BOOKING A SESSION

When booking a session at Derek Benjamin Music, we ask that you please read or review our booking guidelines below. For any questions you may have, feel free to contact us!

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

• Any instrumentals, trackouts, stems or pro tools sessions that are necessary for the session. If you choose to send files online, please use Google drive or Wetransfer and see our File Prep Guidelines for more info.
• The client is responsible for securing the necessary licenses, permissions and clearances for any instrumentals, samples or content BEFORE the session takes place. We will not be held liable for any type of copyright or legal claims for content that a client writes or provides.
• An external hard drive to transfer files, as well as take any recordings or files when you leave
• Any instruments or required gear (amps, pedals, drums/hardware, strings etc.). We have some instruments and equipment that can be used, but you need to communicate that to us before the day of the session
• If you have a specific microphone preference or would like to look into renting from a selection of top of the line vintage microphones (U47, U67, etc.), let us know in advance!

PAYMENT & DEPOSIT

• For billing purposes, we require an email address and full name (for individuals) or a business name
• A 50% deposit is required for all bookings. The time slot will not be reserved or confirmed until the deposit has been received
• Your session may be rescheduled without penalty up to 24 hours before the booking
• Deposits are refundable at the discretion of management
• Payment is accepted by e-transfer, cash, paypal or credit card. Payments can be sent to billing@derekbenjaminmusic.com. Please enter the project or song name in the transfer description
• Recording session payment must be made either upon arrival or at the end of the session unless prior arrangements have been made
• You pay for the BOOKED TIME, not the time you arrive. If you are late, the lost time will be considered part of the booking.
• If you need more time, your session may be extended at the discretion of the engineer/management
• File prep, editing, data transfer and file exporting time is considered part of the studio time and will not be done before or after the booked time frame
• There may be extra charges associated with videography and content creation within the studio that are beyond the scope of a normal recording session. Please notify us of any plans during the booking process.

FILE DELIVERY & EXPECTATIONS​

• When you book a recording session, you are paying for the time, equipment and staff to assist you in recording your project
• The RAW audio files created during your session are part of that fee and are property of the client once payment has been made in full. Clients are responsible for bringing a hard drive and taking their audio files with them at the end of a session
• We have a backup system and server that we store all of our work, which we do as a courtesy for our clients. However, we are not responsible and cannot be held liable for the loss of any recorded materials after the session is complete
• PRODUCTION: As creative individuals, we have the right to decline production work on a project by project basis. If our individual engineers/producers do not deem the project suitable to their style or image, they are not required to take on a project. We will always try to find the best way to compliment an artists sound, even if an external producer needs to be brought in
• MIXING & MASTERING: We generally provide mixing & mastering services for our clientele. Pricing is provided by QUOTE/ESTIMATE on a song by song basis. We need to see and assess the complete recordings (track-outs) before providing a quote. Similar to production, mixing & mastering are both creative services that are fulfilled separately from your recording session
• ROUGH BOUNCES & REFERENCE TRACKS: Upon completing your session, we will generally provide a rough bounce of your song(s). These are uploaded to the online platform mixup.audio. These rough mixes are only a preview of your song. They are not complete, and any mixing, tuning and editing that is beyond the scope of the RAW audio files is owned by Derek Benjamin Music. These previews are not available for download and cannot be used or released in any manner

STUDIO RULES

• Respect each other, your engineer, and interns!
• Guests beyond the individual booking need to be approved beforehand. This includes videography and other professionals
• No smoking inside the studio, please smoke outside the front door
• No overuse of alcohol or other substances; The majority of artists perform worse under the influence. Additionally, there are expensive and delicate electronics and microphones that are difficult to replace
• Please keep open liquids away from the desk and equipment

EXPORTING STEMS/TRACKOUTS FOR MIXING

• Remove all plugins, automation and aux/efx tracks unless specific effects are required. If effects are left on, please include a note with the track name and reason
• Consolidate each individual file before bouncing at the same starting point, preferably on a grid measure that lines up with the correct tempo
• Name/label each track in a simple manner that easily describes the instrument or sound
• Vocal files should be mono audio files, while instruments could be either mono or stereo depending on the intention.  If there is specific panning required, include it in the name of each track (ex: Backup Vocal Left)
• Remove any muted or blank tracks from your export selection
• Please do not use normalizing when exporting, make sure that all of your audio tracks are not clipping at any point in the song
• Please include reference mixes, or referencing material
• If you have difficulties with the exporting process, We can take the session file and complete the export process for you for an additional charge
• Export audio files in WAV or AAC in the same sample rate/bit depth as the session.

