Live band recording
A 42 m² wood-floor live room, drums behind glass when needed, and an engineer who hears the whole ensemble — not just the click in the headphones.
Bands that want one tight song on tape or a full day of live material use our live room at Nikausync. Everyone plays together where it makes sense; overdubs happen in the booth or with isolation between spaces so energy and interaction stay on the recording.
We focus on rock, indie, funk, jazz and similar line-ups up to about 6 people. The building has 3 spaces and 32 mic inputs — enough for drums, bass, guitars, keys and horns at once. Planning time and budget? Read band recording and budget before you book.
How it works
Planning
Send set list, tempos and a rough schedule. We align duration with song count and send a quote within 2 business days.
Soundcheck
Drum layout, amp positions, DIs and monitor mixes. Everyone gets a headphone mix before we roll takes.
Live takes
Several full passes per song, plus section overdubs when that is faster than replaying everything live.
Handover
Labelled multitrack WAVs or session export; 24-month backup. Mix and master are separate via mixing and mastering.
Live room and isolation
Our live room is roughly 42 m² with a wood floor that gives guitars and drums a natural attack without turning muddy. The kit can sit behind glass so the rest of the band stands closer together while keeping spill under control — not mandatory; some bands want more room on drums and choose an open layout on purpose.
Besides the live room we use the vocal booth (12 m²) for lead vocals or solo instruments while the rhythm section keeps playing. That avoids redoing a nearly perfect take when only the vocal is missing.
Monitoring and talkback
Each musician gets a headphone mix with click, bass, drums and the rest of the band as requested. The engineer listens from the control room and gives clear cues between takes — no shouting through a half-open door. Need an extra wedge for the singer? We sort it in soundcheck.
We have tracked bands in this building since 2019; routing is labelled and predictable. Technical questions ahead of time go to our team — about us lists who may be on session day.
Which bands fit
You are welcome if you have a fixed line-up and can play songs without click-only demos. Duos going fully live, four-piece rock bands, funk sextets up to 6 people: that matches our capacity. Orchestras or choirs are too large for this site — we say so at intake.
After band day you can finish vocals via vocal recording in the booth on the same tempo map. Podcast sessions use other layouts; band plus podcast same day only with tight planning via contact.
Prep at the studio
Tune guitars and bass at home or in the lounge; we have tuners and amps ready. Bring spare strings, sticks and your usual picks. Send a rough mix or demo beforehand so we know what should sit forward in the monitor mix.
See our budget guide for realistic time per song. A four-song EP usually needs several half or full days — honest planning beats an all-nighter with little to show. Minimum age 16; younger bands only with supervision and consent.
Band recording rates
Prices include 21% VAT and cover booked time with engineer, not per musician. Free changes up to 7 days before; after that see terms and conditions. 30% deposit on confirmation.
| Duration | Incl. VAT | Excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Studio hour | €135 | €111.57 |
| Half day | €480 | €396.69 |
| Full day | €890 | €735.54 |
One solid live song often takes three to five hours; a full EP frequently needs a €890 or multiple half days. Extra hours outside your block: €135 per hour.
What you receive
By default we deliver labelled WAV tracks per source (e.g. kick, snare, OH L/R, bass DI, guitar amp) locked to one start point. You can also take the full DAW session on your drive. Rough balance mixes for home listening are possible if time allows.
We keep projects 24 months. Mixing is offline in the control room — see mixing — with 2 revision rounds on the standard package. Mastering follows via mastering. Stem format choices are explained in the mix delivery guide.
Not included
Rental backline beyond what is in the building, extra techs, catering, heavy amp transport and music licensing sit outside studio hire. If you bring a producer who only listens, that is fine; additional engineer time on site is billed separately.
Instrument repair or retuning during the session eats play time — maintain gear at home. Parking: From Amsterdam Centraal it is about a twelve-minute walk via Haarlemmerdijk; bus 22 serves Haarlemmerdijk (Bickersgracht stop). The entrance is on Grote Bickersstraat, next to the courtyard bike parking. Questions? FAQ or +31 20 244 89 17.
Book with Nikausync
Nikausync B.V. takes enquiries via contact or [email protected]. Hours: Mon–Fri 10–22, Sat 11–18 — full text: Monday–Friday 10:00–22:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00, closed Sunday. Sessions outside these hours on request. Address: Grote Bickersstraat 74, 1013 KS Amsterdam.
Short walk-through visits can be scheduled separately; on recording day we focus on takes, not tours for guests. Adjust cookies via .
Included
- Recording engineer for booked hours
- Drum isolation and basic backline routing
- Individual headphone mixes
- Up to 32 inputs available
- Labelled multitrack WAV export
- 24-month archive
- Lounge for breaks and tuning
FAQ
Can we use our own amps?
Yes, if they are safe and fit the room. Share wattage and layout before the day so soundcheck stays smooth.
How many songs in a half day?
Expect two to three if you are well prepared; complex material or many overdubs needs more time per track.
Is there a house drum kit?
We have a basic kit; many drummers bring snare or cymbals. Describe your setup when booking.
When do we get files?
Usually same day or next business day depending on session length. Rush delivery may cost extra — ask.
What if a member is ill?
Reschedule free within 7 days. After that cancellation rules in the terms apply; we look for a workable date together.
Other services
Vocal and speech recording
An isolated booth, several microphones and an engineer who watches your takes and guides you.
€85 · Studio hour
Mixing
Offline mix in our control room: balances, edits, automation and reference checks on several speakers.
€240 · Per song (up to 48 tracks)
Mastering
Final loudness, sequencing and export for streaming, vinyl or broadcast — with one free revision round.
€95 · Per song (stereo)
Podcast and dialogue recording
Table setup for two to four voices, same-day editing and export in your podcast format.
€165 · Session (2 hours, 2 voices)
Recording in Amsterdam?
Tell us about your session
Briefly describe your project and preferred dates: within 2 working days you receive a slot proposal and written quote, no obligation.