How To Find Inexpensive Audition Studios

There are a number of recording studios across the country that offer what are called “talent rates,” at usually around a dollar a minute: $10 for ten minutes, $20 for twenty minutes, and so on.

This is meant for stopping by, doing an audition and sending it off. These rates are for VO talent that either have yet to install home/portable equipment, or are at the wrong end of town, or can’t get to your agency when a last minute audition comes in. Aside from recommending using Rehearsal® Pro on an iPhone or iPad, use the following studios if you need a place to record an audition for a reasonable price.

And please email me if you know of any others I’ve missed, or if you have corrections to the list.

Call ahead to make sure these offerings are accurate, and that the studio is available – don’t just show up. Be prepared to pay for your time before leaving the session, and ask if they’ll accept credit cards or if you need to bring cash/check.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, you should assume that the time is inclusive, meaning it covers your time on mic, any necessary quick edits, and emailing/delivery of files. Manage your time on-mic to leave time for the other parts of the process!

These are in alphabetical order and grouped geographically, rather than in any particular order of recommendation. We’re based in Southern California, so we know that best, but scan the list for a studio near you.

If you are an owner-operator-manager of one of these studios and would like to correct any information, or if you have a studio that offers artist rates that you’d like to have listed, email us at [email protected] – and thanks!

CALIFORNIA


BURBANK


Dave & Dave Recording Studios
4207 W. Burbank Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 508-7578
[email protected]
$10/script up to 15 minutes, $20/every 15 minutes thereafter


Mai Tai Studios
Kevin Cleland
2133 W. Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91506
(818) 563-2900
[email protected]
$1/min (10-minute minimum)


North Hollywood Sound in Burbank (additional location in Valley Village)
Rick Dasher
4207 W. Burbank Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 848-0172
[email protected]
$35/30 minutes


The Voicecaster (VO ‘n’ Go)
1832 Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
(818) 841-5300
[email protected]
$10/10 minutes


CULVER CITY


L.A. Voiceover
Deon Vozov
3736 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 363-0330
[email protected]
$20/15 minutes


HOLLYWOOD / WEST HOLLYWOOD


Bell Sound
Marilyn
916 N Citrus Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 461-3036
[email protected]
$40/30 minutes (additional 15-minute increments for $20 each)


Buzzy’s Recording
Cheyenne
6900 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 931-1867
[email protected] or [email protected]
$20/20 minutes
Appointment times depend on engineer availability, and they don’t do auditions regularly.


Garden of Sound
7600 Melrose Ave Suite L, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 230-8249
[email protected]
$15/15 minutes


Riverton Productions
Patrick Flynn
5319 Craner Ave. North
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 505-0181
[email protected]
$25/15 minutes
Call ahead — Patrick is in and out of studio a lot.


Outlaw Sound
1608 N. Argyle Ave
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 462-1873
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes (additional 15-minute increments are $25 each)
You didn’t hear it from me, but Trader Joe’s is a block away and validates 1 hour of lot parking.


MANHATTAN BEACH


Waterfront Sound
Steve Gregan
3770 Highland Ave #101
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 802-0123
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes


NORTHRIDGE


Deyan Audio Services – Northridge (additional location in Tarzana)
Jamie Dupras
17150 Halsted St.
Northridge, CA 91325
(818) 343-6131, ext #4
[email protected]
$2/minute (no minimum)


COSTA MESA


Costa Mesa Studios
Nick Fainbarg
711 W 17th Street Suite D10
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 515-9942
[email protected]
Call to inquire about pricing, but probably in the $20-$60 range for something under 30 minutes.


CYPRESS


Creative Media Recording
Tim Keenan
11105 Knott Avenue, Suite G
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 892-9469
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes


SANTA ANA


Hybrid Studios
3021 S. Shannon St.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 850-1499
[email protected]
$65/hour
The studio requests as much lead time as possible so they can arrange for an engineer and fit you into their schedule at the discounted audition rate.


NEWPORT BEACH


JEL Recording
Shelly Guidotti
6100 W Coast Hwy, Suites C & D
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 631-4880
[email protected]
$50/hour (1 hour minimum)


RANCHO MIRAGE


Rancho Mirage Music People
Leon
Rancho Mirage, CA
(760) 341-5910
[email protected]
Call to inquire about pricing (fyi, $175 is their discounted public radio price).


