Because we are most
times aiming for national and international marketplace success
(including radio, stores, publicity, television, etc), this is
not a bargain basement studio approach.
Ours is a full service package
include consulting, writing, arranging, complete studio production,
plus photos, design, and guiding the process from songs
to CDs coming to your door.
We are working with the
very best that the Christian music industry here in Nashville
as to offer.
Prices
usually start around $500 per song and go up from there. Usually,
in a full recording project, it can average anywhere from $1,000-2,000
per song (including musicians, studio, vocals, mix and master).
When we work at a studio
for writing, recording, or mixing, or use other musicians and
engineers, you pay the cost of studio time, engineers, and musicians
as needed.
The good news is you pay
as you go, and you can pay in increments instead of having to
come up with a huge sum all at once.
Our Best for HIS
Best
Creative Soul exists for the exclusive and specific
needs of the professional Christian artist who needs the
absolute very best quality for radio, national and
international distribution, and for success in the promotional
side of music ministry. We cut NO corners, use only the
top players in the business, and make no excuses for charging
a premium price for our work.
Music
Production Producer
Eric Copeland Explains the Why and How of Creative Soul
Production
We have the top Christian producers,
musicians, studios, and engineers in Nashville to give you
a unique sound that defines your music and ministry. Don't be
fooled by the myth that because you are coming to Nashville that
you will have the "Nashville" or "CCM" sound.
That's where Creative Soul and YOU come in, taking the best team
in the world and creating something new and different.
Not Just a Studio
The Lodge at Darkhorse Recording, Franklin, TN
We are a full development and production
company, meaning we work with artists from conceiving the songs
and direction of the music, through recording, mix and master,
graphic and web design, and even duplication in some cases.
Songs
The first step in any album project
is great songs. Let that sink in. Great songs. This is
the first place we step things up. Maybe you have written them
already, or maybe we need to co-write them, or find you songs.
But the songs need to be a step up from anything you have done.
We'll usually get together at the studio,
and just spend a day or two pouring over the songs, the reasons
you want to sing them, how the arrangements should flow, and what
kind of musicians we will need for them.
This is an important time, and we are
after original, high-quality songs that come from your heart.
Tracking
Then it's time for the tracking sessions.
We start by getting the musicians scheduled.
Drums, Guitar, and Bass will be the foundation of the record,
and the players here in Nashville are quite frankly the best Christian
session musicians in the world.
And besides being great players, they
have incredible ideas for the songs and arrangements, and many
times we'll leave the studio with much more than even we
planned in pre-production.
We are also careful to hire a great
lead engineer, and pick the right studio rooms to record in. Again,
we don't cut corners here. A quality engineer adds experience
and makes sure every note played by these fine artisans get recorded
right. And the studios we work at are among the best in the business.
(pictured: Sound Kitchen, E Room, Franklin, TN)
Overdubs & Vocals
Then, after we add other overdubs such
as keyboards, orchestration, background vocals, and any other
needed elements, it's time for the artist to sing.
This is another area in which we add
quality. Most likely, in your previous recording projects, someone
directed you to a booth, pressed Record, and pointed your way.
Our approach is a bit different.
We need the absolute best vocal we
can get from you. And this means working with you on how to sing
notes, phrases, and licks. It also may mean bringing in a vocal
coach or arranger to work with us. Finally, we carefully tune
and perfect the vocal performance to make sure we have the best
vocal track we can have.
Many vocalists like this to be a separate
trip, so you can have time at home with the studio tracks to get
your performance down. This is totally up to you. This is also
usually the time we have the photo shoot for the album design
and web site.
Mix
Once all parts are recorded, we begin
the mix.
Again, a very important part of the
quality issue. We use award-winning engineers that have been part
of many large Christian label projects, and that are selected
especially for your mix because of what they bring to the table.
Not just the same old crew that does every record.
Then when mixes are approved, it's
time to get the mixes mastered, graphics ready and then off to
duplication. Usually 1,000 CDs are made on most projects to start,
unless there are distribution issues and more than 1,000 will
be needed. You are the complete owner of the CD master.
Songs
Tracking