Terms & Conditions
1. Overview
Fulcrum Studio provides high quality music production services, with associated technical support and creative guidance for its clients and customers. Services include Music Production, Remote Production, Recording, Mixing & Mastering and Studio Experiences.
The following terms & conditions regulate how Fulcrum Studio does business with its clients and customers. They apply to the use of this website www.fulcrumstudio.co.uk and for all services provided by the studio.
The rights and responsibilities are determined between parties to foster confidence and trust and provide a clear reference point which can be referred to in the event of any uncertainty. All services will be undertaken by Fulcrum Studio in an honest, transparent and ethical manner.
Clients and customers must agree to these terms & conditions before making a booking and working with Fulcrum Studio, either
in person or remotely. Please do not make a booking if you do not agree with any aspect of these terms and conditions.
2. Definitions
Throughout these terms & conditions, the following defined terms apply, to avoid repetition or ambiguity and provide clarity and conciseness.
Fulcrum Studio’s registered business address is:
Fulcrum Studio
11 Charlton Place
Brentry
Bristol
BS10 6LQ
(hereafter referred to in this document as ‘the studio’)
Client: an individual with whom Fulcrum Studio has entered into an agreement. Specifically, an artist, musician or creative individual or group of people working on a detailed music production project. May be referred to Fulcrum Studio via one of the following:
Fiverr - freelance services marketplace
Twine - online marketplace connecting businesses with skilled freelancers
Bark - a revolutionary way to hire local services and professionals
Other referral service or personal recommendation
Customer: an individual with whom Fulcrum Studio has entered into an agreement. Specifically, an individual who has purchased a recording studio experience voucher representing a package of music production services, provided on a specific date and within a specific, limited timeframe. Customers may be referred to Fulcrum Studio via third parties, including the following:
Other referral service or personal recommendation
Parties: Fulcrum Studio and the Client / Customer together.
Project: a studio session, any work undertaken at the studio, or a combination of both.
Session: a scheduled studio booking.
Artist: A client or customer working with Fulcrum Studio.
3. Updates & Changes
The studio reserves the right to update or change its terms & conditions at any time. If updates or changes are made during the course of a project, the client or customer concerned will be fully informed of these changes.
4. Applicability
These terms and conditions apply to all quotations, offers, activities, orders, agreements and delivery of services or products, by or on behalf of the studio.
5. Studio Availability & Session Times
The studio will be as flexible as possible when offering session availability to clients. All studio bookings operate on a first come, first served basis.
Following the purchase of a recording studio experience voucher, the studio will provide as much flexibility to the customer as possible, in order to agree a mutually convenient time for a booking, within the 12 month voucher expiry period.
Standard studio availability is 6 days per week , Monday to Saturday.
Standard full-day (8 hour) sessions run between 09:30 - 18:00, with a 30 minute break for lunch.
Clients and customers may enquire about alternative booking times, which will be subject to availability and at the discretion of the studio.
Sessions will begin and end promptly, at the pre-arranged times. It is the responsibility of the client or customer to arrive punctually for the start of their session and start times cannot be delayed due to the late arrival of clients and customers.
The studio will be set up prior to the arrival of clients and customers. There will be no additional charge for disconnecting / packing away or tidying up equipment at the end of a studio session.
Clients and customers are kindly asked to allow time for breaks, where required. Please do not over-estimate the amount of work that can be completed during a studio booking. Pressure on time can result in a reduction in quality and / or mistakes occurring, which is directly at odds with the studio’s obligation to deliver and desire to provide clients and customers with high quality work.
Any additional studio time required due to late arrival by the client or customer, or additional time needed to work on a project will be charged at the hourly rate applicable to the booking (please see section 12). This will be available at the discretion of the studio and subject to other existing bookings, or personal commitments.
6. Bookings
For all bookings and projects, every effort will be made by the studio to ensure clients receive a comprehensive and affordable service throughout the project, with the aim that client expectations are not only met, but exceeded.
