How to Start Your Own Audio Production and Recording Business

Audio post production is the general term for all stages of production happening between the actual recording in a studio and the completion of a master recording. It involves,sound design, sound editing, audio mixing, and the addition of effects.

This advice is perfect for entrepreneurial folks who plan on opening an audio production and recording business. Make sure you consider this advice before you open up shop.

Welcome! Here's a wealth of helpful resources and tips for those of you who are starting an audio production and recording business.

Platform of Audio Production:

Film

Audio Post Production usually refers to audio that is synchronized with video. This applies to TV, cinema, and commercials. One major aspect of audio post production is the use of ADR, or automatic dialogue replacement. Sometimes the original, or production audio, lacks in performance or quality, and the actor or actors are brought into a sound studio to record some or all of their dialogue from the project. Other elements such as Foley, music, and voice-over are also added during post production.

Music

The post process in recording acoustic music is often referred to as mixing, as this process happens after recording the musicians. In electronic music the workflow is usually quite different, and in this context the term "post processing" would typically not refer to the actual mixing process but rather what is applied to the resulting mix-down.

With today's increasing amount of music software and musicians creating electronic music in their homes, post production is often done by the musicians themselves. The process typically involves equalization, audio level compression, multi-band audio compression, and limiting. This process somewhat overlaps but should not be mistaken for the term mastering, as post production is usually performed on a per-song basis, whereas mastering is aimed at preparing an entire list of songs for a specific media type.

Things Needed

• Training and experience Local business permit and state tax license
• Formal education or real-world experience in music production
• Office with computer, phone, fax and office supplies
• Recording equipment and studio space
• Music industry contacts
• Music business contracts
• Producer contracts
• Contact list
• Printed marketing aids (business cards, brochures, stationery)
• Website and domain name

Creating a Business Plan for an Audio Production and Recording Business

• One of the worst mistakes you can make as a new business owner is to not create a business plan.
  

• The key benefit of writing a business plan is that it defines the game plan. If you don't have a business plan, your leadership will be handicapped, choosing short-term opportunities at the expense of long-term benefits.
  

• The first step in creating a business plan is to develop a mission statement for your organization. From there, it's time to initiate the hard work involved with writing the rest of your audio production and recording company's business plan.

Review the Competition

• Prior to opening an audio production and recording business within your community, it's a smart move to see how you will fit in the competitive landscape. We've provided the link below to help you find competitors near you. Complete the form by entering your city, state and zip code to get a list of audio production and recording businesses that are close by.
  
  
• Find Local Audio Production & Recording Business Competitors
  

• Before you open up shop, make sure you know what you will offer to your customers that provides a significant advantage over your competition's offering.

Learning More About the Industry

• After you've evaluated your local competitors, it's a wise move to learn as much as you can from somebody who is already in the business. If you think owners of nearby audio production and recording businesses will give you advice, think again. What's in it for them?
  

• However, an entrepreneur who owns an audio production and recording business outside of your community will be much more likely to talk with you, after they realize you reside far away from them and won't be stealing their local customers. In that case, the business owner may be more than happy to discuss the industry with you. If you are persistent, you can find a business mentor who is willing to help you out.
  

• How does one quickly and easily locate an audio production and recording business founder in a different locale who can assist you?
  

• Easy. Find them using our link below and start calling until you are successful.
  
  
• Get In Touch With Audio Production and Recording Business Owners

Advantages of an Audio Production & Recording Business Purchase

• On a percentage basis, more entrepreneurs intend to enter audio production and recording business ownership through a startup than through a business purchase. Yet audio production and recording business startups aren't easy - many fail within the first year.
  

• There are a lot of factors that need to be considered in buying vs. starting a business. While other startups are just getting on their feet, a business purchase dramatically improves the odds that your audio production and recording business will be realizing net income from the outset of your ownership engagement.

Explore Franchising Options

• The probabilities on your doing well in business go up significantly when you franchise and leverage their successful brand and track record.
  

• Prior to starting an audio production and recording business, you may want to investigate whether franchise opportunities in your space might make your life much easier.
  

• The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.

Reference

• How to Start Your Own Audio Production and Recording Business