SANTA MONICA


Atlantis Group
John Chominsky
501 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 150-B
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-9098
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes


On Music and Sound
Chris Winston
2042A Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 264-0407
[email protected]
$50/15 minutes


SHERMAN OAKS


Double RR Recording Studios (Audition Express)
Andrew Meisner
13440 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 465-0150
[email protected]
$10/10 minutes


TalkShop (Talk’n’Roll)
Gary/Martha
14144 Ventura Blvd Suite 303
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 908-9200
[email protected]
$15/10 minutes


TARZANA


Deyan Audio Services – Tarzana (additional location in Northridge)
Jamie Dupras
18711 Miranda Street
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 343-6131, ext #4
[email protected]
$2/minute (no minimum)


VALLEY VILLAGE


North Hollywood Sound in Valley Village (additional location in Burbank)
Rick Dasher
12155 Riverside Drive
Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 848-0172
[email protected]
$35/30 minutes


STUDIO CITY


Voice Trax West
Andrew Feliciano
12215 Ventura Blvd #205
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 487-9001
$15/15 minutes


OAKLAND


Shine On Studio
David Hughes
6171 Hillmont Drive
Oakland, CA 94605
(510) 681-7969
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes
Booking is done on the website: shineon.studio/booking
Text for sessions with less than 4 hours notice.
Includes engineer, mic setup, editing, and file upload.


PITTSBURG


Delta Vista Studio
Jeff Fogle
Pittsburg, CA
(925) 285-1472
[email protected]
$20/30 minutes
Includes engineer, mic, setup, editing, and file upload. Call, text, or use web form to set up appointment.


SAN JOSE


Bay Area Recording Studios (additional location in San Mateo)
Joe
Campbell, CA and Santa Clara, CA
(510) 632-2893
[email protected]
$50-85/hr, 1-hour minimum


CAMPBELL


Soundtek Studios
Robert Berry
85 S. 2nd Street
Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 370-3313
[email protected]
$95/hour, 1-hour minimum


SAN MATEO


Bay Area Recording Studios (additional locations in San Jose)
Joe
San Mateo, CA
(510) 632-2893
[email protected]
$50-85/hr, 1-hour minimum


Studio Circle Recordings
Jermaine Hamilton
863 Woodside Way
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 328-8338
[email protected]
$50/hour, 1-hour minimum


SAN RAFAEL


Laughing Tiger Recording Studios
Ari Rios
1101 E. Francisco Blvd, Suite A
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 485-5765
[email protected]
$100/hour, 1-hour mimimum


SANTA ROSA


Zone Recording Studio
Blair Hardman
7884 Old Redwood Hwy.
Cotati, CA 94931
(707) 664-1221
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes


SAN FRANCISCO


Dreamrack Studios
Conn
245 Hyde Street – Studio B
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 988-1951
[email protected]
$50/hour or $10 per 10 minutes of work
Texting is preferred. Please send full name and expectations for project.


The Podcast Studio
Mario Butzner
300 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
[email protected]
$75/30 minutes


First Gen Studios
Herb Ferrette
950 Battery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 575-1727 office
(415) 706-1503 mobile
[email protected]
$165/hour, 1-hour minimum


Potrero Post Studios
Buddy Saleman
350 Townsend Street, Suite 136
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 935-3622
[email protected]
$50/hour, 1 hour mimimum. Time can be shared by multiple people if you arrive together.


SACRAMENTO


Foxtail Sound Recording Studio
Steve O’Neill
Dixon, CA
(707) 678-4741
[email protected]
$40/hour


FLORIDA


MIAMI


Elite Music Studios
CC Limardo
216 Catalonia Ave Suite #110
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(786) 205-7190
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes, $25 per each additional 15 minutes


Heiga Studios
Adrian Morales-Demori
168 SE 1st St #500
Miami, FL 33131
(786) 212-1591
[email protected]
$35/30 minutes


IVM Music Company
Ivan Valles
1010 NW 179th Ave
Pembroke Pines, FL 33029
(305) 546-8760
[email protected]
$30/30 minutes


Outpost Audio
Ivian
2150 S. Dixie Hwy. Suite 203
Miami, FL 33133
(305) 250-9988
[email protected]
$50/hour


