I could go on, of course, but I think you get the idea – if your material is finished and ready to record and if you’ve practiced enough to feel confident that you can perform it well, then there’s really no reason for you not to hit the studio right now! And a ton of reasons you should!
However, it may not be the right time for you to record – not yet, anyway. You may not be fully prepared for the process of actually laying down your music; your songs might need more work, you might not know which tracks to choose, you might need more practice first… or various other hurdles.
But don’t worry, that’s what this Guide is for, so grab a copy now and give it a read. You’ll need to put in a little more time and effort, but it will be time well-spent – trust me! And when you’re done, you’ll be ready to give me a call and we can get the ball rolling!
Why should I choose Sidrat Audio?
Well, Sidrat Audio is just one person, really – me! My name’s Dan, and if you choose Sidrat Audio, you’re choosing to place your trust in me. I’ve been involved with music in one way or another since I was a child and joined my first band at 15 as lead singer. I became interested in creating music using a computer at 17 and built my own recording studio at 22, gradually kitting it out with better and better equipment.
I used the studio for my own projects to begin with and recorded friends and jam sessions just for the pure enjoyment of it. Later, I started recording some local bands and artists I’d met through my work as a live sound engineer at small venues in the area.
Largely self-taught at this point, I soon began honing my skills with purpose, taking various production and mixing courses and spending an inordinate amount of time practicing with all sorts of different material, which led to opportunities of working with some extremely talented singers and musicians.
Over the past 22 years, I have raised my music production skills to a professional standard, from recording and editing, to sequencing and mixing. And in the process I have built up an extensive catalogue of clients and added significantly to my portfolio.
Rather than being a high-end studio – or even mid-range – the Sidrat Studio is a modest affair, but that means that I can cater to those artists who have a similarly modest budget. The room is small but well-specified and, detached from any other structures, sits at the bottom of my garden. It’s perfectly suited to recording vocals and solo instruments, as well as being a great mixing environment.
My studio is a cosy, welcoming space, with an easy-going and creative vibe. It’s equipped with a selection of fun hardware instruments that you might not find anywhere else, as well as a range of great-sounding mis and pre-amps, plus a ton of virtual instruments and effects that will allow you to create almost any kind of music you can possibly imagine.
Most artists just starting out on their recording journey can’t afford the rates of larger studios and often have to save up so long that their material is no longer fresh, losing some of its original vitality. Either that or they spend too much time trying to figure out how to do it themselves, which can be incredibly frustrating.
Also, many seasoned recording artists, who know how the high-end recording process works, want to get down a decent demo of their tracks before committing the time and money required for a big chart-topping release, in order to make that process as efficient as possible.
Luckily, I provide a service that fits nicely into that niche, offering professional results at a fraction of the cost and allowing my clients to walk away with a great-sounding track they can be proud of.
…the best way to decide if you want to work with me is to check out my Portfolio. There you can listen to a few of the tracks I’ve recorded, mixed and produced. I encourage you to do a cross-comparison with tracks recorded at other studios.
I hope I don’t sound too full of myself when I say that I’m already looking forward to working with you! 🙂
What kinds of clients have you worked with?
Nobody famous, if that’s what you mean… or at least, not as far as I’m aware. Although I have worked with some clients who have been successful in securing licensing deals for their music and are making a career out of their material in one way or another.
All of my clients have aspirations of their own, which may include releasing their material or generating income from it, but many simply want to record their music for their own pleasure or to share with friends and family.
I work with all sorts of artists; from pure vocalists like singers, rappers and spoken word artists performing covers or their own material to pre-made backing tracks or no music at all, to various kinds of musicians, like singer-songwriters, who perform their songs with acoustic guitar and their voices, or multi-instrumentalists, using a wide range of instruments layered one on top of the other. I also work with producers who need my help in refining their tracks and creating a more polished mix.
Although I specialise in solo artists and duos, I have also worked with full bands, recording things like drums on location in a larger space, then adding everything else in the Sidrat Studio and providing them with a final mix.
Another common service I provide is helping vocalists and musicians who want to add accompaniments to their tracks, using instruments they would otherwise be unable to access.
As well as an eclectic selection of hardware, I also have a vast array of virtual instruments to draw upon, such as immaculately sampled pianos, strings, brass and woodwind, a multitude of real-world percussion and beautifully recreated acoustic drum kits, as well as faithful emulations of classic analogue hardware, from vintage synthesizers and drum machines, to cutting edge modern synths and a library packed with fantastic samples.
Many of my clients take advantage of this resource, commissioning me to create, through the use of advanced sequencing techniques, anything from realistic accompaniments to floor-filling backing tracks, to which they can record their own vocals and instruments, as well as using them to perform their music at live gigs, from an open-mic night to an open-air concert.
