When studio overdubs pay off
Overdubs make sense once the foundation is fixed: tempo, key and arrangement are agreed, and the backing track plays without edit glitches. Many Amsterdam artists track demos at home; at Molgulaxeno you focus on what is hard at home—consistency, breath, diction and working with an engineer.
Book overdubs separately from a first lead if your voice is already tired. A half day (€355) covers lead plus one layer for many songs; several harmonies or languages often need a full day (€640). See Vocals and speech recording for what is included by default.
Take sheet and priorities
Before heading to Haarlemmerweg 239, write a take sheet: full passes per section, punch lines, and where doubles (octaves, thirds, ad-libs) sit. Number takes in the DAW or on paper—confusion burns more time than one extra pass.
Priority 1 is always the lead that carries the song. Priority 2 is doubles that add width without masking the lead. Ad-libs come last; otherwise you pay studio time for tracks that get muted later.
- Lead per verse and chorus: at least three usable passes
- Chorus double: one tight layer, optional stereo double
- Punch-ins: mark timecode or bar/beat in your project
- Buffer: ten to fifteen minutes for export and a quick listen
Time budget and rates
Allow roughly five to ten minutes per full pass including a new line setup, plus two to four minutes per punch when the engineer already knows the tempo. Rap and speech with heavy editing often sit at the top of that range.
| Block | Typical use | Rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Hour | 1–2 sections lead + punch | €98 |
| Half day | Lead + chorus double | €355 |
| Full day | Multiple songs or languages | €640 |
A 40 percent deposit confirms the booking; free cancellation up to 7 days ahead. Payment terms for businesses: terms and conditions.
Files to bring
Deliver instrumentals as WAV or AIFF at your session sample rate (44.1 or 48 kHz). Include a silent click or clear markers if you want bar-accurate punches. Lyrics on paper often beat a phone that dims mid-take.
If you already tracked at home, export raw takes—not only the bounce—so we can compare and comp. We archive session material for 24 months; request exports in time if you mix elsewhere via Mixing.
Inside the vocal booth
The booth is dry and isolated—suited to close-mic work with 22 microphones in the building. Warm up briefly outside; inside, keep distance to the pop filter (about a hand width) and steady dynamics.
For doubles, match the lead’s articulation and breath. Listen once to the lead in headphones, then sing without talking into the mic. We discuss panning for stacks in the control room—read reference tracks for your mix briefing if you already know the direction.
Punch-ins and comps
Punch-ins work best one problem line at a time. The engineer sets pre-roll; you enter on the word, not mid-phrase unless agreed. Note which take is the comp base—we flag favourites in the session, but your sheet leads.
Comping is not mixing: choosing lines often happens in the studio; polish can wait. If you book mixing with us, plan for 2 revision rounds; we do not resend raw overdubs for free if your list changes after export.
Getting to Westerpark
We are at Haarlemmerweg 239, a short walk from the Haarlemmerweg stop (GVB bus 22 towards Indische Buurt). From Amsterdam Sloterdijk station, allow about twelve minutes on foot via Haarlemmerweg. On-street paid parking is available; you can park bicycles in front of the building. The studio entrance is at street level beside the wide front windows. Hours: Tuesday–Friday 09:30–21:00, Saturday 10:00–17:00, closed Sunday and Monday.. Send your take sheet and preferred start via contact or email; we reply within 2 business days.
Do not stack late-night overdubs and an early voice-over elsewhere—fatigue shows in double tuning. Minimum age on site is 16; minors need a parent or guardian present.
Pre-departure checklist
- Take sheet with sections, punch lines and double types
- Instrumentals and tempo map on USB or cloud link
- Lyrics and pronunciation notes for multilingual parts
- Booked hours aligned with Vocals and speech recording rates
- Day-of changes: 020 261 3844
We do not give medical advice; if your voice hurts, postpone and see a clinician. General studio questions: FAQ.
