Thank you for choosing Clear Lake Recording Studios for your recording needs. Customer service and satisfaction are our top priority. We pride ourselves on our talented staff and high quality studio capability. If you are not satisfied with our services, please inform a manager immediately so the issue can be resolved. The following policies are to ensure that all sessions are conducted in a professional manner while providing our clients a safe, creative, and comfortable environment.
Clear Lake Terms & Conditions
BOOKING RATES
Rates are determined at the time of booking. Time will be billed in half hour increments. Clear Lake Recording’s day rates are based on a 12-hour lockout. A 4-hour minimum is required in Studio B/2 and a 6-hour minimum is required in Studio A/1. Overtime will be charged after the 12th hour at a different hourly rate of $25/hr additional to the booking fee. Overtime is not approved unless requested when booking. Clear Lake Recording has the right to deny overtime due to studio availability.
PAYMENT
A booking is considered “on hold” and not confirmed until either a purchase order is received from a record label or a full payment is made for the agreed upon hours and dates set for the session. Cash payments are accepted, but must be paid to the studios 24-hrs prior to session start by 5pm on that business day. Without payment of dues, the client may lose the hold on the time slot requested. Record label projects may provide a PO# and pay the full balance of the session within 30 days. Clear Lake Recording has the right to deny any holds. Once payment is received a confirmation email will be sent confirming your session.
START/END TIMES
The session clock begins at the scheduled time the client and Clear Lake Recording agreed to, regardless of the client or the client’s equipment being present. If you arrive early and the studio can accommodate an early start, then the session clock will begin at that time. If you are late for any reason, you will be charged from the scheduled start time with no exceptions. Please call and inform the studio if you are running late. Set up time will be billed at regular studio rates unless otherwise arranged with a Clear Lake Recording manager. This includes load in time, instrument setup, microphone placement, level setting, media transfer, etc.
STUDIO DOWNTIME
Unforeseen technical issues can happen. If session downtime occurs due to faulty studio equipment, the downtime will not be billed. Clear Lake Recording’s liability is limited strictly to the studio time of the booked session and clients agree to hold Clear Lake Recording harmless from any damages such as downtime.
RUNNERS & PETTY CASH CHARGES FOR FOOD OR MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Runners are not available for every session and must be requested prior to the session. Provided there is a runner for the session, the travel distance must remain within 10 miles. Anything over 10 miles will be charged at $0.56 cents per mile.
Clear Lake Recording marks all petty cash expenditures with a 20% service fee.
Petty cash and food budgets must be approved prior to the session, otherwise you must provide payment at the time of ordering.
Clients may also have food delivered to our Clear Lake Recording location, 10520 Burbank Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601, or our Fever Recording location, 5739 Tujunga Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91601.
Clear Lake Recording Studios reserves the right to deny excessively long runs.
PAYMENT
You are responsible for all monies due to the studio and shall make payment to the studio with cash, credit card, approved check, or PayPal. All cash sessions and PayPal must be paid 100% in full prior to the session.
No media will be released until full payment is made for the session.
Clients will also be responsible for all legal, attorney, and collection fees, if required for payment. If your account is not paid in full, immediate collection and legal action will be taken. The client will also accrue a 1.5% interest charge per month until all past due balances are paid in full.
Receipt of recording media from Clear Lake Recording to the client is acknowledgement between both parties that the quality of all services rendered is satisfactory to the client and releases Clear Lake Recording from all liability regarding said recording media and services rendered.
SESSION MEDIA
Session media will only be released when full payment is received. All remaining monies are due immediately after the session. Once the session media has been turned over to the client, Clear Lake Recording Studios is no longer expected to maintain a backup copy of the session unless other arrangements have been made in writing.
Session files remain on our network drives for 72 hours. If the client needs to restore files after the 72 hour window, the client will be charged $125 for the restore. We recommend that each client make a back-up copy of the sessions immediately following payment. Session materials left beyond 30 days due to nonpayment become property of Clear Lake Recording Studios.
STUDIO GEAR & AVAILABILITY
All outboard gear, mics, instruments, and amps are provided for each room. Each room has their own gear. If you are requesting gear that is not provided in the room, an additional rental fee will be charged. There may be an additional rental fee for guitars and basses based on availability.
Please note that our Clear Lake Recording location does not provide a Sony C800G. We may be able to rent this for a daily flat rate rental fee of $125 per day if requested in advance. Fever Recording location does not provide a Sony C800G in Studio 2. We may be able to rent this for a daily flat rate of $75 per day if requested in advance.
PLUG-INS AND SOFTWARE
If the client needs to use plug-ins that are not available on house computers, the client has the following options: (1) Bring an iLok and install the software on the house computer. (2) Rent the plug-in. (3) Buy the plug-in and temporarily install it on the house computer. (4) Bring a system to use for the session. Clear Lake Recording will provide an assistant engineer to install plug-ins. Clear Lake Recording does not allow demo installations or cracked versions of plug-ins on the house computers.
DAMAGES
In the event that a piece of studio gear owned by Clear Lake Recording Studios or any part of its facility becomes damaged by you or anyone in your party due to negligence, accident, or willful act, you agree to provide monetary compensation in the amount of the full replacement value of the damaged item. Damage to the studio property of any kind that is the result of anyone in the client’s party will be assessed to the client’s account.
SMOKING, FOOD & DRINKS
Smoking cigarettes is permitted outside of the building. Excessive smoking in the studio may require a cleaning fee. Food and drink is encouraged to be consumed in the kitchen, lounge, or patio areas. Food and drink may be brought into the studio but must be kept away from the equipment racks and consoles.
CANCELLATION POLICY, LAST MINUTE/OVERNIGHT BOOKINGS
If there is a need to cancel please note the following: (1) if cancelled 72 or more hours prior to session start the studio may refund the paid amount or credit it towards a future session. (2) If cancelled less than 48 hours prior to the session, the deposit is non-refundable. (3) If cancelled within 24 hours, the session fees are non-refundable.
CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY
The person responsible for paying for studio time must sign a studio agreement and will be held responsible for the actions of all artists and guests he or she brings to any session. These rules apply to all persons. There are no exceptions whatsoever. Any equipment in the studios or owned by our staff that is damaged during the recording process must be paid for. Clear Lake Recording and our employees are not responsible for copyright violations, talent, or creative royalties, mechanical reproduction licenses, or any other liabilities for such material. The client
also agrees to indemnify Clear Lake Recording Studios and its employees for all claims, costs, losses, detriments, and expenses of any kind. Including and without limitation to, attorney’s fees and costs incurred by Clear Lake Recording due to any breach or alleged breach of any representation, warranty, or agreement made by the client.
STUDIO DISCLAIMER
Prior to any session work beginning, the client agrees to all of the above studio policies, to make payments on the stated schedule, and adhere to all other policy requirements as stated herein as a formal agreement.
Your signature acknowledges that you have read and agree to all the above terms.