{"id":25,"date":"2010-06-20T23:21:53","date_gmt":"2010-06-20T23:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manukastudios.co.nz\/?page_id=25"},"modified":"2020-04-26T05:39:13","modified_gmt":"2020-04-26T05:39:13","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/?page_id=25","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c364599\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"I\u2019m a solo artist - do I need to provide musicians?\"    >I\u2019m a solo artist - do I need to provide musicians?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c364599\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">No &#8211; I have a select group of pro session musicians that I have handpicked for their specific skills. We will use them on an \u201cas needed\u201d basis for your particular project.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c36461c\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Do I need to provide backing vocalists?\"    >Do I need to provide backing vocalists?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c36461c\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">No \u2013 I have experienced session singers who can do the job quickly and efficiently.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c36464d\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Can I bring my own musicians?\"    >Can I bring my own musicians?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c36464d\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Of course \u2013 as long as their playing skills meet the required standards.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c364677\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"I\u2019ve written a song \u2013 but I don\u2019t know what to do next!\"    >I\u2019ve written a song \u2013 but I don\u2019t know what to do next!<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c364677\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Arranging is one of my passions \u2013 I\u2019ve arranged countless tracks on literally hundreds of albums! You and I will sit at the piano and work out the arrangement together. I will take great care to stay true to your original ideas and not force you to change anything (unless you love my suggestions!). Then you and I will build up the arrangement, one instrument at a time, until we are satisfied with the way the track is sounding. Finally, we\u2019ll wipe your guide vocal and replace it with your final vocal, again with me guiding and helping you to produce the best vocal that you are capable of doing. Lastly, I will mix and master your track onto the media of your choice (usually CD).<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c3646a2\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"How much does it cost to record?\"    >How much does it cost to record?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c3646a2\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Anything from $300 to $3000 per finished track, depending on how complex your production is and how many session players are involved. We\u2019ll discuss your project and I will give you a detailed quotation, based on your specific requirements.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c3646cb\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Am I allowed to record other people\u2019s songs?\"    >Am I allowed to record other people\u2019s songs?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c3646cb\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Yes \u2013 but you will need to purchase an APRA licence. This is a legal requirement, and I will put you in touch with the relevant authority (APRA). It\u2019s a simple and relatively inexpensive procedure:<br>1. Provide a list of the song titles + composers\u2019 names<br>2. State how many CDs you intend to have duplicated<br>3. APRA will calculate how much you need to pay, and issue an invoice to you.<br>4. On receipt of payment, APRA will issue you with a licence to duplicate your CDs.<br>5. When you re-order more CD copies, you pay the fee again.<br>6. The current cost for an APRA licence is around $600 for 500 CD copies of a 12-track album.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c3646f3\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Do you provide a CD duplication service?\"    >Do you provide a CD duplication service?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c3646f3\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">No \u2013 but I have a long-standing relationship with Stebbings Recording Centre \u2013 one of the finest duplication facilities in New Zealand \u2013 I will put you in touch with the right people &#8211; they will take care of all your duplication and artwork printing needs.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c36471a\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"How much does it cost to make CD copies and print the album covers?\"    >How much does it cost to make CD copies and print the album covers?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c36471a\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Around $2 to $4 per album, including the printed sleeves, depending on the quantity that you order. I tell people to budget around $5 per CD for the duplication, artwork and APRA licence.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c364759\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Do you use ProTools or Logic?\"    >Do you use ProTools or Logic?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c364759\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">No, I use Cubase, but I regularly work with clients who bring projects that were recorded elsewhere, they just have to be converted to Cubase project files.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c364784\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"What sounds &amp; instruments do you use?\"    >What sounds &amp; instruments do you use?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c364784\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<p>I have a collection of the most sophisticated sample libraries currently available \u2013 including Vienna Symphonic Libraries, LA Scoring Strings, Cinematic Studio Series, Native Instruments, Tonehammer, Cinematique, FX-Pansion\u2019s BFD, Steve Slate Drums, Modo Bass, Scarbee Instruments, Modart&#8217;s Pianoteq, Sampletekk&#8217;s White Grand, and numerous hardware and software synths from Roland, Korg, Hammond and Yamaha.<\/p>\n<p>I use a combination of Virtual Instrument technology and real instruments played by live musicians. This allows me to build stunningly realistic orchestral &amp; band arrangements, achieving \u201cbig-budget\u201d production values that would be simply unaffordable to most artists, while still preserving the feel and musicality of a live recording. I don\u2019t use loops (unless for a special effect) or programmed parts for any of my instruments &#8211; everything is played live.<\/p>\n<p>Pop, Rock and Country productions are done using a combination of virtual drums (BFD\/Steve Slate Drums\/Platinum Samples played live), virtual bass (Scarbee\/Modo Bass played live) virtual Steinway and Hammond B3 keyboards (played live) and real acoustic &amp; electric guitars played by session players. Additional instruments like Pedal Steel, Fiddle, Dobro and Sax are overdubbed using live session players as needed.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c3647e3\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"I don\u2019t live in Auckland \u2013 is that a problem?\"    >I don\u2019t live in Auckland \u2013 is that a problem?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c3647e3\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Not at all \u2013 my clients are scattered all over the country \u2013 some are even overseas! I only need you to come up to the studio for your vocal recording sessions (usually 2 to 3 days) \u2013 the rest of the project can be done \u201clong-distance\u201d by email and the Internet. People often send me a rough recording of their song (or a copy of the original artist if they\u2019re doing a cover-version) \u2013 and I arrange and record the backing and email it to them as an mp3 file. This allows them to rehearse at home until they\u2019re ready to travel up to the studio for their vocal sessions.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c36480f\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"What sort of equipment do you use?\"    >What sort of equipment do you use?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c36480f\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">My studio is based around a 64bit Cubase system running on a network of four highly-spec&#8217;d PCs. My orchestral template, virtual instruments and sample libraries are spread across three slave PCs, all sync\u2019d to the main DAW via Midi Time Code. Converters are by RME. Mic preamps are by Focusrite.  Microphones are by Neumann and Rode.  All the usual plugins, compressors, reverbs and amp simulators are present (too many to mention). Monitoring is courtesy of Mackie HR828&#8217;s in a flat, professionally-designed and acoustically-treated control room, measuring 7m x 6m.<\/p> <p> The fully sound-proofed and acoustically-treated recording area measures 6m x 4m.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c36483e\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Do you record bands?\"    >Do you record bands?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c36483e\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">I specialise in solo artists \u2013 but would be happy to discuss your band\u2019s requirements. I have colleagues in the industry who specialise in live band sessions \u2013 and there are several options that we can explore, such as recording the basic tracks elsewhere and then bring the wav files to me for overdubbing, mixing and mastering.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id6a1588c364874\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Do you do corporate AV and TV soundtracks?\"    >Do you do corporate AV and TV soundtracks?<\/span><div id=\"target-id6a1588c364874\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">Yes \u2013 my enormous orchestral template and sample library collections provide me with the perfect tools to compose and arrange audio-visual soundtracks \u2013 from intimate atmospheric soundscapes to \u201cepic Hollywood soundstage\u201d themes.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":225,"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions\/225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/manukastudios.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}