Service · Berlin
Music Production in Berlin
Production from the first arrangement conversation through to a finished master — built around live playing, run by a producer who sits behind the drums as often as behind the desk.
What it is
A Producer in the Room, Not Just an Engineer
Music production here means someone takes responsibility for the record as a whole: how the songs are arranged, who plays what, how the takes are chosen, how the final master sits next to the rest of your catalogue. Robert Cummings has produced records in Berlin since 2009 and has been a working drummer for thirty years, which shapes every decision — tempo, feel, and whether a take is right or merely correct.
The studio was designed for full ensembles playing together, so production rarely starts with a grid. It starts with the band in one room, sightlines intact, and a set of songs that still have room to move.
Scope
From Pre-Production to Final Master
Productions are scoped project by project. Some artists arrive with finished arrangements and need two focused days of tracking; others want a producer involved from the demo stage onwards. Both are normal, and the budget is planned around whichever shape fits the record.
- Pre-production: song selection, arrangement, keys, tempos, running order.
- Live tracking with the ensemble playing together in one room.
- Overdubs, additional instrumentation and session players where needed.
- Hybrid analogue and digital mixing, then mastering for release.
- Optional live session video filmed on the same day.
Approach
Decisions Made While the Band Is Still Playing
The fastest way to a good record is to solve problems in the room rather than in the mix. That means listening to the arrangement before reaching for a plugin, moving a player rather than a microphone, and keeping the day moving so the fourth take still has energy in it.
Recent productions span contemporary jazz, world music, soul and roots bands, classical and choral projects, and singer-songwriter records — different genres, the same working method.
Who it's for
Records That Depend on Real Interaction
If the music only works when the players can hear and see each other, this is the right kind of production. If you need a programmed, grid-first pop record, there are studios in Berlin better suited to that — we'll happily point you towards them.
- Album and EP productions for jazz, world music and roots ensembles.
- Singer-songwriter records built around a live band.
- Label and artist productions with a fixed release date.
- Single productions intended to be filmed as well as recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a music producer actually do on the project?
Everything that shapes the record rather than just capturing it: arrangement suggestions, tempo and key decisions, choosing takes, deciding what to add or leave out, and steering the mix and master so the release holds together. Engineering and production sit with the same person here, which keeps those decisions fast.
Can you produce a record if we already have our arrangements finished?
Yes — plenty of projects arrive fully arranged and simply need live tracking plus mixing and mastering. Production input then focuses on take selection, sounds and the overall shape of the release rather than the writing.
How long does a full production take?
A typical album for a well-rehearsed ensemble is two to four tracking days plus mixing and mastering, spread over a few weeks. Productions that include pre-production sessions or session players run longer — we plan the calendar backwards from your release date.
Do you help find session musicians?
Yes. After years of Berlin sessions there's a deep bench of players across jazz, classical, world music and rock to draw on, and we book them as part of the production when a song needs an instrument the band doesn't have.
Can production be done remotely?
Pre-production calls, mix revisions and mastering all work remotely, and international clients regularly work this way. Tracking is the part that benefits most from being in the room together — we schedule it as a focused block so travelling artists get the most out of each day in Berlin.
What do we receive at the end of a production?
Mastered stereo files in the formats your distributor needs, mix stems on request, and archived multitracks. Films from an optional live session video day are delivered alongside the audio.
Let's plan a session together.
Tell us about the music, the players and the sound you'd like to hear back. We'll come back with a plan.
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