When you hire a recording studio, you get access to a professionally treated recording space, core recording equipment - microphones, audio interface, studio monitors, and a digital audio workstation - and, in most full-service bookings, a house engineer. Mixing and mastering may or may not be included depending on the package you choose. Here is the full breakdown.
Quick Answer: What Recording Studio Hire Typically Covers
Most professional studio hire packages cover three things: the physical space (control room, live room, and often a vocal booth), the technical equipment needed to record (microphones, preamps, DAW, monitoring speakers), and at least one trained engineer to operate it all. What you get beyond that depends entirely on the type of booking you make.
Dry Hire vs. Full-Service (Wet Hire) - Know the Difference Before You Book
A dry hire gives you the room and the equipment with no engineer or additional services included. You bring your own engineer and run the session yourself. A full-service (wet hire) booking includes a house engineer, all equipment, and often a rough mix at the end. Most first-time bookers need full-service. Most experienced producers prefer dry hire for creative control and cost savings.
Knowing this distinction upfront will save you from arriving at a studio expecting someone to operate the desk - only to find you have the room to yourself with no idea how to press record. Let's break down every inclusion category so you know exactly what you are paying for.
The Physical Spaces Included in a Recording Studio
The Control Room
The control room is where the engineer sits during your session. It houses the mixing console (or a digital workstation setup), studio monitor speakers, outboard gear racks, and the primary recording computer. The engineer monitors everything you record from here, adjusting levels, setting microphone positions, and guiding you through takes via talkback microphone.
The control room's acoustic treatment is part of what you pay for. A professionally treated room uses acoustic foam, bass traps, and diffusion panels to ensure that what the engineer hears through the monitors accurately reflects the true sound of your recording - not a coloured, echoed version of it. Studios like Lion Studio Dundee and Tonegarden Music Studio show how well-designed control rooms form the backbone of a studio's quality proposition. For a closer look at how control rooms and studio layouts vary, the understanding recording studios guide covers the subject thoroughly.
The Live Room
The live room is where artists and musicians perform during a recording session. It is a larger, acoustically treated space designed to sound good on microphone. Live rooms vary enormously in size and character: a large live room can accommodate a full drum kit, a grand piano, a string quartet, or an entire band recording simultaneously. A smaller live room works better for solo instruments, acoustic guitar, or single performers.
Room size directly affects what you can record in it. Tracking drums requires a live room large enough for the kit, multiple microphone stands, and enough physical separation from the control room to prevent bleed into the recording chain. Always check the live room dimensions before booking a session that involves a full band.
The Vocal Booth and Isolation Booth
The vocal booth - sometimes called an isolation booth - is a smaller, heavily acoustically treated space designed to capture the cleanest possible signal. Its walls absorb nearly all reflected sound, giving you a dry, intimate recording with no room ambience. This is ideal for lead vocals, voice-over work, spoken word, and any solo instrument where you want total control over the sound at the mixing stage.
Not every studio has a separate vocal booth. Some smaller studios use a treated corner of the live room with acoustic panels placed around the performer. When clean vocal isolation matters to you - particularly for pop, R&B, or any music where heavily processed vocals sit in the mix - always confirm whether a dedicated booth is available before booking.
Additional Spaces: Lounges, Green Rooms, and Storage
Many professional studios include a waiting or lounge area where band members can relax between takes, managers can work, or guests can wait without interrupting the session. Some studios offer a separate green room with seating, a small kitchen, and charging points. Instrument storage is sometimes available too, allowing you to leave gear between sessions in a block booking.
These amenities are not universal. Budget and mid-range studios often skip them entirely. They rarely affect your recording quality, but they do affect your session experience - particularly on long days.
Not All Studios Have All Rooms - Always Check the Floor Plan Before Booking
A studio's website may list a "vocal booth" that is actually a treated cupboard, or a "live room" that seats two people. Ask for room dimensions and photographs before confirming any booking, especially for band or drum sessions.
