Answers to the questions we hear most about recording at Sonic-Rocket Productions, an artist-owned recording studio in Fallbrook, California. Don’t see yours? Call or text (760) 695-6444, or book a free studio tour.
What is Sonic-Rocket Productions?
Sonic-Rocket Productions is an artist-owned recording studio in Fallbrook, California, open since 2016. We record, mix and master music for singer-songwriters, bands and hip-hop, rap and R&B artists from across North County San Diego.
Where is the studio?
1662 Green Briar Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028. We’re a 20–35 minute drive from Temecula, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido and San Marcos. Sessions and tours are by appointment. Get directions in Google Maps.
What services do you offer?
Recording (vocals, full bands, singer-songwriters, hip-hop and rap), mixing and mastering. We don’t make beats in-house, but we can connect you with beat makers we work with. We also record spoken-word projects: audiobooks and podcasts (audio).
How much does it cost?
$75 per hour, with everything included: the room, the engineer and the gear. There are no long-term packages. Sessions of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 8 hours can be booked online. Ask us about discounted rates for full days and bigger projects.
Can I see the studio before I book?
Yes. Every project starts with a free one-hour studio tour. You meet your engineer, see the rooms, play us your demos or phone recordings, and talk through your goals. There’s no cost and no obligation. Book a tour online, or call or text (760) 695-6444.
What are your hours?
Sessions and tours are by appointment, Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 11 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 10 PM.
What’s the studio like?
A 1,500 sq ft facility built from the ground up for recording: a 21×18 live room with 12-foot ceilings, two vocal booths and a 22×20 control room, all designed and built with sound quality in mind.
Who will I work with?
Your session is run by our engineer Kai. The studio’s owner, Cash, opened his first recording studio in the late 1970s and built Sonic-Rocket in 2016.
What kind of artists do you work with?
Singer-songwriters, bands and solo artists of every level, from first-timers with a phone demo to experienced players. Many of our clients are singer-songwriters and hip-hop, rap and R&B artists, and we also record rock, country, blues and acoustic projects, plus audiobooks and podcasts.
Do I need to be ready to record a full song?
No. Plenty of artists come in with a rough idea, a voice memo or a beat. On your tour we’ll talk through what you have and plan sessions that fit your budget.
What should I bring to a session?
A little preparation makes your studio time go much further:
- Know your parts. Rehearse until you can play or sing the song straight through, ideally to a click if you’ll record with one. Settle the arrangement and tempo before you come in.
- Get your gear ready. Fresh strings a day or two before, drum heads in good shape, instruments set up and in tune, and spare strings, picks, sticks and batteries.
- Bring: printed or phone lyrics, beats or instrumentals as high-quality WAV files (not MP3s or YouTube links), two or three reference songs that sound the way you want yours to, and a drive to take your files home.
- Look after yourself. Sleep well, drink water, and go easy on dairy and alcohol before vocals.
- Plan the day. Arrive a few minutes early, keep the group to the people who need to be there, and know which songs matter most if time runs short.
For a deeper guide, our friends at Rarefied Recording have an excellent free resource: rarefiedrecording.com/prepping.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Yes. A $50 deposit holds a 2- to 5-hour session, and $100 holds an 8-hour day. The balance is due at the end of the session.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Cancel or reschedule 24 hours or more ahead and there’s no charge. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice forfeit the deposit. Studio time is billed as booked.
How do I pay?
Credit and debit cards, cash, PayPal and Venmo.
Can you provide session musicians?
We don’t have session players on staff, but we know professional musicians in the area. Once we’ve heard your music, usually on your studio tour, we can talk about whether session players would help and refer you to the right ones, with no charge for the referral. Any arrangement with a player is directly between you and them.
Can I bring my own engineer or producer?
Yes, you’re welcome to. Your engineer or producer runs the session the way they want, and we work with them. Kai, our chief engineer, knows the rooms, the console and the recording rigs, so he stays involved to set everything up and handle the technical side, so you never get stuck on a problem with the studio’s gear or software. Booking and pricing are the same as any session.
Do you have rehearsal space?
Not as a separate service. We don’t rent lockout rehearsal rooms or book rehearsals on their own. When you’re booking a recording session, though, we can often include rehearsal time beforehand: for example, a band comes in Friday evening to set up and run through the songs, then records over the weekend. Ask about it when you plan your session.
Do I get my files?
Yes, once the session is paid in full. Bring a Mac-formatted hard drive or USB drive and take a copy of your session files home. We back up sessions regularly, but your own copy is the safe one.
Anything else I should know before I come?
The studio is in a residential neighborhood, so please keep noise down outside. No smoking indoors (the front parking area is fine) and no drugs on the property. The full studio policies are on our Terms and Conditions page.
Do you offer Dolby Atmos mixing?
Not as a service yet. Ask on your tour, and we’ll play you some Atmos in the studio.
Can you film my session?
Video isn’t a regular service yet, but we’re building multi-camera video in the studio and work with local videographers, so performance videos and session clips can be arranged on request. Ask on your tour.
How do I book?
Book a free tour or a session online, or call or text (760) 695-6444.