HOW TO FIND THE SAMPLE RATE IN YOUR DAW:

• In Pro Tools, go to Setup > Session
• In Logic Pro, go to  File > Project Settings > Audio
• In Ableton Live, go to Options > Preferences > Audio
• In FL studio, to find the sample rate, go to Options > Audio Settings > Audio >

EXPORTING FILES FOR MASTERING

• Bypass or remove all compression, EQ, limiting or any other plugins on your master fader
• Make sure the master channel has at least -3db of headroom at the loudest part of the song
• Export a stereo audio file in WAV format in the same sample rate/bit depth as your session.  See above for finding this information in your DAW
• Name/Label each file as follows “Track Number. Artist – Song Name – BPM”
• ex. “1. Derek Benjamin – My Song – 99BPM”

PACKAGING, UPLOADING & SENDING FILES​

• Create a unique folder for each song, where you can place the individual stems
• For projects create a parent folder to include all the track folders
• Zip or RAR the parent folder and upload to Google Drive, Wetransfer or a service of your choice.  Please do not use dropbox, as any files larger than 2gb cannot be downloaded without an active subscription

OUR COMMITMENT

Derek Benjamin Music is dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all musicians, collaborators, and guests who enter our studio. We recognize the unique dynamic of operating a recording studio and prioritize the comfort and security of everyone involved. We are committed to upholding Manitoba’s human rights legislation, ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and fairness, regardless of background or identity.

DEFINING OUR TERMS

• Harassment: Any unwanted conduct, comment, gesture, or contact that creates a hostile or uncomfortable atmosphere. This includes unwelcome physical contact, offensive jokes, sexual advances, and discriminatory remarks.
• Discrimination: Any action or decision that treats an individual unfairly based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
• Violence: Any act or threat of physical harm, intimidation, or aggression.

REPORTING CONCERNS

We encourage open communication and want everyone to feel comfortable raising concerns. If you experience or witness any form of harassment, discrimination, or violence:

• Direct Communication: You are welcome to speak directly to Derek Benjamin, the business owner (contact information below)
• Alternate Contacts: If you prefer, you can reach out to Terence Ruiz or Vanessa Peters in confidence.
• Formal Reporting: If informal resolution is not possible or desired, you can file a formal complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission or Safe Work Manitoba.

INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION

We take all reports seriously and will conduct a fair and impartial investigation into any alleged misconduct. Our goal is to find a resolution that addresses the harm caused and prevents future incidents. We will strive to maintain confidentiality and respect the privacy of everyone involved.

PREVENTION AND EDUCATION

We are committed to preventing harassment, discrimination, and violence in our studio. We will:

• Regularly communicate and reinforce our Safer Studio Policy.
• Provide resources and information on respectful communication and behavior.
• Foster an open dialogue about expectations and boundaries.

CONFIDENTIALITY

We will maintain confidentiality to the extent possible during the reporting and resolution process. We acknowledge the sensitivity of discussing such matters and will be mindful of protecting privacy.

NON-RETALIATION

We guarantee that no one will experience retaliation for reporting an incident or participating in an investigation.

ACCESSIBILITY

This policy is available in multiple formats upon request. We encourage anyone with accessibility concerns to contact us so we can provide appropriate accommodations.

REVIEW AND REVISION

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect changes in laws, best practices, or studio operations.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Studio Rules: We kindly ask all clients and guests to follow our Booking Guidelines and Studio Rules
• Guest Etiquette: We expect all guests to review and follow this policy as well as our studio rules
• Emergency Procedures: In case of an emergency, please dial 911

CONTACT INFORMATION

Derek Benjamin Music
me@derekbenjaminmusic.com
Derek: (204)-485-4909

Alternate Contacts:
Terence: (204)-771-9103, terenceruizmusic@gmail.com
Vanessa Peters: (204)-791-3125, info@privateearrecording.ca