One week out: voice and script
Your voice tires like any instrument. During the week before the session, skip shouting matches, all-night parties and marathon rehearsals without breaks. If you must rehearse, use short blocks with water between them rather than one exhausting day.
Lock the lyrics or script now. Rewriting a hook between takes burns studio time fast. Print the text, mark breaths, tricky consonants and emotional beats. If you sing to an instrumental, loop it until entries and stops are automatic. Send a 48 kHz / 24-bit WAV when possible; note BPM, key and bar numbers for the downbeat. Planning Mixing at the same time? Read how mix pricing works so you know how many hours of recording fit your budget.
The night before
Sleep is the cheapest upgrade. Short nights show up in pitch, breath support and patience—for you and for the engineer. Go easy on alcohol, which dries mucosa, and on very spicy or fatty meals that can cause reflux overnight.
Pack early: printed lyrics, charged phone, instrumental on USB or a download link you already tested, headphones if you rely on them, room-temperature water, non-menthol lozenges if you use them. Check how to reach us and About a 4-minute walk from Nakameguro Station (Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line), toward Nakameguro koban. One block north of the Meguro River promenade. so you are not rushing from Nakameguro Station. Sessions run Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–22:00; closed Monday and Sunday. Evening sessions by appointment.; evening slots need a confirmed booking.
Food, hydration and health
Hydrate through the day, not only at the studio door. Vocal folds need time to benefit from fluids. Many singers avoid dairy for two to three hours before recording because it thickens mucus. A light meal about two hours ahead works well— neither empty-stomach shakiness nor a heavy post-lunch slump.
If you are hoarse, congested or in pain, postpone rather than push. Terms allow cancellation within 5 days under the stated conditions. Damaged takes often cost more to fix in mixing than one extra booking.
Warm-up routine
Start with shoulders, neck and jaw while the engineer sets microphones in one of our 2 iso booths. Move to long, steady breaths on “s” or “f”, lip trills and hums on “ng”. Gradually widen into scales near the song range; do not open with the highest chorus unless it is a short session and your voice is already warm.
Rappers and narrators should drill tongue-twisters slowly, then at performance speed. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. Tell the engineer if high notes or whispers feel risky today—they can adjust distance and compression before you commit to takes.
In the booth
Keep about a fist between mouth and pop filter; step back slightly on loud passages. Set headphone level so you hear yourself naturally. Some artists leave one earcup off to hear the room; ask us to balance leakage so the mic stays clean.
Silence is recorded too—count off away from the capsule or use talkback. Breaks beat hero takes: ten quiet minutes and water beat a stack of strained doubles.
What we prepare at Lefsenlayerco
Engineers including our representative 森川 健太 load your instrumental, confirm tempo map and choose mics suited to the tone you described on booking. We track on a 24-input console path and note keeper takes as you sing so you stay focused on delivery.
If fatigue arrives early, we reorder the plan—low hooks or ad-libs first, chorus later or on another date. Half-day blocks at ¥46,200 (four hours, VAT included) still favour quality over finishing every song exhausted. Session files are kept 12 months per privacy policy, then deleted per terms.
Time and rates (reference)
| Task | Typical time | Rate (VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| New lead vocal with doubles | 2–3 hours | ¥13,200 per hour or half-day package |
| Extra harmonies | +30–60 min | Same hourly / half-day |
| Short narration | ~1 hour | ¥13,200 |
Bookings may require a 30% deposit. Corporate clients can use invoice terms such as 30 days where agreed in writing.
Checklist before you travel
- Lyrics or script final; bar numbers or timecodes marked
- Instrumental WAV (48 kHz / 24-bit preferred) sent or on USB
- Reference track with modest level; note desired vocal tone
- Health notes shared (cold meds, hoarseness)
- Read Vocal recording and master delivery formats if you release soon
- Questions? [email protected] or 03-5724-8910 — we aim to reply within 2 business days
This article is general guidance, not medical advice. Persistent pain or hoarseness needs a clinician before recording. Related: mix pricing guide.