All project work will be undertaken during studio bookings.
Additional work required or requested by a client or customer will be classified as overtime and charged at the hourly rate applicable to the booking.
7. Deposit
A 50% deposit payment is required to confirm studio bookings for clients and to reserve booking dates in the calendar. The deposit is refundable up to 1 week before the day of the booking. Thereafter, the deposit becomes non-refundable.
For studio experiences, online customer payments will be made in full at the time of purchasing a voucher and will therefore not require a deposit payment.
For payment of deposits, the studio will email a deposit invoice to the client requesting payment by bank transfer credit.
The following personal information will be required, to generate a deposit invoice for a client:
Name, Telephone number, Email address, Postal Address.
Personal information will be maintained in line with the studio’s privacy policy and not used for commercial gain or sold to third parties.
8. Change of Booking Dates
Bookings may be amended up to 3 days before the booking date. Thereafter, the booking date may not be amended.
9. Cancellation Period
A minimum of 1 week’s notice is required to cancel a studio booking.
Cancellations with less than 1 week’s notice, or if the client / customer fails to arrive for their booking, whether notified to the studio or not, will require full payment for the full cost of the session, including deposit and balance payments.
10. Payment Methods
Clients are requested to make payments by bank transfer credit. To enable this, bank details are included on client invoices.
The studio will confirm with the client when payment has been received.
Payments can also be made by cash, with prior agreement by the studio.
A bank transfer credit is preferred, whenever possible.
Payments for studio experience vouchers will be made securely via the studio website’s online store.
11. Overdue Payments
Balance payments which are not paid within the agreed payment terms will be subject to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. Interest will be accrued on any outstanding balance at the statutory interest rate of the Bank of England base rate, plus 8%.
12. Rates for Studio Time
The daily rate for an 8 hour studio session (please see section 5 for details) is £150.
Rates for shorter studio sessions are available on request, with a minimum booking time of 2 hours.
The hourly rate for a project will be set prior to confirmation of a booking, based on the full cost of a booking divided by the number of allocated hours. For example, £150 divided by 8 = £18.75 per hour. Please note that the hourly rate will be more, for bookings of less than 1 day.
Clients will be kept up to date regarding the costs and amount of time taken during a project, as it progresses. Clients are kindly asked to keep in mind that music production is highly subjective and can be a non-linear process that may take longer than anticipated to achieve high quality results. Accordingly, all studio time must be paid for and the studio will not be able to undertake unpaid work at any point during a project.
Prices for studio experiences are fixed and determined at the point of sale on the studio’s website.
(subject to change, dependent on availability of offers / promotions)
All prices are inclusive of VAT.
13. Obligation to Deliver
The studio will deliver high quality music production services during the course of studio sessions and projects.
Upon completion of a project and following receipt of full payment, the studio agrees to deliver exported files relating to the project (please see section 14 for details).
Upon completion of a project, the client or customer will be provided with a WeTransfer link (or comparable service) to download the completed project files. The download link will be sent via email within 14 days of the final studio session booking.
WeTransfer links will be available for a maximum of 7 days. After this, the link will become invalid and the download will no longer be available.
Unless otherwise required, the studio will provide its services at the registered business address (please see section 2).
14. File Transfers
Digital Audio Files
In line with its obligation to deliver, the studio will provide preview and work in progress files, plus mix, master or individual channel / group mix files, as required for the project. Clients may request the export and transfer of audio files at any stage of their project.
All file transfers must be undertaken during a studio session. If time for file transfers is not made available by clients during a session, the additional time taken will be added to the cost of a project as an overtime fee, charged at the hourly rate determined by the booking (please see section 12). Files will be shared via WeTransfer, Google Drive or Dropbox, or other service agreed between the studio and client, prior to, or during the course of a project.
Before receipt of a balance payment, audio files will be transferred as compressed ‘preview quality’ MP3 files in the form of ‘reference’ or ‘work in progress files’.