Recording Studio Equipment: What's Typically Included
Standard Equipment in a Professional Studio Hire
The table below covers what a typical professional recording studio provides as part of its hire package, and where you should check before assuming.
| Equipment | What It Does | Typically Included? |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser and dynamic microphones | Capture vocals and instruments | ✅ Yes |
| Microphone stands and cables | Position mics correctly | ✅ Yes |
| Audio interface or mixing console | Routes signals into the DAW | ✅ Yes |
| Studio monitors (speakers) | Accurate playback for mixing and listening | ✅ Yes |
| DAW (e.g., Pro Tools, Logic Pro) | Records, edits, and arranges audio | ✅ Yes |
| Headphone monitoring systems | Artist monitoring during takes | ✅ Yes |
| Preamps and compressors | Shape the signal before it hits the DAW | ✅ Yes |
| Outboard gear and effects units | Additional hardware processing | ⚠️ Varies by studio |
| Drum kit | Live room percussion recording | ⚠️ Often included - confirm ahead |
| Bass and guitar amplifiers | Instrument amplification | ⚠️ Often included - confirm ahead |
| Piano or keyboards | Depends entirely on the studio | ⚠️ Ask before booking |
| Session musician or backing vocalist | Additional performer hired separately | ❌ Usually an extra cost |
Microphones and the Studio's Microphone Locker
A well-equipped professional studio holds a microphone locker containing a range of condenser and dynamic microphones suited to different sources. A condenser microphone - which uses a capacitor element to capture sound - is the standard choice for vocals, acoustic instruments, and overhead drum miking. Dynamic microphones are more durable, handle high sound pressure levels well, and are the default for snare drums, guitar amplifiers, and live rooms where a slightly warmer, more forgiving sound works better.
Top-tier UK studios sometimes stock vintage and boutique microphones from manufacturers such as Neumann, AKG, and Shure. Smaller studios typically provide a smaller but professionally selected collection. The specific mics available will affect your sound - so if you have preferences, ask the studio what is in its locker before your session date.
The DAW and Recording Software
Every professional studio runs a DAW - a digital audio workstation - as its recording and editing platform. Pro Tools by Avid remains the industry standard in many UK commercial studios. Logic Pro by Apple is common in smaller and mid-range setups, while Ableton Live is popular in studios that cater to electronic music and beat production.
The DAW is always included in your hire. What matters is which one the studio uses - because if you want to take your session files home to continue editing, those files need to be compatible with your own software. A Pro Tools session (.ptx format) will not open in Logic Pro without conversion. Always ask what DAW the studio uses and whether they can export stems and audio files in a universal format such as WAV or AIFF.
Monitoring and Headphone Systems
Studio monitors are not the same as consumer speakers. They deliver a flat, accurate frequency response so the engineer hears exactly what is in the recording - no boosted bass, no artificially brightened highs. When a mix sounds good on studio monitors, it typically translates well to car speakers, earbuds, and streaming platforms.
During recording, each performer in the live room uses headphones to hear a personal monitor mix - this is called a cue mix or foldback mix. The quality of the headphone monitoring system affects your performance directly. Inaccurate or uncomfortable headphone mixes lead to pitching problems and flat performances. A good studio provides comfortable over-ear headphones and lets you adjust your personal mix through the engineer or a dedicated headphone amplifier.
Instruments and Backline Equipment
Most professional UK recording studios include a standard backline in the live room: a drum kit, one or two guitar amplifiers (such as a Fender Twin or Marshall combo), a bass amplifier, and sometimes a piano or electric piano. Studios like Red Barn Studios Ltd offer well-maintained backline equipment as part of their hire package.
What you should still bring yourself is everything personal to your sound. Here is a practical split:
What the Studio Provides:
- Microphones, stands, cables
- Drum kit (cymbals may vary - check)
- Guitar and bass amplifiers
- DAW, recording computer, interface
- Studio monitors and headphones
- Preamps, compressors, and rack gear
What You Should Bring:
- Your own guitar, bass, or personal instrument
- Your own guitar strings (replace them the day before the session)
- Drumsticks, drum heads if you want specific ones
- Any personal effects pedals or signal processors
- Your set list, chord sheets, or session notes
- Reference tracks you want the engineer to hear
For a complete preparation list, the what to bring to a recording studio session guide from Music Studio Finder covers this in detail.
Personnel Included When You Hire a Recording Studio
The House Engineer - Is One Always Included?
This is the question that trips up most first-time bookers. The answer: it depends on the type of booking.
