Do you have a question about Clear Track Studios? If so, we may have answered it! Search the questions below or ask us on our "General Inquiries Form."

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 
 

WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS & LOCATION?
Our address is:

Clear Track Studios
814 Franklin Street
Clearwater, FL 33756

We are located in Downtown Clearwater, right before the bridge to beautiful Clearwater Beach.

WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS?
Our Front Desk hours are 10am-6pm every day. We continue to take calls and book sessions after hours until 10pm. We are technically a 24/7 studio as we have engineers who run sessions at all hours of the day and night. However, our Studio Sessions are booked upon appointment only. 

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET A HOLD OF SOMEONE? 
The best way to have your questions answered is to give us a call at 727.449.8888 during the hours of 10am-10pm, daily. If you're unable to call, you can always fill out our "General Inquiries" form on the Contact Us page and we will get back to you within 24 hours. Or you can email us at info@cleartrackstudios.com.

YOUR STUDIO IS BEAUTIFUL! CAN I TAKE AT TOUR? 
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! We give tours by appointment only so give us a call at 727.449.8888 so we can schedule it for you.

DOES IT COST ANYTHING FOR ME TO HAVE A CONSULTATION?
Nope! Consultations to go over the details of your project with us are always free.

I'M FROM OUT OF STATE. WHERE ARE YOUR NEARBY AIRPORTS?
We have two airports close to our location. 

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STUDIO INFO & EQUIPMENT

 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL OF YOUR STUDIOS? 
All four of our studios specialize in different things.

Studio A specializes in large productions and multi-musician recordings, mixing and mastering.

Studio B specializes in recording vocals and single instrumentation.

Studio M specializes in recording, mixing and mastering all genres of music.

Studio C is a writing, pre-production studio.

WHO DESIGNED & BUILT YOUR STUDIOS?
Wes Lachot, a brilliant studio designer, graciously designed our beautiful Studio A back in 2008. Mike Johnson, the owner of Clear Track Studios, designed Studio M, B, and C. Mike, along with multiple close friends and associates, built Clear Track from the ground up to the glory that it is today. Mike continues to design and build studios throughout Florida. You can view his completed studios on his website: www.createmystudio.com

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT AND GEAR DO YOU HAVE?
Check out our Equipment page to see the full list of what we use to record, edit, mix and master. 

WHAT TYPE OF MICROPHONES DO YOU HAVE?
Our wide variety of industry standard microphones are all listed on our Equipment page.

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BOOKING & PAYMENTS

 

I WANT TO RECORD A SONG. WHERE DO I START? 
That's great! To begin the process, give our Front Desk a call at 727.449.8888 where we can discuss your project with you in greater detail. Or, you can fill out this contact form and we will get back to you within 24 hours to either set up a consultation, tour or give you a quote. 

HOW DO I BOOK A SESSION?
When it comes to booking a session, give our Front Desk a call at 727.449.8888 to go over studio/engineer availability. To book the session, we require a 50% deposit which secures your time on the schedule. We accept cash, credit card, check or PayPal. You can review our Procedures and Policies page to answer any further questions about booking.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RECORD? 
That depends on which studio you use and a few other factors. Give us a call at 727.449.8888 and tell us these details:

  1. Style/genre you're recording
  2. Vocals and/or instruments
  3. Amount of songs

Once we have this information, we can tell you which studio and engineer would be best suited for your project. Then, we can approximate how much it would cost as each studio has its own hourly rate (which includes the engineer fee too.) 

WHY DON'T YOU LIST THE STUDIO RATES?
We have standard hourly rates for each of our studios. We do not list them as we tailor every quote to exactly what the artist is looking for which can actually save them time and money. To inquire about our hourly rates and block specials, give our Front Desk a call at 727.449.8888 or send us a message here and we will be happy to review your options. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIALS OR PACKAGES?
We offer discounts, specials and giveaways periodically. The best way to stay "in the know" and take advantage of our sweet deals is by subscribing to our Email List and following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. We send out emails 2-3 times a month and we post daily on social media.

