenue. You can transfer to the 2, 3 or 5 at Atlantic Avenue.

Yes. We have a 24/7 radio station that only plays tracks recorded in our studio. The audio stream is "radio-quality". You can request to hear studio quality tracks recorded and mixed in The NatCave during your Free Session.

One of the ways we keep our price low is by running the studio strictly by appointment only. This helps keep our operating costs down and in turn gives you a better studio rate. If you want to check out the studio, the best way is to book a Free Session that will include a tour of the studio, a 1-hour session, a consultation and some other surprises.

It is important that our clients understand the studio is open by appointment only. We do not allow visitors to interrupt an artist's session. Our availability is kept up to date on our web site and you are free to check it 24/7 via the internet or by calling us directly. Generally, the studio is open all day Saturday and Sunday. We are usually open during the week in the evening after 7:00PM. Exceptions to the general schedule can be made by special request. The studio is open on some holidays if we can assign an engineer for the session.

Yes. We have a custom designed vocal booth that can fit up to four artists comfortably with a glass window facing the control room.

We usually recommend booking your session one week prior to the date. If you book your session too far in advance you may forget it was on the schedule and miss it. Try not to book your session too close to the date because it maybe already taken by someone else.

Communication is the key. We urge our clients to make sure they arrive to the studio at the designated time. If you find that that you will not make it to your session on time, it is important that you call BEFORE your session. Do not wait until after your session has begun to call, by then it may be too late. If your session begins in 30 minutes but it will take you 40 minutes to get to the studio, call us and let us know you are going to be about 10 minutes late. If we do not hear from you up to 15 minutes after your session began, we will cancel the session and relieve the engineer. Remember the number to the studio is toll-free so even if you do not have a cell phone or if you are underground in a train station, you can still reach us.

If you need to reschedule a session, you need to do so within 48 hours of the session. In other words if you have a session at 7:00PM on Saturday, you have until 7:00PM Thursday to reschedule the session.

We understand emergencies come up occasionally. The NatCave Studio will forgive you for one missed session however to book your next session you will need to make immediate payment or the session will not go on the schedule. Missed sessions are not refundable.

Every session that is booked on our web site has a status of unconfirmed or confirmed. Once you book the session, it is on our schedule but the session is pending confirmation. A studio staff member will make confirmation by calling the telephone number you provided when you booked your session. If you receive an email stating your session is pending confirmation, call us immediately to confirm the session. We remove unconfirmed sessions from the schedule.

Yes. If there is not another booked session coming directly after you and the engineer agrees to stick around you may extend the session.

We regulate our booking system in hourly increments. Once your session begins, you are responsible for the remainder of the session. Use remaining time constructively.

The majority of our sessions feature the elite MXL V69 Mahogany Edition Tube Microphone. Affectionately known by our artists as "The Gold Mic" (due to its stunning gold/black finish), the V69 has proven repeatedly to be the best choice for recording in The NatCave. We also keep a Samson C01 as a backup for V69 and for recording simultaneous performances.

Primarily we use Pro Tools. There are dozens of great software programs used for audio creation however for over a decade Pro Tools stands out as being the industry standard in digital audio workstations. We also have other software titles that we use in the studio such as the increasingly popular FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity Loops).

The NatCave Studio is equipped with a MIDI keyboard piano, a MIDI electronic drum set and a MIDI MCP-style drum pads. FL Studio generates instrument sounds.

Yes. It is a good idea to let us know in advance so we can verify your equipment is compatible with our setup.

The Free Session is a combination of three services that new comers to the studio can benefit from. The first is a tour of the studio where we show you around your new home away from home and answer any technical questions you have about the equipment we will be using during your sessions. The second is an actual 1-hour studio session with one of our expert engineers. During this session, we invite you to record a track and then experience the magic as the engineer brings the track to life. The third service is a consolation conducted by one of our dedicated staff members who will share their experience in the industry with you and advise you on what steps you can take to further your career. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and get more information on what The NatCave Studio can do to help you reach and exceed your goals.

There is no catch. Book your Free Session, show up to The NatCave Studio and you get 2 hours in the studio, 1 hour dedicated to recording/mixing. If you like what you hear then leave a deposit to continue working. If not, no hard feelings, you did not spend any money so there is nothing to lose.

