629 Kenwood Court
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
815.756.3006
chris@musicandsoundco.com
Great Fundraising Opportunity for Your Group
We bring our studio equipment to your site and record your group from start to finish. We then take the recording back to our studio where we edit, produce, digitally master and duplicate your group's CD. Complete graphic design services, full color inserts, color printing directly on the CDs and jewel cases are all included. We'll even provide you with all of the promotional materials you will need to successfully market your group's CD. We take all the leg work and hassle out of raising funds for your group. What's more, we take the risk out of fund raising by offering low minimum order and reorder quantities. If you make money, we make money. Otherwise, we simply cover a portion of the actual cost. We have a vested interest in the success of your project. To make things even better, we offer reduced rates once we hit our break even point. This assures your group even more opportunity to make a profit.
How We Record and Produce a Live CD
- It
all begins with an initial consultation. We visit with your music group
during their regular rehearsal time and explain exactly what will take place.
If needed, we'll offer helpful suggestions and teach recording techniques
that can make a big difference in the final outcome of your project.
- We
will arrive approximately 4-8 hours prior to your performance to set up
our recording equipment. Our recording staff is professional and courteous
and respectful of your place of worship or school. Our equipment will be
set up in the back of the church or concert hall with the microphone cables
securely fastened so no one trips over them.
- We
will make arrangements for a sound check usually one to two hours prior
to the actual performance. This is one of the most critical aspects of the
recording. After all, what goes in comes out! Typically, we will have each
instrument play separately while we adjust the recording levels and refine
the microphone placement. Once each instrument is balanced, we will perform
a similar test on each vocal section. We ask for patience during the sound
check. We're quite familiar with various microphone placement techniques;
we will do our best to move the process along as quickly as possible.
- After
the performance, there is still much work to be done. We take the recording
back to our studio where the music will be "mixed down". This
is the part of the process when the music, choir and soloists are all balanced.
Using our digital editing equipment, we remove the extraneous sounds from
the performance and spaces between each cut.
- The
final stage of mix down is the mastering process. Once the recording is
mixed down to a 2 - track stereo digital format, it is run through a specialized
equalization process while we critically listen to the final mix. What sounds
great in our studios does not necessarily mean it will sound as good in
your particular listening environment; therefore, the final mix is fine
tuned and tested on various types of simulated playback equipment; car stereos,
personal CD players, "boom boxes", personal computers and home
stereo systems. Because this aspect of the production is so complex, we
encourage you to read our manual, "How to record a CD" to get
a better understanding of how post production operations are performed.
- Once
the desired results are achieved, we create a master CD - the original CD
from which subsequent CDs and cassettes are produced. Our graphic designers
put the finishing touches on the CD artwork and insert design while the
CDs are in the post production and duplication phase. As we mention in our
rate guide, the client is responsible for providing us with the artwork
that goes on the actual CDs and inserts. In most cases, it is just a copy
of the actual program from the performance. Sometimes, however, an ambitious
choir member or student will design the artwork and provide it to us on
a floppy disc or on camera ready artwork.
- After
the CDs are duplicated, they are put in the printer and the art is printed
directly on the CD. We do not use makeshift labels like other companies
might. CDs with labels do not always play consistently on certain types
of playback devises. Nor do we use thermal printing which is generally only
one or two colors. Our CDs are printed in full color, and they look and
play great!
- Finally,
the CDs are packaged in their jewel cases and prepared for shipping. The
CDs will be delivered directly to your church or school. For an additional
charge, we will ship each order individually.
- Our
commitment to our clients does not end once the CDs are shipped. We produce
an MP3 audio sample of your recording and post it along with a color picture
of your CD or music group on our web site. Visitors are free to download
the sample and purchase copies of your CD with a credit card through our
online store. We collect the money and send your church or school it's share
Below are CDs MSC produced to benefit local family / children agencies.
Chris Pawola recording The FIrst
United Methodist Church of DeKalb, Illinois.
