FAQ's - Mahogany Recording Studio

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to record an album?
From First Note to Final Master in Two Weeks.

A 10-track album doesn’t have to take months if we put in the groundwork together. When we workshop the arrangements and document our creative decisions beforehand, the studio time becomes incredibly efficient.

Phase 1: Recording (1 Week) – With prepared performers and the technical “homework” (mic placement, DAW routing, and monitoring) handled before you arrive, we can comfortably track 2–3 songs per day.

Phase 2: Vocals & Overdubbing – Depending on the complexity of the arrangements, we dedicate time to capturing the perfect lead and backing vocal layers.

Phase 3: Mixing & Mastering (1 Week) – Once the performances are captured, I move into the final polish to get your album “radio-ready” within a fortnight.
How much does Mixing and Mastering cost
Mixing: 3 hours per track (equivalent to a standard recording session).

Mastering: 2–3 days. While the technical process is efficient, this timeframe allows for the critical listening and thorough quality checks needed for a professional release.
How much will recording an album cost me?
Project Investment & Value

Recording a professional album is a major undertaking. At large commercial studios, sessions can easily reach R10,000 each, bringing a 10-track project to a R100,000 baseline before you even consider musician fees.

At Mahogany Recording Studio, we believe high-end production should be accessible. We operate with a “results-first” philosophy, often putting in extra hours behind the scenes to ensure your sound is world-class, while saving you money.

The Full Album Special: To help you get your music to the world, we offer a significantly reduced rate for full-length projects. Our “bulk-booking” approach means the more time we spend on your vision, the more affordable the hourly rate becomes.

Project Scope: 10 Tracks (Fully Produced, Mixed, and Mastered).

Investment: R60,000.00 total.

Please Note: This rate covers all studio engineering, production, and post-production time.

It does not include fees for session musicians, guest artists, or external gear rentals. These costs would need to be calculated on a project-specific basis.
When and/or for how long can we record?
Studio Hours & Project Timeline

To ensure every project gets our undivided attention, Mahogany Recording Studio operates strictly by appointment.

Standard Recording Sessions:

Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:00.

Live Instrumentation: Drums and high-volume instruments are tracked during these standard hours (due to our residential location).

After-Hours & Evenings: Reserved by special arrangement for lower-volume tracking, such as Vocals, Strings, Woodwinds, and DI Guitars.

Weekends: While we generally keep weekends clear, we are happy to accommodate artists working full-time during the week.

A Flexible, Organic Workflow: We understand that life happens and the creative process can’t always be rushed. To keep your experience stress-free, we offer:

Open-Ended Contracts: We leave start and end dates flexible so you can create organically without the pressure of a ticking clock.

Creative Momentum: While we stay flexible, we are committed to your project’s momentum—constantly “chipping away” at recording, programming, and mixing to keep the energy high.

Dedicated Progress: We promise to keep your project moving forward at every stage, ensuring we hit that professional finish without dragging out the process.