In a full-service (wet hire) booking, a house engineer is included in the hourly rate. The house engineer sets microphone positions, manages signal gain staging through the mixing console and preamps, operates the DAW, monitors every take, coordinates playback, and often handles basic in-session editing such as comping - selecting and assembling the best parts of multiple takes into a single performance. In terms of what to expect at a recording studio, this person runs the technical side of your session from start to finish.
In a dry hire, there is no engineer included. You bring your own. Dry hire suits producers, beatmakers, and experienced recording engineers who want to use a studio's space and equipment without paying for personnel they do not need.
Do Not Assume - Always Clarify Whether an Engineer Is Included Before You Pay
Some studios advertise a room rate and an engineer rate as separate line items. Others bundle both into a single hourly fee. A few offer both options. Read the booking terms carefully, or call and ask directly: "Is a house engineer included in this rate?"
The Producer - Separate Cost or Included?
A recording studio and a music producer are not the same thing. The studio provides the space, equipment, and engineer. A producer brings creative direction - arrangement choices, performance coaching, song structure decisions, and sonic vision for the project. Producers typically charge separately from studio hire, either as a flat fee per track, a percentage of royalties, or an hourly rate on top of the studio cost.
Some studios have in-house producers available as an additional paid service. Others have no production services at all. Do not assume that booking a studio means someone will help you write better melodies, choose better chord inversions, or coach your vocal delivery. If you need that, you need a producer - and that is a separate conversation and a separate budget line. The recording studio vs home studio comparison discusses this distinction further.
Assistant Engineers and Studio Staff
Larger commercial studios sometimes include an assistant engineer in full-day or album package bookings. An assistant engineer sets up microphones, manages cable routing, maintains session documentation, and handles the physical logistics of recording so the lead engineer can focus entirely on the sound. In smaller UK studios, this role typically does not exist - the house engineer does everything.
Studio coordinators and receptionists may greet you on arrival, handle payment, give you a tour of the space, and help resolve any booking queries. They do not participate in the recording itself.
Services Included in a Recording Studio Session
Tracking and Recording
Tracking is the process of recording individual performances onto separate tracks in the DAW. In a typical session, you record multiple takes of each part - a verse, a chorus, a guitar solo - and the engineer captures each one as a separate audio file. This gives you options at the editing and mixing stage.
During tracking, the engineer manages your monitoring mix, ensures healthy signal levels through the preamp and audio interface chain, and calls out issues such as unwanted noise, clipping, or a poorly placed microphone. Listening back between takes and adjusting the approach is a normal, expected part of the process. The studio session prep checklist from Music Studio Finder will help you walk in prepared so you spend your paid time recording - not rehearsing.
Basic Editing During the Session
Most engineers include a degree of in-session editing as part of their service: comping takes, removing obvious mistakes, cleaning up noise between phrases, and tightening the timing of performances. What this does not typically include is extensive pitch correction, drum replacement, or time-stretching every syllable of a vocal - those processes take additional time and are usually charged as separate editing hours.
Does Recording Studio Hire Include Mixing?
This is one of the most misunderstood areas of studio hire inclusions. Here is the honest answer: a rough mix is usually included; a full professional mix almost never is.
A rough mix is a quick balance of your recorded tracks - levels set, a bit of EQ, some basic reverb - so you can listen back to the session and hear whether the recording went well. It is a reference tool, not a finished product. A full professional mix involves hours of precise EQ, dynamic compression, spatial placement, automation, and creative sound design. It is a separate service, typically delivered over one to several days by a mixing engineer who may or may not be the same person who recorded your session.
When a studio advertises "mixing included," always clarify: is this a rough mix for reference purposes, or a full stereo mix ready for release? These are very different things with very different price points.
Does Recording Studio Hire Include Mastering?
Mastering is almost always a separate service. It is the final stage of audio production - the process of preparing and transferring the final mixed audio for distribution across streaming platforms, vinyl, or CD. A mastering engineer applies final EQ, limiting, and loudness normalisation to ensure your track competes commercially on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, which apply their own loudness normalisation standards.
Some studios bundle a basic mastering pass into EP or album packages. For single-song sessions, mastering is virtually always quoted separately. The UK Intellectual Property Office notes that sound recordings carry their own copyright separate from the underlying song - and a mastered recording is a distinct copyrighted asset from the mixed recording. Understanding this distinction matters when you are negotiating packages and ownership.
File Delivery - What Do You Walk Away With?
