Service · Berlin
Recording days that provide you with video and audio at the same time — multi-camera live sessions produced with trusted collaborators, in a vibey studio that is great for both video and audio.
What it is
A live session video is one of the most efficient ways to release music. The band plays the song through, we capture it on multiple cameras and multitrack audio, and at the end of the day you have video content for the internet and audio for streaming platforms — both built from the same performance.
Audio comes first — always. The rooms are primarily designed for sound and this is our priority; however, our experienced collaborators choose camera positions that work around the mic setup rather than the other way around. The film looks right because the music sounds right.
The crew
We work with a close-knit group of videographers and editors we've worked with for years. Everyone knows the room, knows how to move quietly through a session and knows the difference between filming a performance and filming a music video. Camera, lighting and edit are handled by these partners; Hot Milk's role is the audio, the session's overall coordination, and staying closely involved throughout so nothing falls between the two disciplines. This shows up in the final cut.
Process
A video session needs a few more hands and a clearer running order than an audio-only day. We plan the day backwards from the deliverable — number of songs, number of camera angles, edit treatment — and protect the audio chain throughout.
Who it's for
Live session video works for a wide range of projects — and it's especially valuable for artists who don't tour heavily but need a visual moment for press, socials and labels.
Best studio in the city.
Filming and editing are handled by trusted videographer and editor partners, not in-house — audio capture, session coordination and the overall day are what Hot Milk delivers directly. We work with the same small group of collaborators repeatedly, plan the shoot with them in advance, and stay closely involved through the day, so the result feels like one seamless production even though camera and edit come from specialist partners.
Yes — video sessions for classical recital, opera and choral ensembles happen regularly alongside band and songwriter shoots. The same audio-first approach applies: camera positions are planned around mic placement and the ensemble's layout, not the other way round, which matters more for a choir or chamber group than for a four-piece band.
Both — solo performers are filmed just as regularly as full bands, choirs and ensembles. The planning is simpler with fewer camera positions and less blocking to coordinate, but the same crew and workflow apply regardless of how many people are on camera.
As early as you can once a release date or event is set, since video days depend on both the studio and specific collaborators' availability. A few weeks' notice is usually enough for a straightforward single-day shoot; higher-end productions with a DOP and lighting designer benefit from more lead time to plan the look.
Yes — social cuts, including vertical and square formats for platforms like Instagram and TikTok, are part of standard delivery alongside the full-length film and optional 4K master. Tell us the platforms you're targeting during the creative call, and formats are planned into the shoot rather than cropped in afterwards.
Most sessions are closed, with just the band and crew in the room, which keeps the audio clean and gives camera and lighting full freedom to move. A small invited audience can be arranged for specific projects — flag it during planning so we can adjust camera and mic positions accordingly.
Yes — that's the default. The audio is recorded to the same standard as any tracking day, then mixed and mastered for release, and many clients use the resulting film as the visual side of an EP or single built from the same takes.
For a well-rehearsed band with a clear camera plan, three to five songs in a day is normal. More than that risks fatigue showing on camera — we'd rather come back for a second day than rush the takes.
Yes — on-location classical sessions and on-location band shoots both happen regularly, with audio, camera and lighting plans scaled to the venue.
Finished, colour-graded films at the resolutions you need (social cut, full-length, optional 4K master), final mixed and mastered audio, plus raw multitracks and rushes archived for future use.
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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