ORLANDO


LHV Audio and Raintree Recording Studios
Laurence Vexler
3417 Lake Breeze Road
Orlando, FL 32808
(407) 295-3565
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes, $25 per each additional 15 minutes


Ritz Studio Productions
Paul Rizzo
7259 Hiawassee Oak Dr
Orlando, FL 32818
(407) 578-5000
[email protected] (email is best for scheduling)
$40/30 minutes, $20 per each additional 15 minutes


TAMPA BAY


Clear Track Studios
Colleen Bradham
814 Franklin Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 449-8888
[email protected]
$75/hour (1 hour minimum)


Sound House Studios
Jonathan Gautier
113 S. Florida Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 844-3560
website contact form
$30/30 minutes, $50/hour
Please use the web form to request a session, rather than calling.


TENNESSEE


BRENTWOOD


Blue Grotto Sound
Sean Spence
(615) 400-0581
[email protected]
$45/45 minutes


INGLEWOOD


Studio X
Tom Manche
(615) 353-9637
[email protected] (email is best for scheduling)
$25/30 minutes, if session exceeds 30 minutes, the regular rate of $40/hour will be applied


NASHVILLE


Dave Tough Productions
Dave Tough
Nashville, TN 37013
(615) 554-6693
[email protected]
$35/30 minutes


Digital Audio Post
Michael Davis
1217 16th Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 327-4012 (phone is best for scheduling)
[email protected]
$30/30 minutes


OmniSound Studios
Lee Unfried
1806 Division St.
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 482-1511
[email protected]
$75/hour, 1 hour minimum


Spotland Productions
Pam Holland
2000 21st Ave South
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 385-2957
[email protected]
$30/15 minutes


NEW YORK


LONG ISLAND


Red Vault Productions
Todd Stanley
110 North Ocean Ave. Suite B
Patchogue, NY 11772
(631) 988-5509
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes, $75/hour


MANHATTAN


CDM Sound Studios
Tucker Dalton
630 9th Ave #810
New York, NY 10036
(212) 904-1870
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes, $100/hour


Edge Studio
Anne Hartung
115 West 45th Street, Floor 8
New York, NY 10036
(212) 868-3343 (ask for the production department)
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes


Mirrortone
146 W. 29th St. 11RW
New York, NY 10001
(347) 815-4582
[email protected]
$60/hour (1 hour minimum)


Serge Audio
Serge Ossorguine
260 5th Ave 8th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 213-0808
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes


Dubway Studios
Al Houghton
42 Broadway Floor 22
New York, NY 10004
(212) 352-3070 x302
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes
when booking, mention discounted “Actor Service” rate


MASSACHUSETTS


BOSTON


Cybersound
Perry Geyer
349 Newbury Street, Suite 201
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 424-1062
[email protected]
$50/30 minutes, cash only


Soundtrack Group
Hillary Letourneau
162 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 303-7500
[email protected]
$30/15 minutes, $45/30 minutes


NEWTON


Dog Ear Sound
Anny Din
55 Chapel Street, Suite #100
Newton, MA 02458
(617) 597-6676
[email protected]
$25/15 minute blocks, cash or check only
File deliverable would be full recorded session, not edited.
Mention VOHeroes to receive the special rate.


SOMERVILLE


Q Division Studios
Ed Valauskas
363 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 625-9900 x103
[email protected]
$50/up to an hour


WAKEFIELD


Aztec Sound
Rob Pride
6 LT Buck Drive
Wilmington, MA 01887
(617) 759-8832
[email protected]
$40/up to 30 minutes
Payment by cash or credit card.


WEYMOUTH


Beach House Studios
John Eye
Weymouth, MA 02191
(781) 883-6996
[email protected]
$45/15 minutes, with additional fees for major editing


WESTFORD


Night Train Studios
Zac Cataldo
121 Depot St.
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 392-1461
[email protected] (email is best for scheduling)
$55/hour, billed and bookable in 15-minute increments


ILLINOIS


CHICAGO


Kayquarii Productions
Kayo (Ky-yo) Williams
1325 S. Wabash Ave. Suite 201
Chicago, IL 60605
(866) 335-0046
[email protected]
$50/hour, 1 hour minimum


Rax Trax Recording
3126 N. Greenview Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 871-6566
[email protected]
$55-65/hour depending on studio


Transient Sound
Steven Gillis
1803 W. Byron St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 880-5253
[email protected]
$42.50/30 minutes


Audio Recording Unlimited
Lynn Rondeau
625 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 527-7000
[email protected]
$25/15 minutes
If a room can be filled at the studio’s normal rate, an actor could be bumped (but this doesn’t happen very often).