After your session ends, you should receive your recorded files. What exactly you receive depends on the studio and the package. Here is what is standard and what to confirm:
- WAV stems: Individual audio tracks exported as separate WAV files (24-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz). These are your raw recorded assets and you need them for any future re-mixing or editing.
- Mixed stereo file: A single WAV or AIFF file of your rough or final mix - this is what you share with collaborators or upload to a streaming service (after mastering).
- Mastered file: An MP3 or WAV file processed for release - only included if mastering was part of your package.
- Session project file: The full DAW session (Pro Tools, Logic, etc.) - sometimes included, sometimes an additional cost, sometimes not offered at all.
Most studios deliver files via a download link, USB drive (sometimes at extra cost), or cloud storage such as Dropbox or WeTransfer. File storage varies enormously: some studios keep your session files for 30 days, others for six months, and a few archive sessions indefinitely. Ask explicitly: "How long do you keep session files, and can I return to this session later?"
What Is NOT Included in a Standard Studio Hire
This is the section most studios do not put in their brochure - but it is what every musician needs to read before booking.
- A music producer - unless you specifically book one as an additional service
- A full professional mix - standard sessions include a rough mix only; a final release-ready mix costs extra
- Mastering - almost always a paid add-on or a separate booking entirely
- Session musicians or backing vocalists - you bring your own performers, or hire them separately through the studio if that service exists
- Instrument hire beyond standard backline - a specific vintage guitar, a grand piano, or a particular synthesiser will need to be confirmed and may carry an extra charge
- Instrument consumables - new strings, drumsticks, drum heads, and guitar picks are your responsibility
- Food and drinks - some studios provide tea and coffee; most do not supply meals, and few include alcohol
- Transport and parking - always check whether the studio has parking, and factor in travel costs
- Post-session revisions - once the session clock stops, any additional changes to your files are usually billed as new time
- Copyright clearance for samples or covers - the studio records your performance but takes no responsibility for clearing samples or cover song licences
Always Ask for a Full Inclusions List Before Confirming Your Booking
Request a written confirmation of exactly what your package covers. Studios that cannot or will not provide this in writing are studios worth being cautious about.
Dry Hire vs. Full-Service Studio Hire - What's the Difference?
The dry hire vs. wet hire distinction is the single most useful framework for understanding studio pricing and inclusions - and it is something almost no one explains clearly before you book.
| Feature | Dry Hire | Full-Service (Wet Hire) |
|---|---|---|
| Room access | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Core equipment (mics, DAW, monitors) | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| House engineer | ❌ Not included | ✅ Included |
| Music producer | ❌ Not included | ❌ Usually not included |
| Rough mix | ❌ Not included | ⚠️ Often included |
| Full professional mix | ❌ Not included | ❌ Usually extra |
| Mastering | ❌ Not included | ❌ Usually extra |
| Best suited for | Experienced producers and engineers | Musicians new to studio recording |
| Typical cost level | Lower | Higher |
When Dry Hire Makes Sense
Dry hire works best when you bring a qualified engineer or producer who knows how to operate a DAW, manage a signal chain, and deliver a finished product without supervision. If you are a beatmaker recording your own sessions, a producer bringing in a client artist, or an established band recording with your regular live sound engineer - dry hire lets you access a world-class acoustic space and equipment at a lower cost without paying for a service you do not need.
When Full-Service Hire Makes Sense
If you are booking your first or second studio session, do not know how to operate a mixing desk, are not sure how many microphones to use on a drum kit, or simply want to focus entirely on your performance - full-service hire is the right choice. The house engineer handles every technical decision, freeing you to concentrate on playing and singing at your best. The additional cost is worthwhile for the quality of outcome it produces.
Here is a helpful walkthrough of what to expect during a session:
Recording Studio Package Types and How Inclusions Change
Hourly Rate Bookings
Hourly rate bookings are the most flexible and the most common for short sessions. You pay per hour of studio time, and inclusions depend entirely on what the studio's hourly rate covers - engineer or no engineer, rough mix or no rough mix. Hourly rates at UK professional studios typically range from around £30 to £150 per hour depending on location, equipment, and the engineer's experience level. The recording studio cost UK guide has a detailed 2026 breakdown of what to expect at different price points.