CAN I PAY THE DAY OF THE SESSION?
No. We require a 50% deposit to secure your time on the schedule for the studio and for the engineer. The balance is due upon arrival for your session.

I NEED TO RESCHEDULE. HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS?
Please notify Management 48 hours in advance if you need to reschedule. If you notify Management to reschedule in LESS than 48 hours, the initial 50% deposit is forfeited.  This action is required to prevent the loss of re-booking the Studio and the Engineer to another client. 

I'M GOING TO BE LATE TO MY SESSION. WILL THE ENGINEER ALLOW ME TO MAKE UP MY TIME? 
Appointment times have been arranged specifically for you. If you arrive late, your session may be shortened in order to accommodate others whose sessions follow yours. Depending upon how late you arrive, your engineer will then determine if there is enough time remaining to start the session. Regardless of the length of the session, you will be responsible to pay for the entire session. Out of respect and consideration to your engineer and other clients, please plan accordingly and be on time.

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AUDIO RECORDING

 

WHAT IS A RECORDING SESSION LIKE?
This really depends on what you're recording:

For Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, Pop, Acoustic and Voiceover sessions, you will most likely be in our Studio B or Studio M. One of our incredible engineers will set up your microphone, prepare the track and record you as you go. 

For Bands, Choirs, Jazz and other extensive instrumental sessions, you will most likely be in our Studio A. One of our phenomenal engineers will set up mics, prepare the track and record you as you go. Our engineers work closely with the artist so that the final product is perfect! 

WHAT IS AN AUDIO ENGINEER?
An Audio Engineer is a highly skilled audio professional responsible for proficiently utilizing all of our state-of-the-art equipment to obtain the highest quality audio of any singer, instrumentalist, and musician who records. 

WHAT DOES AN AUDIO ENGINEER DO IN A SESSION?
During recording sessions, an audio engineer can either have two roles depending on what the artist needs and wants. An audio engineer can either function as a producer or co-producer whom helps the artist develop their music and enhance their sound. Or they can simply record you and stay on top of the technical side of things, making sure that everything runs as it should and making adjustments as necessary. 

WHO ARE THE ENGINEERS AT CLEAR TRACK STUDIOS? 
We provide a great team of highly skilled, hand-picked audio engineers who specialize in recording, editing and mixing real time audio in all 4 of our studios. You can learn more about who we trust with your music by going to Our Team page. 

WHAT GENRES DO YOU RECORD?
We record it all! Pop, EDM, Rock, Indie, Alternative, Hip Hop, R&B, Country, Americana, Acoustic, Live, Classical, Jazz, Gospel, Metal, Punk, Prog Rock, New Wave, Folk, Bluegrass, Swing, Ambient, Jazz, Christian, Adult Contemporary, Doo Wop, Dance, Funk, etc.

Outside of music, we also record Voiceovers for commercials, television shows, cartoons, video games, movies, audio books, etc. 

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MUSIC PRODUCTION

 

I WANT TO RECORD BUT NEED SOME GUIDANCE WITH MY PROJECT. CAN YOU HELP?
Absolutely! We have producers that work in every genre who can guide you and your music in the right direction. You can learn more about this service and our brilliant producers by going to our Music Production page.

WHAT IS A PRODUCER?
Music producers are often defined as the unsung heroes behind the scenes in popular music. In the beginning of the music industry, a producer was a bank representative to assure that the budget was actually allocated properly and the music was going to "hit the spot" so that it would eventually sell to the masses. In the music industry today, the music producer serves much the same role as a director in a film. It is the music producer’s job to make sure that in the end the finished product is as good as it can be. In some cases this may simply involve making it listenable, however in other cases this means making sure the song is a hit, or at least has the potential to be a hit. Their job is essentially to make sure that a song is well-recorded and well-produced. Producers are also the overall coordinator to help orchestrate all of the resources to get the final product! 

