Are you a record label? Are you signing me?

No, we aren't a record label, nor are we 'signing' you. Getting signed is a very complex process involving talent, marketing, timing, a lot of luck, and of course, who you know. We are a media business - we simply make a sharp press kit for your band. With your new kit, you'll blow away the competition and impress the pants off of record labels and club owners.

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what a record company executive had to say -

'I definitely look for a press kit whenever a band sends a demo. A music video makes an artist more attractive.' - Chris Smoker, President, Fowl Records

Bottom line - if you want your band to go somewhere, you need to look and sound as good as possible. A great-looking video and photo and an awesome-sounding CD will set you apart.

Will you get me gigs?

Unfortunately, we are neither a talent nor a promotion agency. We can, however, put you in touch with people who might be able to help you that way.

Will you design our web page?

You really don't want us to design your web page, there are much better webmasters out there. We can definitely recommend some.

Can we post our music, photos and video to the web?

That's the point! You'll want to show them to as many people as possible, right? Once you get your page up and running, we can encode all your media so that the whole world can see and hear you.

Why should we come to you?

Our motto: First, The Music.

The music comes first. We are musicians, like you. Most of our videographers and photographers play in bands, and we demand that ALL of our engineers be musicians. Even though the work we do is extremely technical, it's all about the music and the emotions it brings out in the listener. That's the goal. We work keeping the song in mind, because that's what people connect with.

We know how it feels to be passionate about creating. We're artists too, understanding and respectful of your creative vision. That's why you should come to us. Other engineers just sit behind the glass, yawning and hitting 'record'. We get a feel for what you're trying to say and help you realize it. Great work doesn't happen unless everyone believes in the project.

If that weren't enough, Desire Media is the total solution. Other recording studios can't offer you photos, a video, and press.

But, I can spend a little more and get the Digidesign/Roland/Tascam XXX recorder? I could do this myself.

You could do it yourself. But buying the best paintbrush in the world won't make you Picasso. Recording devices and software keep getting better and cheaper. But, the real skill in audio recording comes from experience and knowing your equipment well. And, the actual DIY cost goes much further than the recorder; you need great mics, for example. Before you know it, it's twice as expensive as you thought, and you still might not know how to get the best sound.

If you have music involving drums and bass, record with us. We cut to analog tape first. The difference is dramatic; richer, warmer, thicker drums and bass. I cannot emphasize this enough, it makes a huge difference. PT is great, but it can sound very wimpy and brittle.

Bottom Line: If your music doesn't sound good, the money you 'saved' won't matter.

Come to the professionals. This is what we do, and we love it. We track, mix, and master; you will be satisfied.

This isn't Target; it's not about the price. It's your music. When you listen to your CD...do you want to smile, or wince? You just want it to be good enough? No. You want to be shocked at how good you sound. Most of our artists are amazed when they hear how good their CD sounds.

How involved am I (the artist) in the creative process? I have an idea for a cool video / cool photo shoot.

We work with you on your idea. It all depends on your idea, budget and time frame. Videos involving several locations will cost more than the 1-spot shoot (the live gig). Videos involving narrative, storyboard, computer animation, or even actors will be billed daily. It all depends on your budget, but we will work together on it. Same goes for the photography - if you want to shoot your band in front of Niagra Falls, you'll pay more obviously.

How does the session work? What should I do to prepare?

From start to finish under ideal conditions, the process takes about a week or two. Tracking: 2-3 songs in a day (it always takes longer than anyone thinks). Mixing: 1-2 days. Photos: about 1 hour per location. Video: a few hours per location. These last two are usually done in one weekend.

One more thing: You, your gear, your props, and your wardrobe need to be able to get to Washington DC. That's where we are.

How you can prepare: be very, very well rehearsed - a finely-tuned music machine. Don't bring people to the studio who just want to hang out. Wasting time in the studio cuts down on how much you can record. If you are unprepared and waste our time, you can be charged more. Know exactly what you're going to wear for the photo shoot. It's not as important to practice your 'mtv moves' in front of a mirror (although you'll probably do that anyway), because we can usually edit it into something that looks cool.

I have a CD already. I only need a video / photo / review.

Congratulations on your CD! Of course we can do the other things by themselves. If you don't find your specific needs on our services list, email us with a description.

How much does all this cost?

It all depends. But, to give you an idea

Recording - $50 / hour - $250 / 7 hours (includes setup and break) Project pricing starts at $300 / song, flat rate though finished master.

Video Production - $50 / hour (includes transportation, shooting, editing, encoding and delivery) Figure 1 hour of editing per minute of footage. 4min song = 4 hrs editing.

Photography $250 / first location (20-40 shots); $150 / each additional location Editing is included in the price.

Please contact us with your specific needs and we can give you a better idea.

How does payment work? Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

No money-back guarantee, but you will be happy before you receive your materials. We want you to come back and tell all your friends, so we'll work hard to see that you're pleased.

A 10% non-refundable deposit is required to book studio or video time. After we're finished with your materials, you'll hear and see everything before you give us the balance. Payment schedule will differ with projects and will be mutually agreed upon. Materials are received upon full payment of balance. Here's what you'll receive -

• an audio CD of your music (or a data CD of mp3s)
• a data CD or disk with your digital video and your photo templates

Your photo(s) will be in Photoshop. We can print a copy for you, or you can take it to Kinko's and print out as many copies as you like on good quality photo paper. We can also give you a VHS copy of your video if you'd like. Your video can also be encoded for web, we prefer QuickTime (it looks better). Be sure to let us know what you need.

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