Half-Day and Full-Day Block Deals
Block deals - booking a studio for a half-day (typically four hours) or a full day (eight to ten hours) - usually come with a discounted rate compared to paying by the hour. Many studios include a rough mix in a full-day deal because you will have accumulated enough recorded material to warrant one. For guidance on how long to book based on your project, the how many hours to book in a recording studio article is a practical starting point.
Block Deals Can Offer Better Value - But Only If You Are Rehearsed and Ready
Booking eight hours because it sounds like good value means nothing if you spend three of those hours working out your parts or running through the song for the first time. The studio clock runs regardless of what you do with the time. Come in fully rehearsed, with a clear plan of what you need to record.
EP and Album Packages
EP and album packages bundle a fixed number of recording hours with additional services - often including engineer time, a full mix, and sometimes mastering - at a set price. These packages are best value for artists who know their project scope in advance. Inclusions in these packages vary significantly between studios, so compare them by total deliverable value, not just headline price. One studio's £800 EP package might include stems, full mix, and one round of revisions; another's might include recording only.
If recording a complete song in a single day is part of your plan, the guide on recording a song in one day from Music Studio Finder is worth reading before you commit to a package.
Single Song Recording Packages
Some studios offer single-song packages aimed at new artists, podcast producers, and anyone who only needs one finished track. These typically include two to four hours of recording time, engineer included, and a rough mix. Mastering is usually a separate cost.
Who Owns the Recordings After Your Session?
The standard industry norm is clear: when you hire a studio, you own the master recordings produced during that session. The studio provides the space and the service; the creative output belongs to you, the artist. This differs from working with a producer who records and produces your music, as some producers do claim a stake in the master recordings or publishing rights as part of their creative contribution.
Before signing any studio booking agreement, check the following:
- Does the agreement transfer full ownership of the session recordings to you?
- Does the studio claim any licence or rights to use your recordings for promotional purposes?
- If you work with a studio's in-house producer, is there a separate rights agreement for their creative contribution?
PRS for Music, the UK's performing rights organisation, deals primarily with publishing rights on compositions - not master recordings. Master recording rights (the copyright in the recorded sound itself) fall under the UK Intellectual Property Office framework, and in a standard studio hire arrangement, those rights rest entirely with the artist who commissioned and paid for the recording. Get this confirmed in writing before any session starts.
How Inclusions Vary by Studio Type and Project
Vocal Recording and Podcast Sessions
Recording vocals, voice-over, or a podcast episode requires a clean vocal booth or heavily treated space, a high-quality condenser microphone, a solid preamp, and a DAW capable of editing speech cleanly. Most mid-range UK studios provide all of this as standard. You do not need a large live room, a drum kit, or a full backline - so confirm that you are paying only for the space you actually need.
Band and Live Room Sessions
Full band sessions - tracking live in the room together - require a large live room, multiple microphone positions, isolation screens between instruments to manage bleed, and a headphone monitoring system with individual mixes for each performer. Studios that specialise in live band recording often have built-in drum risers, tie lines running between the live room and control room, and a larger inventory of dynamic microphones.
Solo Instrument or Classical Sessions
Acoustic instruments - violin, cello, acoustic guitar, classical piano - require a live room with natural, controlled reverb characteristics. The room's acoustic properties become a key part of the recorded sound. Studios designed for orchestral or classical recording have longer reverb times and higher ceilings than studios built for pop and rock. Match the room's character to the instrument you are recording.
Electronic Music and Beat Production Sessions
Electronic music producers and beatmakers often need very little from a live room. The priority shifts to a well-calibrated control room with accurate monitors, a powerful computer running a well-specced DAW, and access to a quality audio interface for connecting external synthesisers, drum machines, and MIDI controllers. Studios like Audio Outsource and Doof Studios Dundee cater to producers who work primarily in the box and need a professional monitoring environment more than a large live tracking space.
For a broader overview of what different studio formats offer, the types of recording studios guide covers commercial, project, home, and specialist studios in detail.
Questions to Ask a Recording Studio Before You Book
Use this checklist before confirming any studio booking. A studio that cannot answer these questions clearly is one to approach with caution. For an even more detailed version, the questions to ask before booking a music studio page covers every angle.
- Is a house engineer included in the hourly or session rate?
- Is mixing included - and if so, is it a rough reference mix or a full release-ready mix?
- Is mastering included, or is it quoted separately?
- What DAW and recording software does the studio use?