WHAT WILL A PRODUCER DO FOR ME?
We have producers that can do everything from helping the singers get their parts right to making sure the microphones the right distance from a guitar amplifier to guiding the session in the appropriate direction. Good music producers understand every aspect of studio production. They also have a very good ear and a well-rounded knowledge of how voices and instruments produce recordable sound. A producer will get inside your head to figure out what you're aiming for and he will actualize your musical goal. Whether it be the performance, pitch, tone of each instrument, emotion of the song and typically today that would mean that a producer has extensive knowledge on equipment, music theory, pulls the reigns of the session musicians and possess the people skills to push and squeeze every ounce of greatness out of each performer and production personnel.

WHO ARE THE PRODUCERS AT CLEAR TRACK STUDIOS?
We have 3 producers at Clear Track is Spencer Bradham, DY Ronan & MarLovace.

ARE PRODUCERS ALSO ENGINEERS?
Today, producers are more likely to multi-task. They are good engineers as they mostly started as an engineer. And they're very good editors. Part of getting a great performance is editing what wasn't or cannot be played in the session itself. Sometimes editing is the only way to bring out a certain sound in a performance. You'll often find that a good producer with good engineering skills prefers to be completely in control to guarantee the best results. A music producer's job is essentially to make sure that a song is well recorded and well produced.

 

SONGWRITING & COMPOSING

 

WHAT GENRES DO YOUR SONGWRITERS SPECIALIZE IN? 
Almost every single genre out there! Any client can either utilize the songwriting talents of our in-house producers who have developed numerous songs for our clients. Or we can refer you to our affiliate producers and songwriters that we have developed relationships with throughout the nation. Go to our Production & Songwriting page to listen to a few examples of songs written by our team. 

WHAT TAKES PLACE IN A SONGWRITING SESSION?
This really depends on the genre. A few examples: for pop, the artist and producer come together and discuss what the artist is looking to create and the influence they're looking to base the song after and the producer either begins to compose during the meeting or does so at a different time, sends the files to the artist for tweaks or revisions, and then prepares the track for vocals. For bands, the band and the producer either work on songwriting in a practice space or during a recording session. 

IS A SONGWRITING SESSION A PART OF THE STUDIO TIME PRICE? 
No. This is separate fee determined by the songwriter/composer you're working with. This will be established in the beginning stages of working with us. 

I AM A SINGER WHO WANTS TO RECORD BUT I DO NOT HAVE ANY SONGS. DO YOU HAVE ANYONE WHO COULD WRITE MUSIC AND LYRICS FOR ME? 
We sure do! Our Producers & Songwriters can take any concept or idea and turn it into a meticulously written songs with lyrics, music, the works. Just let them know a similar sounding artist (ie. Taylor Swift), an example of a song you're looking to create ("Wildest Dreams") as well as a concept you'd like to communicate (ie. Love, break ups, etc), and our songwriters can tailor it to exactly what you're looking for. Send us a message or give us a call at 727.449.8888 for more information about there services. 

I HAVE LYRICS. DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN JUST MAKE THE MUSIC FOR ME?
Absolutely! We have Producers & Songwriters who are well-versed in arranging, programming and composing music to fit with any lyricists songs. 

DO I OWN THE SONGS OUTRIGHT AFTER THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR ME?
That depends. Each songwriter and producer has different contracts customized to each project. Most cases, an artist is able to obtain the exclusive rights. This often depends on the upfront cost. 

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MIXING & MASTERING

 

WHAT IS MIXING?
Mixing is the process which commences after all tracks are recorded and edited as individual parts. Mixing can consist of various processes where the mix engineer takes the raw recorded tracks (or a rough mix from producers) and sets levels, EQ's, uses compression, uses stereo panning, and the addition of effects. In a way, mixing is like taking the raw ingredients and blending it together as if it is a presentable meal. You can learn more about mixing by going to our Mixing & Mastering page. 