The Free Session is open to anyone interested in working with us. It can be a waste of time for anyone only interested in getting the Free Session and nothing more. We designate the Free Session to help artists who see the benefits of working on future projects here. If you have no interest in working on a project with us then you are actually taking time away from another artist that could really use it. It is not fair to them so we prefer only serious artist to apply for the Free Session.

Once you have book your Free Session you cannot book another.

We recommend that you only stick to one song during your Free Session. Try not to use all the time in the studio for recording. The best idea is to budget time for mixing as well so you can make a proper judgment call on the finished track. Use the studio time to rate the quality of the studio, not to race the clock.

You can reschedule your Free Session if you do so up to 48 hours before your Free Session. After which you cannot reschedule your Free Session. You are welcome to book a 1-hour session with us for $50 and if you are not satisfied, you will receive a full refund.

When you make a deposit for a future session, we will provide a copy of your Free Session. We post the optional video we shoot during your free session on the internet free and will be available to play whenever you like.

We will hold onto the project work for 7 days. We will delete the project if we do not hear from you.

You are encouraged to shoot a video but it is totally up to you. If you are not comfortable, you can pass up the opportunity.

Anyone who has been a guest in a Free Session has had the same benefit as the featured artist. They would have gotten the tour, the consultation as well as witnessed the quality and experience of being in an actual session at The NatCave Studio. It would be selfish to take another 2 hours off the studio schedule to repeat everything again so we do not allow it.

Ideally, you are paying for two very important things:

a. A professional engineer to manage the technical aspects of the recording process
b. Professional recording and mixing equipment to bring the track to life

These are the obvious benefits yet most artists who regularly work in the studio do so for more reasons. Exclusivity is a major reason. During your session the both the engineer and the equipment are working for you and you alone, away from distractions and kept on schedule.

There is no universal right answer to this question. Every artist is different and every session is different depending on what the track needs to make it success. It is always better to book more time than you think you will need so you have room to experiment a little. You should ask yourself a few basic questions.

a. How many songs am I working on?
b. How long does it take me to record a song? (always round up to the next hour)
c. How complex is the song?
d. Am I leaving with mixdown copies?

Once you have an estimate of how long it will take to record, you need to double that time so the engineer can mix everything recorded. After the track is mixed, you should leave about 15 minutes remaining at the end of your session for the mixdown phase. Once you agree on the mix, the engineer must mix the song down to a file format suitable for playback such as on a CD or MP3 player. The duration of this process is about the length of the song so if the final mix is 5 minutes long then it takes about 5 minutes to make the mixdown file. After the mixdown, you will generally want a copy, traditionally on CD but you also have the option to transfer it to a portable drive, email it out or upload to your MySpace page.

Yes. A track cannot leave the studio if it has not at least gotten a rough mix. Do not expect to spend the whole time recording and leave with an unmixed copy. Mixing is what turns a great idea into a great song. Think of the recording phase as gathering all the puzzle pieces. The mixing phase is where you put all the pieces together in the right places.

Yes. The studio can fit about 5-6 people comfortably. It is perfectly ok to bring others to the studio to accompany you during your session. Occasionally we notice artists like to bring "friends". Avoid bringing people to the studio that may serve as a distraction. Ultimately, it wastes everyone's time and more importantly your financial investment. The studio is not a hangout. Only people contributing to the project or your career should be there.

Generally, all you will need to bring to a studio session is your lyrics and background music. If you play an instrument then bring it with you. When you arrive at the studio, the engineer will be awaiting instructions from you as to what you want to do during your session. Be ready to communicate what you want the engineer to help you accomplish.

Yes. An engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of the session as well as the audio quality of the mix. Working with an engineer gives you the freedom to perform better in the studio and focus on your goals for the session. Imagine how frustrating it would be if the anchor for the evening news also had to operate the camera switcher. The same benefit applies to working with an engineer in the studio.

We automatically assigned a dedicated experienced engineer to every session you book with us. There is no additional charge for utilizing the engineer. If you are satisfied with the mix, it is often complimentary to offer the engineer a tip since a majority of the studio rate goes to operating cost. If you prefer to bring your own engineer, you may do so but keep in mind our engineers have the best experience with our setup. This makes the sessions move much quicker.

Technically, if you do not assign a producer to the track then you in fact are the producer so the answer to this question is yes however the producer does not have to be another person, you can produce your own music.

