Tiny Telephone is $400 a day, engineers are an additional $300-$400 a day.

We don’t have a card rate (i.e., a higher rate for labels and wealthy clients), and we don’t discount time. Floating fees and improvised pricing have alienated musicians from recording studios.

Outside producers are very welcome, but you’ll need a first engineer ($300 a day) for the entire length of your booking.

We are located in North Oakland at 5765 Lowell St, Oakland CA 94608. There is plenty of off-street parking right in front of our door.

To confirm days on our overworked calendar, we need to get a $200 deposit for each day booked. Days can’t be confirmed until receipt of deposit unless prior arrangements are made. We’re happy to give you a 24-hour hold on dates while you sort out availability. 

After you confirm days with a deposit, we need three calendar months notice to release days without penalty. If you cancel days within three calendar months you will lose your entire deposit. You can move dates before one month of your booking without penalty. If you cancel within two weeks of the start of your booking, you are responsible for the entire amount, including engineering fees, of your booking. Please don’t cancel your booking. We are doing the impossible: running an incredibly affordable recording studio in a prohibitively expensive city, please help us!

We now provide free 2″ tape to artists and bands who want to discover the magic of analog recording.

We recommend you mix down to ATR 1/2″ tape, we’ll help you with your order. If you want to buy new 2″ tape so you can keep your masters, email us and we’ll send you a link to the best place to buy it.

No! (They are free.) We now have two excellent drum sets: a vintage Slingerland kit from the 60’s and a wonderful Japanese-made Yamaha Custom. Please reserve the kit you want in advance. We have good hardware and new Ambassador heads available for these kits as well.

The client is solely responsible for piano tuning. It’s frequently moved and treated, both of which knock the C3 out of tune. We’ll gladly have you in a few days before your session to check the tuning. If the piano is central to your project, we strongly encourage you to book the tuner for the day of your session. He has keys, so he can start well before you load in. Try to book him in advance.
Piano tuners: Steve Benjamins, 925 284 3077
Or: Mark Skowronek 415 864 4688
They are both great and reliable.

• Questions about the session, start time, preproduction, etc., will be handled by your engineer.
• We have coffee provided by Ritual Coffee Roasters, as well as a wonderful assortment of over a dozen loose leaf teas.
• There are unlimited options for excellent food in the area, including many who will deliver.
• Making records is not easy; I’ve been there and I want to make your experience here productive and meaningful. If you have any problems/concerns please contact me directly. Thanks.