WHY DO I NEED MY RECORDINGS MIXED?
You need your recording mixed because mixing will absolutely do your songs justice. When we record your music, we are focusing on the performance and the capturing of it. But mixing puts attention on making it sound and feel better, and post-production is the only time we get to do that. Even if it is recorded perfectly, not every instrument or voice will fit right together so as absolutely necessary step to finalize your track. In fact, all commercially released music that you hear on the radio or on television has been mixed, so if you want commercially professional music, you have to have it mixed. At Clear Track Studios, we built dedicated rooms for mixing which provides the perfect workflow for our mix engineers to speed up the process and maximize the quality. 

WHAT IS A MIX ENGINEER?
A mix engineer is an audio professional who specializes in only mixing. Because it is a different process than recording an artist, the workflow and skills is different. During the mixing process, the mix engineers reveal every detail of each song, bring it up to the surface and expose it all where they are EQing, compressing, and enhancing the overall sound. Highly educated on the anatomy of all sounds recorded individually and combined, are appropriately described "the MacGyver's of the Studio" where they are highly competent impressively aware so that nothing gets by them.

WHO ARE THE MIX ENGINEERS AT CLEAR TRACK STUDIOS? 
Mike Johnson - Rock, Indie, Alternative, Acoustic Mixing Engineer
Steven Clark - Pop, Rock, Acoustic Engineer

WHAT IS MASTERING?
Mastering is the process of turning a song or collection of songs into a final master for manufacturing so that it translates well across systems: CD player, radio, computer, car stereo, phone, bluetooth speakers, headphones, etc. You can learn more about mastering by going to our Mixing & Mastering page. 

WHY DO I NEED MY MUSIC MASTERED?
Mixing is the one people absolutely have to have. But good mastering can make a track sound great and make it sound comparable to commercial releases. Part of mastering is also getting all of the songs to have consistency across the album in volume and tonal balance. 

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SESSION MUSICIANS

 

WHAT IS A SESSION MUSICIAN?
A session musician is a freelance professional musician who can perform what the producer or writer needs for their song. 

WHO ARE YOUR SESSION MUSICIANS?
We have 5 main session musicians we refer to for numerous projects: Spencer Gill on guitar, Peter Mongaya on guitar, Sam Martinez on bass, Joe Cosas on keys & Jonathan Thomas on drums. We have plenty more who work with our clients but these main 5 are frequently working in sessions with us.

WILL YOUR SESSION MUSICIANS PLAY SHOWS OUT WITH ME? 
Session musicians typically do not play out shows with clients because they are very busy musicians and are often booked out weeks in advance with their own bands. However, if they're available (and for a fee) it is possible they could play a show for any client. Assumed it would not be a regular occurrence.

 

COURSES & TRAINING

 

WHAT ARE YOUR PROGRAMS LIKE?

Clear Track Studios is a world-class recording studio that offers eight different training programs to help aspiring or advanced recording engineers, mix engineers, music producers, songwriters and beat makers learn the skills they need to create, capture, tune, and enhance professional quality music.

Our courses are unique. Training here does not involve crowded classrooms, steep prices, burned-out instructors or memorizing manuals. Our programs are very cost-effective, hands-on all the way with very few students at a time who want to learn professional recording, mixing and song production from those who live and breathe the music industry.

WHO CAN BE IN THESE COURSES?

Anyone from passionate beginners to experienced audio engineers and producers can absolutely be in any of our programs. If you’ve been writing songs or producing beats or recording music for years and you want to improve your technique, enhance your abilities, record professionally or you've at least pressed record in a recording program before, then you’re ready to start. 

We have had many collegiate students majoring in Recording Arts take advantage of our programs to supplement their education and boost their confidence in the field. You will be exposed to very high level techniques and skills.  If you’ve got the passion for it, you’re all set.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU START THE COURSES?

For our group courses like The Art of Sound Recording and The Sound Lab, quarterly start dates are scheduled which can be viewed on their course page. For our 1-on-1 courses like Pro Tools 101, iTuneIT, The Mix Class: Intermediate, and The Mix Class: Advanced, start dates can be ANYTIME based on instructor and studio availability - we are flexible and can work with your schedule!

