# Recording a Band in London — Everything You Need to Know
Whether you’re booking your first proper studio session or you’ve done it before and want to make sure you’re getting it right this time, this guide covers the questions we get asked most often. No jargon, no upselling — just honest answers.
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## How much does it cost to record a band in London?
It varies enormously depending on the studio and what’s included. At the lower end you’ll find rooms that hire out for £100–£200 a day, but these typically don’t include an engineer, and the gear on offer is basic.
A professional studio with a proper live room, quality microphones and a house engineer typically starts around £300–£400 a day. At 123 Studios in Peckham, full-day rates with an engineer start from £300 plus VAT — and that includes the full mic locker, SSL console, outboard, and backline. No hidden extras.
The important thing to compare isn’t the day rate in isolation — it’s what you’re actually getting for it.
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## Do we need an engineer, or can we record ourselves?
Unless someone in your band has professional recording experience, you almost certainly want an engineer. Recording a full band live is a complex job — mic placement alone can make or break a drum sound, and getting the balance right between multiple sources in a room takes years of experience.
A good engineer also keeps the session moving, which matters when you’re paying by the day. They’ll know when a take is worth keeping, when something needs fixing, and how to get the best out of the room and the gear.
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## What’s the difference between a junior and senior engineer?
A junior engineer will typically have several years of professional experience — they know their way around the desk, can set up quickly and competently, and will get you a great result. They’re the right choice for most straightforward recording sessions.
A senior engineer brings a deeper level of expertise — broader experience across genres, stronger instincts for arrangement and performance, and often a more significant credit list. If you’re working on something ambitious, or you want the person behind the desk to contribute creatively as well as technically, a senior engineer is worth the extra cost.
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## How long does it take to record a band?
Honestly, it depends on what you want the end result to be.
If you are making demos to shop to labels or promoters, a tight band that has rehearsed properly can get a few songs tracked in a day. That is achievable and often perfectly sufficient for the purpose.
If you are recording a high quality single or EP that you are releasing properly, you will want to spend more time — not just on tracking, but allowing enough space for a good mix too. Rushing the mix because you have run out of budget is one of the most common mistakes bands make.
The variables that affect time most are often less obvious than you would expect. How much editing is needed after tracking? Are the performances tight enough to go straight to mix, or do drums need comping, tuning needs fixing, timing needs tightening? A band that plays immaculately will always get through a session faster than one that relies on fixing things afterwards.
Preparation is everything. Bands that arrive with locked arrangements, rehearsed parts and gear in good working order get significantly more done than those still making decisions in the room.
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## What should we do before coming into the studio?
Rehearse the specific arrangements you want to record — not just the songs, but the exact versions. Know your tempos. If you’re recording to a click track, practise to one beforehand so it doesn’t throw you on the day.
Make sure your gear is in good order. Fresh strings, new drum heads if needed, and check that everything works properly before you arrive. Sorting a broken cable or a buzzing amp eats into expensive studio time.
Bring a rough recording of what you’re going for — even a phone demo helps the engineer understand what you’re aiming at before the session starts.
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## What is a live room and why does it matter?
The live room is where the band plays. Its size, height, acoustic treatment and materials all directly affect how your recording sounds — before a single piece of outboard gear or plugin is involved.
A good live room gives you natural ambience, separation between instruments, and the kind of energy that makes a band sound like a band rather than a collection of individually recorded parts.
At 123, the live room has high ceilings, warm wooden walls, an adjustable ceiling cloud, interchangeable wall panels and an electronic Drumbrella — all of which allow the sound to be shifted from open and expansive to tight and focused depending on what the music needs. Backline is included at no extra cost.
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## What’s the difference between recording to tape and recording digitally?
Digital recording captures audio with precision and gives you enormous flexibility in the edit — you can fix almost anything after the fact. It’s the standard for most modern sessions and there’s nothing wrong with it.
Tape recording captures audio to magnetic tape rather than a hard drive. The process adds a subtle harmonic saturation, warmth and natural compression that’s very difficult to replicate with plugins. It also tends to make bands play differently — knowing you can’t just fix it in the edit focuses the performance.
At 123, you can record fully to tape, fully digitally, or use the tape machines as analogue inserts within a digital session — running stems through the machine to get the character of tape without committing entirely. The studio has five tape machines, including a 3M 79 — the same model used on records by Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Michael Jackson and many others.
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## Do we need to bring our own instruments and backline?
You should bring your main instruments — guitars, basses, any specialist gear that defines your sound. Pedal boards, specific amps you rely on, anything personal to you.
At 123, backline is included at no additional cost — drums, amps and keys are available in the room. If you have a specific snare or cymbals you prefer, bring those. But you don’t need to hire or transport a full drum kit.
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## How do we get the most out of a day’s recording?
Arrive on time, preferably a little early. Load in, get set up, and be ready to start recording within the first hour. The most expensive thing in a studio is wasted time.
Know your parts. Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve by the end of the day and communicate that to your engineer at the start of the session — they can help you plan the day realistically.
Take breaks when you need them, but keep momentum. Decision fatigue is real, and the best takes usually happen when the band is energised and focused rather than exhausted after eight hours in a room together.
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## Where is 123 Studios and how do we get there?
123 Studios is based at Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE15 3SN — one minute’s walk from Peckham Rye Overground station. The studio is on the Overground network, fifteen minutes from Shoreditch High Street and well connected across South and East London. There is parking nearby and easy load-in access to the building.
To book a session or discuss your project, email [brettshaw123@outlook.com](mailto:brettshaw123@outlook.com).