Vocal and spoken-word recording
A dedicated vocal booth with sight lines to the control room lets you commit takes that sit tight on your beat or backing — with an engineer listening for level, timing and delivery.
Vocal and spoken-word recording at Miekpixel is built around calm and repeatability. You hear yourself clearly in the cans, the space is dry enough for later editing, and we block time for mic choice before take one. Solo artists, rappers, podcast hosts polishing a narrative, and bands adding lead or backing after a live day all use this setup.
The studio at Wibautstraat 224 in Amsterdam has 2 iso booths beside the live room. Since 2018 we work with the same core engineers; vocal days are usually with Daan Meijer. Unsure what to bring or how long to book? Read the first studio day checklist or reach us through the contact form.
How it works
- 01
Brief
You send tempo, key, backing track or session export, plus references if you have them. We confirm duration, rate and whether hourly, half-day or full-day fits.
- 02
Setup
Compare mics, set pop filter and headphone mix, check gain. We adjust monitoring to your habit: more click, less bass, a touch of reverb for confidence.
- 03
Tracking
Full passes first, then targeted sections. We flag favourites and watch breath spots for comping later.
- 04
Handover
Comping when agreed, basic edits, WAV exports. You get a file naming sheet; session backup follows our 14-month archive rule.
Who this booth suits
The vocal booth is compact and focused: best when you capture one or two voices at a time. Singers and rappers finishing a single or EP demo visit most often; spoken-word performers and hosts recording a long script in one sitting also fit. Already have material from a home setup? We import your session and match sample rate and grid.
A full band in one room is a poor match — use band and ensemble recording in the 38 m² live room instead. You can return after a live day for doubles or ad-libs. Minimum studio age is 16; younger visitors only by arrangement with a parent or guardian present.
Mic choice and monitoring
We do not default to a single mic. A short shoot-out on your voice and the song comes first. Condensers add detail and air; dynamics tame loud passages; sometimes a ribbon softens harsh highs. Distance, angle and pop filter shape how much EQ you need later.
In the 22 m² control room you hear what we hear. Bring your own headphones if you rely on them. Ask anytime for louder, quieter or less bass in the mix — the goal is relaxed performance, not fighting the booth.
What to send beforehand
At minimum:
- Instrumental or beat as WAV, ideally without guide vocal
- Lyrics or script, even as a draft
- BPM and key if known
- Reference tracks whose vocal tone you like
Export from your DAW as 24-bit WAV at 48 kHz unless your project uses another rate — then we align. Use clear file names (verse, chorus, dub). More prep tips live in our session checklist.
Comping, edits and tuning
Comping — assembling the best lines from several takes — can happen in session time if you want it. We agree upfront how much time remains after main tracking. Light tuning on awkward notes is on request only, kept subtle on a separate lane so the natural take stays available.
Mixing, mastering and stylised pitch effects sit outside Vocal and spoken-word recording; book mixing here or take stems to your own mixer. In the booth we focus on clean, locked recordings that behave well downstream.
Delivery and formats
Standard delivery includes:
- Consolidated vocal WAVs aligned from project start
- Optional separate takes per section if you comp yourself
- Short note with tempo, key and mic used
Transfer via secure download or your SSD. We keep sessions 14 months on our storage, then delete unless you ask to extend. Always keep a local copy — drives fail and we do not want you to lose material.
Rates and booking
Listed amounts are consumer prices including 21% VAT. Business invoicing is available; B2B payment term is 21 days where applicable. Booking requires a 35% deposit; free cancellation up to 4 days before the session (see terms and conditions).
| Project | Time guide | Rate option |
|---|---|---|
| Single rap track with dub | 2–3 hours | Hourly or half day |
| Pop single with stacks | Half day | €355 |
| Multiple songs same day | Full day | €645 |
Request a quote via contact or call 020 261 4783. We reply within 2 business days.
Not included
Outside musicians, extra producers, large arrangement work, photo or video on location are quoted separately or arranged by you. We do not travel outside Amsterdam by default. Room-only hire without an engineer is not our model — every session includes desk and guidance.
Questions about privacy for your stems? See privacy policy or email [email protected]. Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00, Saturday 11:00–17:00, closed Sunday.. Directions: Wibautstraat 224 is in Amsterdam Oost. Metro stations Wibautstraat (M52/M53) and Amstel are within walking distance. Trams 1 and 7 run along Wibautstraat; get off at Wibautstraat stop. Bike racks are in front of the entrance; on-street car parking is limited..
After the vocal session
Many clients book mixing with Noor Bakker in the same building so tone and dynamics match what was tracked. Others export stems to an external mixer — tell us your export spec. For final masters see mastering and delivery.
Studio etiquette and practical questions sit in FAQ. Miekpixel is operated by Miekpixel B.V. at Wibautstraat 224, 1097 DN Amsterdam.
Included
- Recording engineer for booked time
- Microphone selection and placement
- Personal headphone mix
- Basic comping and breath edits in session
- WAV export aligned to your grid
- Iso booth and control room use
- Session archive for 14 months
FAQ
How long for one song?
For a three- to four-minute track with verses, chorus and a few doubles, most people plan two to four hours. A half day leaves room for comping without rushing.
Can someone sit in with me?
One or two guests in the control room are fine. Larger groups often distract — mention it when booking if you expect more people.
Should I bring my DAW project?
Yes. We can work on your laptop or continue on our machine. Load required plugins or send stems.
Do you record voice-over for video?
Short narrative takes fit the vocal booth. For prompter, direction and episode batches, voice-over and narration is often smoother.
What if I am ill on the day?
Contact us ASAP via 020 261 4783 or [email protected]. More than 4 days ahead we move the date at no charge; closer in, our cancellation terms in the conditions apply.
Other services
Band and ensemble recording
Live room with drum iso, backline and multitrack capture for bands.
€125 per hour
Mixing and editing
Offline mix with two revision rounds, edits and release-ready exports.
€190 per track
Mastering and delivery
Final masters for streaming, download and optional vinyl reference.
€82 per track
Voice-over and narration
Direction, prompter setup and fast turnaround for video and e-learning.
€88 per hour
Recording in Amsterdam?
Tell us about your session
A short brief is enough: we reply within 2 working days with a slot proposal and written quote.