Producing and engineering are two different responsibilities. An engineer focuses on the commutation between the equipment and the collaborators of the track. A producer focuses on the entire project. This makes the producer responsible for instructing the artist. Occasionally the engineer will play the role of the producer. At The NatCave, we offer "Production Assistance" at no additional charge. At your request, we will provide guidance and professional advice but not so much that we step into the producer's role of taking control of the session.

Yes. Production rates vary and are not included in the studio rate. It is also important for you provide the genre so we can match you with a producer best suited for your style of music.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to separate the instrumental from the vocal without leaving unwanted artifacts behind. When a track is complete in the studio, the engineer usually mixes the track into a dual-channel format better known as stereo. These two channels serve as a stereo mix of the multi-channel mix from the original session. Without access to the original session, it is very difficult to isolate the original vocal performance without noticeably affecting the familiar instrumental. The best option is obtain a copy of the song's instrumental mix. You can usually find the instrumental mix of a song on the "Single" release.

Yes. The NatCave Studio has a library of industry-released instrumentals but we could never claim to have every one so if you need an instrumental please request it in advance. This way we can verify availability.

Producers create instrumentals and as such, they are not included in the studio rate. You may request an original instrumental from us. You will negotiate a rate for the instrumental with the producer. Nathanial Foreman, the chief engineer of The NatCave Studio is an established Hip-Hop/R&B producer with over 600 available instrumentals and offers production deals to select artists. The production deals start at $500 per song and include the cost of studio time and engineering. Instrumentals do not leave the studio until you make the purchase.

The majority of time a simple audio CD with the instrumental on it works fine. You can also bring a USB flash drive or SD card. If you are brining an audio file make sure it is WAV or MP3 (WAV is preferred but a high-quality MP3 file is fine).

Yes. Every time a new customer pays for studio time and says you recommended them to us, you get a free hour.

Yes. You can either email us your lyrics or email them to yourself. You can print your lyrics when you get to the studio.

Yes. At the NatCave, we know that new comers to the studio can feel a little intimidated about the whole studio experience. We encourage you to ask questions especially during your free session. The engineer will definitely help you get familiar with the whole process. If you are interested in what is going on just ask and the engineer will be happy to fill you in on the magic.

The NatCave Studio does not separate the studio services into different rates. There is one rate for studio time and any studio service you need done during this time is covered.

Yes. At anytime you can request a video recording during your session. We have a tripod setup in the recording booth. Keep in mind that videos need to be edited the same way music needs to be mixed so budget time to have the video footage worked on.

There is no smoking (of any kind) allowed inside the studio. What you do outside is your business. It is bad for the equipment and not every artist that comes to The NatCave Studio smokes so we promote a healthy environment for everyone.

Yes. You can eat in the lounge section of the control room. We do not allow food in the recording booth or near the electronic equipment.

The cost of CD copies is $0.00. Tell us how many copies you need. As long as it fits within your remaining time, we will make the copies. We can only make session copies using CD burner connected to the studio computer.

Yes. The NatCave Studio has a high-speed multiple-tray CD/DVD duplicator on the premises and we can generate over 300 disc copies an hour. We also have a photo-quality inkjet printer for disc labels and inserts. We also provide print-shop quality copies upon request. We have three general CD duplication packages. Choose between $1 per disc, $2 per disc or $3 per disc.

Whoever is the financier of the project normally holds the copyright of the recording. The NatCave Studio takes no ownership over any recording you paid for. When you release the recording, you must mention the studio in the liner notes. You must also mention any individuals who contributed to the project.

Yes. We are in control of our very own radio station: NatCave Radio. We only play artists who have worked in The NatCave which gives thousands of listeners an opportunity to experience your music.

Yes. The NatCave Studio can convert 30 seconds of your finished track into a ringtone.

Yes. The NatCave Studio keeps the editable version of your project on file and you can return to the studio and have it altered however you like.

The NatCave does not offer refunds for any work released for the studio. With the exception of technical difficulty, you are responsible for the administration of the session. You are paying for studio time which makes us responsible for providing you with access to the studio during a time frame we agree to. The NatCave is not responsible for what is accomplished during this time frame.

Yes. Inform us in advance that you are interested in engineer training and we will customize your session for teaching.