- What microphones and outboard gear are in the studio's inventory?
- Is a drum kit, bass amplifier, and guitar amplifier available - and in what condition?
- Can I bring my own engineer, producer, or session musicians?
- In what file format will my recordings be delivered (WAV stems, session file, MP3)?
- How long do you store session files after the session ends - and can I return to them?
- Is the fee per hour or per session, and what counts as the session start time?
- What is the cancellation and rescheduling policy?
- Is parking available on-site, or is there public transport nearby?
- Are there bookings immediately before mine that could cause a delayed start?
How to Choose a Recording Studio Based on What's Included
The how to choose a recording studio guide goes deep on this decision, but here is a practical framework based on inclusions:
- Match the room to your project. A vocalist needs a clean vocal booth. A drummer needs a live room with good isolation. A beatmaker needs a well-calibrated control room. Never pay for space you will not use.
- Confirm engineer and mixing inclusions in writing. A verbal agreement is not enough. Get the package details emailed or set out in the booking confirmation before you pay a deposit.
- Compare packages by total deliverable value, not headline hourly rate. A studio charging £60 per hour that includes a full mix and WAV stems may offer better value than a studio charging £40 per hour that delivers nothing but raw session files.
- Read reviews that mention the session experience. Sound quality matters, but engineer communication, session organisation, and studio professionalism matter just as much. Reviews on Music Studio Finder include session experience feedback from real artists and bands.
- Use a platform that lets you compare inclusions side by side. Searching for studios individually and reading each studio's website separately is time-consuming and makes comparison difficult. Music Studio Finder lists UK studios with their facilities, equipment, and services clearly presented - so you can assess what each studio actually includes before picking up the phone.
The what to look for when booking a recording studio guide is a strong companion read for this decision-making stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the UK in 2026, recording studio hire typically costs between £30 and £150 per hour for a full-service session with an engineer included. A single professionally recorded and mixed song usually requires between three and eight hours of studio time, putting the total cost for a single song somewhere between £90 and £1,200 depending on the studio's rate, the engineer's experience, and whether mixing and mastering are included. Block bookings and EP packages reduce the effective hourly rate.
A typical session runs in the following order: you arrive and set up your instruments in the live room while the engineer configures the DAW and places microphones; the engineer sets microphone positions and gain levels during a sound check; you record multiple takes of each part while monitoring through headphones; you listen back to takes together and decide which to keep; the engineer comps the best takes into a final performance; and the session ends with a rough mix delivered so you can evaluate the recordings. The how to prepare for your first studio session guide walks through this process in detail.
Look for a studio whose room setup matches your project (live room for bands, vocal booth for singers), an engineer with experience in your genre, clearly stated inclusions for the hourly or package rate, transparent terms on file delivery and ownership, and positive session reviews from artists in similar situations to yours. Equipment quality, DAW choice, and microphone inventory are secondary to room acoustics and engineer competence for most sessions.
In a full-service (wet hire) booking, yes - a house engineer is included in the rate. In a dry hire booking, no engineer is provided. Some studios offer both options at different price points. Always confirm this explicitly before booking. Never assume.
Not necessarily. If your songs are fully arranged and rehearsed, and you know exactly how you want them to sound, a house engineer can execute that vision without a producer. If you need creative input - arrangement changes, performance coaching, sonic decisions - a producer is worth the additional investment. They are separate services with separate costs.
Dry hire is a studio booking that includes access to the recording space and the in-room equipment - microphones, DAW, monitors - but does not include an engineer, a producer, or any post-production services. You bring your own engineer and manage the session entirely yourself. Dry hire is cheaper than full-service hire and suits experienced producers or engineers who do not need technical supervision.
In a standard studio hire arrangement, yes - you own the master recordings. The studio provides the service; the creative output is yours. This differs from working with a producer who contributes creatively, as some producers negotiate master rights as part of their fee. Always check the studio's booking terms for any clause that assigns rights to the studio or its staff, and get ownership confirmed in writing.
Bring your own instruments, all personal effects pedals and signal processors, freshly changed strings or drumheads, drumsticks, picks, your set list and chord charts, and reference tracks you want the engineer to hear. The studio provides microphones, cables, stands, amplifiers, the DAW, and monitoring equipment. Do not bring food or drinks unless you have checked that this is welcome.