Vocal recording in Amsterdam — Neustonorix booth 8 m²

At Neustonorix in Amsterdam, a vocal session is about one thing: a take you can stand behind. The booth is dry enough for control without swallowing your breath. From the 22 m² control room you keep eye contact through the window; you hear yourself in a headphone mix we tweak as you go.

You can walk in with a two-track, a Logic or Ableton session, or only lyrics and a tempo. We work with singers, rappers, spoken-word artists, bands adding vocals after tracking, and creators who need voice-over for a demo. Preparing your voice? Read our vocal preparation guide and send material at least 2 business days ahead via contact so the session is ready when you arrive.

Workflow

01
Intake
You send instrumental, tempo, key and references. We confirm microphone choice, slot and rate (€68, €245 or €465).
02
Setup
Quick comparison of two microphones, pop filter, headphone mix and levels. Allow fifteen to twenty minutes before the first take.
03
Record
Full passes, then targeted retakes. We mark strong takes in the session so comping stays fast later.
04
Deliver
WAV export on the day, or comping afterward if you run out of time. Backup kept 12 months on our side.

Who it suits and which voices

The booth is built for solo artists locking a single, rappers shaping an EP, songwriters with a piano demo, and bands that want lead or backing vocals after a band session. Voice-over for trailers, podcasts or internal video fits too, as long as you are not expecting hours of audiobook narration — that sits under podcast and audiobook.

Minimum age 16 unless a parent or guardian attends and gives written consent. One or two guests may sit in the control room; larger groups usually slow the flow. Tell us who is coming so we reserve enough seats and headphones.

Microphone, preamp and monitoring

We have 12 mic inputs; for vocals we typically use one feed in the booth and keep a second mic free if you want to stack ad-libs live. Condensers bring detail and air, dynamics tame loud rap or rock vocals. You listen in the control room and pick what fits the song, not a generic favourite.

You get a personal headphone mix from our 6 outputs — more voice, less kick, a touch of plate reverb to carry you. Bring your own closed-back headphones if you rely on them. We set levels so you do not have to shout to hear yourself.

How a session runs

After arrival at Overtoom 282 in Amsterdam-West we load your instrumental in Pro Tools or your session format. We check grid, tempo and click if needed. Then you enter the booth: lyrics on the stand, water within reach, light dimmed to taste.

We start with a full take to hear dynamics and breathing, then work section by section. The engineer logs take numbers and notes (for example "verse 2, take 4 — intonation good"). Breaks are welcome: a tired voice yields takes you will discard anyway. At the end we decide whether to comp on site or export raw takes for you.

What to bring and prepare

Send ahead: instrumental as WAV (without guide vocal if possible), lyrics, BPM, key and two or three reference tracks whose vocal tone you like. Export your DAW session with clear track names if you are recording onto existing stems.

Instrumental or multitrack export at 48 kHz, 24 bit (other sample rates by agreement)
Lyrics, optionally marked for doubles or ad-libs
References and a short note on what to avoid (for example heavy reverb)
Your own headphones optional; studio pairs available

More practical tips are in our preparation guide. Unsure? Email us a demo link — we reply within 2 business days.

Files, formats and retention

By default we deliver 24-bit WAV files aligned from bar 1 with clear names (Lead_Vox, Double_Chorus, Adlib_01). On request we also export the full Pro Tools session or a rough mix for listening at home on speakers.

We send a download link or copy to your SSD. Neustonorix B.V. keeps a backup for 12 months; after that the session is deleted unless you extend storage. Mixing is not part of the studio hour — for in-house mixing see mixing with 2 revision rounds included.

Rates and booking

All listed amounts include 21% VAT. Booking requires a 25% deposit; business clients may pay on invoice within 14 days after delivery when approved.

Vocal rates at Neustonorix
Option	Duration	Price incl. VAT
Studio hour	1 hour	€68
Block	4 hours	€245
Day session	8 hours	€465

For a single with verse, chorus and a few doubles, most artists plan two to four hours; the four-hour block often fits neatly. Extra time beyond your package bills per studio hour. Free cancellation up to 5 days before the session; details in our terms and conditions.

What is not included by default

Included does not mean unlimited. Unless agreed in writing beforehand, the base rate excludes:

Heavy tuning or pitch correction on every line (basic comping of takes is included)
Beat production, arrangement or music production hours
Mixing, mastering or stem packages for external engineers
Overnight sessions outside Monday to Friday 09:00–21:00, Saturday 10:00–18:00, by appointment only

Tight deadline? Mention it in your contact request or call 020 248 3164. We check the schedule without skipping quality steps.

Getting here and next steps

The studio is at Overtoom 282, 1054 GZ Amsterdam. Tram 1 to Surinameplein, then about four minutes on foot via Overtoom; bus 15 stops on Overtoom. Bike rack outside; on-street car parking nearby (paid, evening rate). Inside you will find three rooms: booth, live room and control room — useful if you later track with the band in the 38 m² live space.

After vocals, artists often book mixing and sometimes mastering. The guides hub covers stems and master delivery formats. For booking or privacy questions see FAQ and privacy policy. Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00–21:00, Saturday 10:00–18:00, by appointment only.

Included

Recording engineer for your booked time
Microphone choice after a short comparison
Personal headphone mix with multiple outputs
Basic comping or raw take export on request
24-bit WAV export on the recording day
Session backup 12 months at Neustonorix
Use of booth, pop filter and lyric stand

FAQ

How much time do I need for one song?

For a three- to four-minute pop or rap track, plan on two to four hours including setup and a few doubles. The four-hour block covers that in many cases.

Can I bring my own DAW session?

Yes. Name your tracks and confirm tempo and grid. We can record in Pro Tools or import your session; tell us the export format in advance.

Do you mix as well?

Mixing is a separate service at €235 per track with 2 revision rounds. You can mix elsewhere: we deliver clean, logically named WAV files.

What if I am ill on the day?

Tell us as early as possible via email or phone. Cancellation within 5 days ahead is free; later changes may follow the terms for deposit or 48 hours carried within 6 months.

Is there parking?

Tram 1 to Surinameplein, then about four minutes on foot via Overtoom; bus 15 stops on Overtoom. Bike rack outside; on-street car parking nearby (paid, evening rate). Allow extra travel time in rush hour; you can lock a bike outside.