BAM Studios
Angela Peters
1 East Erie St. Suite 350
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 255-8862
[email protected] or [email protected]
$50/15 minutes, payment by check or credit card


NoiseFloor
Katie Waters
308 W. Erie St. STE 600
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 787-2979
[email protected]
$25/15 minutes


Stonecutter Records
Chris Steinmetz
1719 S Clinton, Floor Zero
Chicago, IL 60616
312-698-9977
[email protected]
$75/hour


ELGIN


LnL Recording
Larry Kriz
308 Wheelock Street
Elgin, IL 60123
(847) 622-9109
[email protected]
$25/up to an hour


TEXAS


DALLAS


CakeMix Recording Studio
Lisa Faulconer
17817 Davenport Rd #110
Dallas, TX 75252
(972) 818-1649
[email protected]
$50/15 minutes, $100/30 minutes, $175/hour


FORT WORTH


Eagle Audio Recording
Jerry Hudson
911 South Main St.
Fort Worth, TX 76104
(817) 877-4338
[email protected]
$35/up to 20 minutes, then $95/hour with 1 hour minimum


Fort Worth Sound – Studio B
Tanner Landry
306 S. Main St.
Fort Worth, TX 76104
(682) 250-0256
[email protected]
$95/up to an hour, $75/hr for more than 1hr


LITTLE ELM


Lambert Studios
1501 Martin Creek Dr.
Little Elm, TX 75068
(214) 556-5323
[email protected]
$31.20/30 minutes
Use web form to book appointment.


HOUSTON


Barron Studios
Todd Macek
1701 Detering Street
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 225-1846
[email protected]
$50/hour, 1 hour minimum


WASHINGTON


SEATTLE


Impossible Acoustic
Jamie Hunsdale
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 730-9111
[email protected]
$50/up to 30 minutes, then $190/hour


Christopher Newton
Seattle, WA 98117
(360) 224-9739
[email protected]
$40/hour, 1 hour minimum


SophiaHat Studio
Chris Spencer
843 N 73rd St
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 799-7761
[email protected]
$50/hour, 1 hour minimum


Fastback Studios
Jason Lackie
12345 8th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 367-4667
website contact form
$45/up to an hour


BALLARD


Peel Studios
Michael Springer
Ballard, WA 98117
(206) 915-1924
[email protected]
$40/up to an hour


BELLEVUE


Blash Studios
Bryan Lash
13773 SE 2nd St.
Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 269-3838
[email protected]
$50/15 minutes, then $150/hour


MUKILTEO


Project Won Studios
Joe Nicholson
Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425) 750-0589
[email protected]
$25 minimum for projects less than 1 hour. $50/hour for all projects an hour or more.
Sessions subject to studio availability.
Only records content that is clean in both language and subject matter.


SHORELINE


Titan Recording Studio
Scot Michael
NE 195th St
Shoreline, WA 98155
(314) 629-9536
[email protected]
$30/up to 30 minutes, $50/hour
Mention that you are a VO artist when contacting to schedule a session.
You must bring a USB thumb/hard drive for your finished files.


OREGON


EUGENE


Sprout City Studios
Thaddeus Moore
1697 W 11th Alley
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 687-0947
[email protected]
$80/hour, no minimum session length


PORTLAND


Big Red Studio
Billy Oskay
Corbett, OR 97019
(503) 695-3420
[email protected]
$30/30 minutes


Black Diamond Studios
Adam Burt
1424 SE 162nd Ave
Portland, OR 97233
(503) 477-6523
[email protected]
$20/20 minutes, $30/30 minutes


Portland Underground Recording
Prince Strickland
2718 SW Kelly Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
(201) 562-2487
[email protected]
$35/30 minutes


The Map Room
Kris White
2710 SE Steele St
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 816-5002
[email protected]
$35/30 minutes


Toadhouse Recording
Adam Pike
1303 N McClellan St
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 720-7154
[email protected]
$15/20 minutes or $25/30 minutes


VANCOUVER


Kingsley Garden Studio
Aram Arslanian
Vancouver, WA 98663
(323) 497-1475
[email protected]
$30/hour, 1 hour minimum if booked M-F between 8-11 am


CONNECTICUT


WEST HAVEN


Audio Hotel
Marc Amendola
221 Bull Hill Lane
West Haven, CT 06516
(203) 589-5033
[email protected]
$25/20 minutes, $35/30 minutes, $50/45 minutes
Cash or credit.
Call ahead and mention VOHeroes to get the discounted rate.


