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Topic: How much does it cost to make a cd? |
HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 10:11 am |
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I'm sure there is a very wide interval between the lowest and highest amount of cost.
But, for those of us (or me) who know squat about the process, what are the costs involved, and what are the factors involved?[This message was edited by HowardR on 04 June 2006 at 11:11 AM.] |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 10:44 am
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| You can get 100 CD-Rs for about $20. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 11:17 am
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Howard, I assume you're talking about producing and recording a CD of your music. For a half-decent product, bank on $10,000. Generally, that amount will get you a recorded, mixed and mastered recording at very good quality - along with 500 professionally manufactured CD's that have a three-page colour insert.
Of course, the budget can grow or shrink according to the amount of musicians and their fees. For an independent project, I'd look for a studio at $30-$35 an hour, engineer included. This will probably be in someone's house with a computer-driven 24-track with a few mics. Try to get musicians @ $100 a session or plead with friends to lay a few tracks for free.
Each of the three albums I've produced have ended up costing me $10,000 including manufacturing. It seems to be the general figure for independent recordings.
If the songs are good, you're half-way there. I just submitted a recording budget to a funding agency. Email me if you want to see it. |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 12:29 pm
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Tell me all or even half or even one/fourth of the Steelers who belong to this Forum, for example; are investing $10,000 or more than $5,000 into their ‘great~sounding’ CD’s! If they are, then I know for certain that I am a failure! At the moment, I only think I am!
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 04 June 2006 at 01:31 PM.] |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 12:41 pm
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I'm like you on this one Howard ! I have not
done this ! The folks that I pick for have ! and
from what I hear from them , it was 10 K in 1976
But they got the likes of Hal Rug on Steel and others
that were top notch musicians , so Chris is right on .
the album I speak of was cut in Steve's home town of
Hendersonville . I would guess that 10 K of 70's money
would equal a 100 K today .
Hick
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 12:52 pm
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| Quote: |
| How much does it cost to make a cd? |
Please, don't anybody tell him....  |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Fred Jack
From:
Bastrop, Texas 78602
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 1:59 pm
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| My daughter is recording a c-d at this time. Bobby Flores is producing it and she will have about $15 - $18,000. in it when she gets finished! Thats a lot of money! Of course that includes artwork and payiny ALL the musicians and all other costs.Also includes royalties and she'll get 10-1500 c-ds.There are ways to do it cheaper.It just depends on how you do it. Fred |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 2:02 pm
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Howard, after Jimbeaux's cruel remark he deserves a really tight hat band.
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Howard |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 4:49 pm
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My bands CD was produced by one of George Straits band members and mastered by Burnie Grundman (Michael Jackson/Thriller) in LA and it cost us around $26K
Then I heard "The Insiders" with my old pal Gary Carpenter and they said it only cost them $5k total for what I felt was a better finished product.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 5:20 pm
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I own my own studio, so I can leave it set up (locked out) for months on end. Granted, I've spent a small fortune in equipment, but if I had to pay for the time I spend in there, it would be much more.
Of the last 4 cd's I've put out, the most recent was the least expensive for mastering, $750. The 1st one was around $1500 and if you take what you do seriously, you want to have it professionally ,mastered. By the time I'm ready to master, I've lost all perspective. Kevin, at Acoustech, can listen to it with "fresh" ears, he knows what I'm looking for and can do any necessary tweaks, then run it through HD-CD.
The professional photography and artwork for the booklet, for my 1st one, was really expensive. Again, I think it's important to make it look as good as I possibly can. I don't write love letters on paper towels. A professional designer is going to cost you anywhere from $3500 up.
My pressing costs have been around $2600 for 1500 cd's. After the master is cut, it goes to the plant where another master is cut, that optimizes the sound. The plant also gets all of the artwork and goes over it, with the artist, to insure that they're going to deliver the goods.
On the other end of the scale, I recently played on a cd that was mixed in his kitchen and masterd on itunes. Need I say more.
So the economics of my past 4 cds is, I spent close to $30K and I've made back around 2K, but then, I don't do popular music and I don't have any illusions about what I do. I know where the money is, I'm just not willing to do what I would have to do to get it. |
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Brandin
From:
Newport Beach CA. USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 5:49 pm
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The Vanduras CD cost me about $5000.
It was done in my son's studio (a
back bedroom). Geoff produced it,
played all the instruments (except
steel and drums), and wrote most of
the songs. I just paid for some equipment
and the mastering. Oh, and also the
drum tracks, which were done at other
studios.
I think it came out pretty good for
our first try.
GB |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 4 Jun 2006 10:52 pm
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| Don't forget the mechanical license fees, if you're not doing all original material or public domain stuff. |
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Rick McDuffie
From:
Benson, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 2:54 am
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I've done 'em for as little as $5000. You can save some money by 1) finding the right studio and 2) working with the engineer to plan the sessions so that you are able to move through the process efficiently. Have the band ready to record when you get there- the studio is not a good place to rehearse... or just hire some experienced studio guys who can come in, nail it, and get out quickly. Time is money.
