The quality makes all the difference. You may be a really good songwriter but if your song is not produced well, it will not be able to create the impact it should. With advancements in technology, professional sound engineers, and technicians, your music can be release ready. As the sound quality of your music is one of the major factors deciding whether the audience listens to your music or not, producing it a recording studio is of utmost importance. There are countless studios across India but out of these, here’s a list of the top 10 recording studios which encourage recording indie music. (The list is not in any particular order or exhaustive)
1. Boing, Mumbai
Located in Khar, in the heart of Mumbai’s post-production hub, this studio is designed by acclaimed studio designer Sam Toyoshima of STL Labs Japan. The facility has two studios that are fully equipped with the latest hardware and software. The two studios, namely Boing One and Boing Two are priced at a rate of Rs. 2950 and Rs. 2450 per hour respectively. They also have a rewards programme in which, for every 20 hours they give Rs. 5000 off on your next bill. This studio has also hosted artists such as Karsh Kale and Warren Mendonsa of the Blackstratblues.
Website: http://www.boing.co.in/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boingstudios/
2.Providence Recording Studio, Mumbai
Located in Santacruz, Mumbai, this studio solely offers anything and everything related to music recordings, unlike most others which offer video recording as well. From sound recording, to sound editing, mixing master, sound design, jingle, and music production as well as voice over recording, Providence Recording studio provides it all. The studio was founded by Shezan Shaikh, of Providence which is a metal band hailing from Mumbai. The cost of recording is Rs. 2,200 per hour which is inclusive of taxes and when it comes to producing a song and an EP, it varies from genre to genre and many other factors. However, smaller and newer the bands, the lesser it shall cost and high rates for bigger, more famous bands. Providence also offers a free recording of one song to really good, yet struggling musicians, however, it’s more inclined in giving such a chance to a metal band but other independent artists can approach them as well.
Website: http://www.studioprovidence.in/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studioprovidence/?ref=py_c
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioprovidence/
3.Gray Spark Audio, Pune
Located in Baner, Pune, this 3000 sq.ft. facility has handled projects ranging from ads, films, film scores, jingles, production for indie music, live sound and to everything music-related! The two studios, namely Studio A which specialises in mixing and mastering for TVCs, live recording, film songs and scores, and music albums and will cost Rs. 1300 for an hour. Whereas, Studio B, the second one specialises in vocal dubs, ADR, foley, and small-scale production for Rs. 800 per hour. Devoid, Mali, Easy Wanderlings, Aswekeepsearching, KSHMR, and Mariana Bo are some of the many artists who have recorded their music from this studio.
Website: http://www.gray-spark.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraySparkAudio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graysparkaudio/
4.COSMA Recording Studio, Bangalore
Located in Kasturi Nagar, Bangalore, the services offered by this studio are Music Production, Film Score, Mixing and Mastering. It also offers courses in Sound Design, Mixing, Ableton Live, Logic, and Maschine. An average cost of producing one song at this studio is around Rs.15,000-20,000 which includes mixing as well as mastering. They also offer remote Analog Mastering at an extra cost of Rs. 6,000. For a 4 track EP, the cost can vary depending on the artist and various other factors. COSMA Recording Studio has Mixed EPs/Albums for artists like Malfnktion, Black Letters, Jeevan Antony, Superpolite, Soundarya, Signal W, The Derelicts! etc.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosmastudio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmastudio/
5.Ferris wheel Studios, Gurgaon
Located in the heart of Gurgaon, Ferris Wheel Studios has artists like Harrdy Sandhu, Sukhbir, Euphoria, Indian Ocean, Zaeden and a multitude of local artists record there regularly. With a selection of over 50 Microphones from Neumann, Earthworks, AKG among others and armed to the teeth with legendary equipment, they offer services including Recording, Mixing, Mastering, and Production. With 3 isolated rooms, they can also record bands live. The hourly rates are Rs.2000 for Studio A, Rs.1770 for Studio B and Rs.3540 for the full studio floor. The Mix and Master rates are Rs.35,400. On average a song is completed within the budget of Rs.35,000 to Rs.50,000 depending on the arrangement and line up.
Website: https://www.ferriswheelstudios.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FerrisWheelStudios/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferriswheelstudios/
6.Plug ‘N’ Play, Delhi
Located in Chittranjan Park, this studio offers composition, arranging, recording, mixing, live sound engineering and live gigs recording. This studio was founded by Advaita and Shadow and Light’s Anindo Bose. The cost for a full band to produce one song would be around Rs. 35,000 including mixing/mastering. The per hourly rate of the studio to record vocals or acoustic songs is around Rs. 2,000. There’s no fixed cost for the production of a 4 song EP however, the studio helps and guides new artists, to be more efficient and cost-effective. Artists and bands which have recorded their music from Plug ‘N’ Play are, Shubha Mudgal, Mohit Chauhan, Advaita, Shadow and Light, Pakshee, Bipul Chettri, Anirudh Varma Collective, SabCulture, The Busking Man, Naalayak, Swati Bhatt, Hanita Bhambri, Ankur Sabharwal, and many more!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plugnplaystudios/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plugnplaystudios/
7.Krimson Avenues Studio, Chennai
Located in Aminjikarai, Chennai, it has two studios. One studio is used for audio recording, mixing and mastering whereas the other studio is used for music production, mixing and mastering. Krimson Avenues Studio also has a Krimson sound school that has courses on music production and audio engineering. The music for many regional Tamil movies has been recorded in this studio. Artists such as Alisha Thomas, Swagatha S Krishnan, Ramkumar Kanakarajan and many others have recorded their music here.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krimsonavenuestudios/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krimsonavenuestudios/
8.Studio 104 Kolkata, Kolkata
Located in Tangra, Kolkata, this studio provides graphic design services as well as studio recording, mixing and mastering services. For this studio, the prices again depend on a number of factors, hence an estimated amount was not derived. However, for 8 hours, the studio shall cost Rs. 5,900. Simon Thacker, Shimli Basu, A5 Band, Jajai Singsit, Ritam Sen, Samarjit Guha, and many other Bengali songs have been recorded at this studio.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio104kolkata/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio104_kolkata/
9.Hourglass Studios, Noida
Hourglass is a basic home studio setup located in Noida. They offer services such as mixing, mastering, recording, live sound recording, and composition as well. The basic cost of recording a single here is around Rs. 12,000- 20,000 whereas a 4 song EP ranges from Rs. 40,000-60,000 including mixing and mastering. Hourglass Studios has worked with a variety of artists from solo singers to bands and corporates. Trigger, Cha’bi, Men are Rarely Sober, Bloodywood, The Blue Cab, Sourav Dey, The Toll Road, are few of the many artists this studio has worked with.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studioshourglass/
10.Compass Box Studio, Ahmedabad
Located in Ahmedabad Cantonment, this studio is completely artist-driven and its goal is to be an active contributor in the ever-growing, diverse independent system in India. Compass box studio provides all the necessary tools and services required by an artist to create and share their work with the world such as recording, producing, publishing music, providing the right support, resources, and the environment for the artist to succeed. The production of one song at this studio shall cost around Rs. 30,000-45,000 including mixing and mastering whereas for a 4 track EP, the estimated cost could vary between 1.2-1.5 lakhs. Mukt the band, SaaR, Reema & Younglee, Fame the Band, Meera Desai, Aditi Ramesh, Random Gyaan, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya are some of the artists who have recorded their songs in this studio. The studio also records one complimentary track for some independent artists. The debut of the band Heatsink was also recorded at this studio.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassboxstudio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassboxstudio/
(Note, all these rates are an approximate cost. It would be better to call and talk to these studios based on your requirements.)