HOW MUCH DO YOUR PROGRAMS COST?

Pricing ranges from $3000-$5000 per course. While this may see daunting to some, these prices are quite reasonable compared to other programs, colleges and universities that normally charge $70,000+ for tuition. We do not have any pre-requisite classes nor any additional fees (ie. Admission Fees, Registration Fees, Student Fees, Technology Fee, Books & Supplies, Housing, etc) so we can keep our tuition very low. 

WILL YOUR COURSES MAKE ME A PROFESSIONAL?

We have developed these courses for aspiring producers and engineers to succeed in one of the toughest industries.  Our programs give you the best foundation of knowledge and experience so you can grasp the professional skills needed to make create, record and enhance high-quality music.

Your level of professionalism all depends on your prior experience level, how much you decide to get out of the course, as well as what you do with the knowledge afterward in your own studio to develop these skills. After completing the course, you can still count on the instructors to give you further real world advice and guidance.

WILL THESE COURSES GIVE ME THE SKILLS I NEED TO MAKE MY MUSIC SOUND GOOD?

Yes! That is the main purpose of our courses. Being a good engineer or producer is much more than just knowing the tools or studying manuals. You will learn the key concepts the pros use—and most importantly you will be shown how it all works inside a real studio, so you can then apply this in your own home studio with better quality results as your experience and skill develops. 

WILL I GET A CERTIFICATE/DEGREE AT THE END?

Our courses are not state-certified, but students who finish their course in its entirety will get a certificate signifying they’ve done training inside a professional studio. Like many other creative industries, the music business does not run on degrees. The studio owners, music executives, and producers who are hiring generally do not ask for degrees. In fact, when seeking out in-house engineers and producers, we care most about their products! What do their recordings sound like? What do their mixes sound like? What do their productions sound like? Having experience, people-skills and connections also matters because they’re markers of someone who is trustworthy, hardworking, and dependable.

I’M THINKING OF GOING TO COLLEGE. WOULD YOUR COURSES PREPARE ME FOR THAT?

Definitely. Real studio experience is vital, especially since most learning in this field is not complimented with enough practical exercises. If you are a current Recording Arts Major, like some of our students, our programs can greatly supplement your education by providing actual hands-on experience and boost your confidence in the field.

WILL YOUR COURSES HELP ME BE ABLE TO WORK IN A PROFESSIONAL STUDIO?

Yes, in fact, over the past few years, Clear Track Studios has taken on a few of our most dedicated graduates as interns. Some have even worked their way up to paid freelance engineers! They showed up, put in hours of work, and showed us they had what it takes.

Our programs give you a big advantage when it comes to entry-level positions in any level of music studio.  Truth is, people-skills, ability and real studio experience are at the top of a recording studios’ want list when searching for helping hands. Studios want to know that you can be valuable INSIDE a studio – without them having to teach you everything.  Interns without real studio experience will clean, make coffee, and rarely (if ever) get to help on sessions before they are turned out the revolving door. This industry is over-saturated with engineers and producers trying to “make it”, because, unfortunately, a degree does not mean real studio experience.  That harsh fact facing so many engineers is what we’re trying to help, by giving you a big advantage with this training.

Unless you’ve learned and trained inside a real, working studio, how do you have the real studio experience studios are searching for?  From our knowledge, and in all honesty, an internship won’t give you that either–not if you’re stuck cleaning and answering phones.  Don’t take that risk.  Get real studio experience! Then apply at a studio where your passion and value will have a much better chance at being recognized and put to use.

It’s a sad waste to have the passion for audio but not know how to use it effectively inside a studio. Or worse, thinking you have what it takes, and being turned away so many times that you lose confidence in yourself.  Yes, having the passion and a great attitude is important, but real studio experience is not only in demand, it will help you build an unshakable foundation for your career.  The combination can boost you up in one of the most rewarding yet toughest industries to break into.  Don’t let it break you first!

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