There is also the option of purchasing Pro Tools, or a comparable recording tool/machine, and doing it yourself at home. I have found that I can be much more creative when I'm not so concerned about the clock ticking. If you're going to take this route, be sure to buy a few good books on studio techniques and read them first. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 6:44 am
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How much does it cost to make a CD?
It's a lot like buying hay. Do you want it before it's been through the horse or afterwards? 
Erv |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 9:40 am
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Quasar Steel Guitar cost me about $7500 to make, including the intial 500 CDs and 500 cassettes. The expenses were studio time, musicians, blank tape, graphics services and duplication. I did the mastering at the same studio where I recorded. This was in 1994-1995.
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 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 12:24 pm
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Yeap! I'm a failure! _ _ _ _ I guess I'll just continue doing my little home~recordings and sending cassette~copies to some friends (at n/c) and to also listen to at home, for my own amazement! At my age, I have no aspirations or illusions of being ‘famous’ anyway! I can even make my own instrumental Videos, if I set my mind to it!
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 05 June 2006 at 01:26 PM.] [This message was edited by John Bechtel on 05 June 2006 at 01:30 PM.] |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 2:36 pm
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Uhhhh Big John,,,
I'd listen to some of your failed recordings!!!
He, He,, He you should hear some of mine!
Larry
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"Fessy" S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 3:30 pm
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What grabs me as kinda funny about CD's
, Its like a "T" shirt you get at the fair !
During the summer we play a lot of little
gigs and we are always ask for a CD ! we
have the one I referred to above but its not
all of us playing on it !
They don't want it !
They want what we are today !
That makes me feel good for its Hal Rugg
on the other one ! & I ant no Hal - no way
No How -
Hick |
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erik
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 4:32 pm
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Ever since getting my MP3 player, my mind is geared toward digital downloads. It would be nice if people just recorded a song at a time and posted it up on a site for a price. It's much faster and less costly. The big issues of course is if you want to record covers. I don't think you can just make them available for download without making CDs. It really saves the buyer money and offers feedback to the artist as to what kinds of music is more desirable.
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-johnson
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 5 Jun 2006 7:09 pm
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| Quote: |
| ...if you want to record covers. I don't think you can just make them available for download without making CDs |
Is that really true? Even if you pay the statutory fees to the Hairy Fox? |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 6 Jun 2006 1:38 am
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The numbers are pretty good above.
One benifit for you
is the cheap cost of some decent NYC studios
Competitian is fierce there and prices are cut to the bone.
Best is NYC has seriously good and FAST musicians.
If you write out good clear charts
and rehearse with one principale accompaniest / soloist.
likely piano or guitar.
Then you can find serious players pretty reasonably priced around town.
If you and your main colaborator are on
with your arangments. Then you can get some
fast session work done. WITH feeling too.
Even if YOU need to come back and tweak
your own tracks, theirs will be in the can.
Also photogs and designers abound.
So $5-7 K in NYC is feasable... or even better.
The main thing is WOODSHED BIG TIME...
The tighter you are the better.
Give CD-rs of the songs and the charts to your side players 3 weeks before the sessions.
The more original music you can do the better too,
for licencing costs etc.
There is an amazing reasonably priced
talent pool in NYC. Do your research well
and you will save a bundle.
Another issue is getting a heavy hitter
name player or two on your session,
even if only for a few songs.
You can't underestimaate sales from people
buying because you have a name they know on the album.
A case in point Red Kilby's album.
Some of the best steelers around on it.
And I know he sold many more copies
because they were on it.
AND they played what he wanted
because that's what they do best...
They will cost you more,
but also are known quantities,
and greatly increase your marque value to buyers.
Ya got cat's like this in NYC up the wazoo.
Ron Carter on bass was $10,000 a day.
But you could get a whole album from him
in that day, and every note perfect.
Plus lots of sales just cause Ron's on the project.
Wish I was around to play bass for you... DRAT to far away..
But I work a bit cheaper...
When Jerry Douglas comes back to town,
have him come in an dub something.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 06 June 2006 at 02:48 AM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 6 Jun 2006 4:33 am
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quote:
Another issue is getting a heavy hitter name player or two on your session,
even if only for a few songs...Ron Carter on bass was $10,000 a day. But you could get a whole album from him in that day, and every note perfect.
$10,000 a day for Ron Carter???
Could a "legend" of steel like Lloyd Green or Buddy Emmons ever make that much?
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 6 Jun 2006 10:01 pm
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I don't think the original question was specific enough! I was referring to us steel-players producing strictly an Instrumental Recording! That's really the only aspect of recording that interests me in particular. I wasn't referring to a comercial type recording promoting a singer, just me and quality back-up musicians. (Not the A~Team!) I know there's a limited-market for such items!
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 07 June 2006 at 09:31 AM.] |
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