Complete Audio Production estimates a standard 3- to 5-song session runs between 4-12 hours which includes:

1) Set-up. (That's usually 1 to 3 hours of getting instruments set up, mics set up, tones on instruments, tuning drums, etc.)

2) Then we start scratch tracking, which entails the whole band playing together. (Though sounds are isolated by using drum booths, separate rooms, etc.)

3) Once the basic tracks are done, we can keep the guitar, bass, keys and whatever, or you can redo them and just keep the drums. Then on to overdubs, in which you can retake any bad performance sections (if any) that are beyond my cut-and-paste ability to fix. (You would be amazed what can be enhanced digitally.)

4) Then we begin stacking tracks, which are re-performances recorded on top of old takes to make a guitar into a wall of guitars, vocals huge, etc.

5) For mixing, I usually start them myself, editing performances, getting general levels set, fixing any eq problems, etc.

6) On the final mixing day, the band's all there and you tell me what you have in mind for this part or that and do final automation for EQ, delays, reverbs, panning, volume, and whatever else you have in mind.

7) Mastering songs: This is a hard step to quantify, but in simplest terms it's a little EQ, a little compression, and making songs as loud as they can be without starting to sound too squashed.

8) Then I sequence the disc, which includes putting all the songs together so they have the same perceived volume and the spread between the songs is rhythmically right.

9) Burning to disc! I make one copy of the disc for you to take home and one master copy with a mastering information sheet to take to the duplication house to have mass-produced.

The grand total for a 3-5 song session tracked at either A.R.S. or PERFECT SOUND STUDIOS, edited and mixed at DUST TO DUST and mastered back at A.R.S. is approximately $720-$1000. This process ensures best quality product at the most affordable price. I also offer demo quality production (typical of the $35-$45/hr. studios in the area) in which the overall cost could be significantly cut.

Visit http://c.a.production.tripod.com for more information or email me at: ninjaneer@comcast.net