MARYLAND


LUSBY


KMH Recording Studio
Keith Harancher
12201 H G Trueman Rd
Lusby, MD 20657
(410) 231-4520
[email protected]
$30/up to 30 minutes, $50/hour


MAINE


HARRISON


Baked Beans Recording Studio
Alan Bean
75 Weston Farm Road
Harrison, ME 04040
(207) 583-2923
[email protected]
$22.50/30 minutes, $45/hour (plus tax)


MINNESOTA


MINNEAPOLIS


Audio Ruckus
330 2nd Ave. South Suite 730
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 333-2067
[email protected]
$50/15 minutes


Babble-On Recording Studios
Carol Bergeron
5120 27th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 375-0533
[email protected]
$25/15 minutes


NORTH CAROLINA


GASTON


Tequila Sunrise Music
112 Ann St
Gaston, NC 27832
(800) 537-1417
[email protected]
$40/up to an hour


NEW HAMPSHIRE


NASHUA


New Sky Productions
25 Front St Ste 4J
Nashua, NH 03064
(603) 816-9500
[email protected] or [email protected] (specify that you’re interested in the Nashua location)
$50/30 minutes


NEW JERSEY


RED BANK


Retromedia Sound Studios
Adam Vaccarelli
110 Monmouth St
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 842-3853
[email protected]
$45/30 minutes


OHIO


CLEVELAND


Bad Racket
2220 Superior Ave. E. Suite 204
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 309-2882
[email protected]
$50/hour, 1 hour minimum
When scheduling, ask about crediting unused time to a future session.


Starsound Studios
Wade Nichols
10200 Royalton Rd. Ste 3
North Royalton, OH 44133
(216) 374-8458
[email protected]
$20/30 minutes, $40/hour
Mention VOHeroes when you call/email to book your session.


PENNSYLVANIA


BANGOR


Hilltop Studios
Dave Mosca
614 Center St
Bangor, PA 18013
(610) 588-4968
[email protected]
$40/up to an hour


HARRISBURG


Full Tilt Productions
Jason Shaffer
200 Gale Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(717) 648-0633
[email protected]
$25/30 minutes, paid at time of service


SCRANTON


SI Studios
Tom Borthwick
945 South Main Street
Old Forge, PA 18518
(570) 457-0147
[email protected]
$40/up to 30 minutes


VIRGINIA


RICHMOND


In Your Ear
Kathy Allsbrook
1813 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 344-5311
[email protected]
$30/30 minutes, $50/hour
Payment due at time of service. They accept cash, check or Visa/Mastercard.


WISCONSIN


MILWAUKEE


National Recording
Daniel Zelonky
1031 W. National Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 372-5638
[email protected]
$40/up to 30 minutes start to finish, then $60/hour


Responses

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    1. No, it’s for VO – it’s doubtful you’d even get a guitar tuned and leveled in just 10 minutes, let alone recorded. I’m sure they simply make extra money by offering this VO-only option.

  1. David, thanks for putting together this extensive list. Very helpful if we’re traveling around the country, as well as LA 🙂 That was no small feat!

  2. Thanks, David! When you hear of any in NV, UT, ID, WY, CO, NM, or AZ, I hope you’ll post as well, though I doubt it’ll be in time for this upcoming 2.5 week road trip coming up this Labor Day. I know, picky, picky. LOL!!!

  3. Thanks for listing Bad Racket in Ohio Studios. We have the best rates and do all sorts of voice over work. We also offer video services. So if you’re ever in Cleveland, Ohio, give us a ring.

  4. One of the new and up-and-coming studios in Dallas Fort Worth is BeMelodic Recording Studio offering services ranging from VO, Podcast, Audiobook, to music recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.