Following receipt of a balance payment, uncompressed audio files will be transferred as ‘studio quality’ WAV of AIFF files.
By default, mix files will be exported at 24 bit (undithered) 44.1 kHz quality. Master files will be transferred at 16 bit (dithered) 44.1 kHz quality. Other file specifications may be available upon request and as limited / dictated by the equipment / software used to export the files.
Instrumental mixes (without vocals), stem tracks or individual instrument or group tracks can be provided upon request, created at the same time as when the standard stereo mix or master tracks are exported.
Audio Files Provided by Clients & Customers
Whenever possible, before sharing files with the studio for editing, processing, mixing or mastering, clients and customers must audition and quality control their own or third party files, to ensure suitability for their project.
The studio cannot be responsible for the data integrity, technical quality or recording quality of files shared by clients and customers, or by third parties. Likewise, the studio cannot be responsible for the standard of musicianship or performances and hence their suitability for an ongoing project, regarding audio files provided by third parties, for integration into projects undertaken at the studio. As such, the client or customer agrees to cover the costs of any additional time required to check, quality control, process or edit the files, to ensure sufficient quality and suitability for a project.
For clients and customers who are not able to preview or quality control files sent to the studio, because they are not able to access the files or audition them on a playback system or in another studio, preview files will be created by the studio and shared with the client. This will enable the client to make a judgement and notify the studio to continue with the project. Time taken for this process will be added to the cost of the project at the hourly rate set for the project (please see section 12).
Export & Transfer of Full Resolution Files
Studio quality, full resolution / uncompressed mix and or master files will be transferred to the client upon receipt of full payment of the project fee, namely payment of the deposit and balance fees, including any additional costs incurred during the project as overtime. Following this transfer, the project will be completed.
Time taken for any additional file transfers requested by the client at a later date will be classified as overtime and chargeable at the project hourly rate, with a minimum duration of 1 hour. File types include master files, full mixes, stem files or individual tracks, with or without processing and effects.
Studio Experience Files
For studio experiences, customers will be provided with full resolution ‘studio quality’ WAV or AIFF files and ‘preview’ quality streaming files (MP3) of stereo mastered mix files. Additional mixes and file types may be available upon request and the export of additional files, including alternate or adjusted mixes will be charged as overtime.
Analogue Summing
If analogue summing is requested by a client, this will require additional time. The process will require the setup and transfer of multi-channel audio through the analogue summing device and recording of the returning analogue mix in real time and export of the resulting mix as a digital audio file. Clients are kindly asked to take the additional time and associated cost into account before requesting analogue-summed mixes.
15. Project Resolution
Unless specifically requested by the client or customer prior to the start of a project, the default bit depth and sample rate of a production project will be set at 24 bit, 44.1 kHz resolution.
If required, clients and customers can request a different project resolution, to ensure optimum audio quality or compatibility with another project or studio setup.
Backing tracks for studio experiences are available in MP3 quality (320 kbps bit rate), unless a higher quality lossless format is purchased by the customer.
16. Project Completion
By ‘signing off’ the project, upon receipt by the client of final mix, master and / or stem files, instrumental files or isolated vocal files, the client will be in agreement with the studio that for any additional files requested after the completion of the project, the extra work will be charged as overtime, at the hourly rate set for the project.
The studio reserves the right to terminate a project if payments are delayed or the project runs into problems due to creative differences, or a non-negotiable disagreement. In this situation, all audio and data files associated with the project will be offered to the client, as a parting good will gesture, following receipt of outstanding payments.
If a client decides to terminate a project during the course of production, before it is completed then the client is entitled to receive all audio files associated with the project up to the point of termination. Any additional time required to export these files will be charged as overtime. In this scenario, the client agrees to pay all outstanding costs associated with the project, including balance payments for studio bookings and overtime payments. Files will be transferred to the client following receipt of full payment.
Following the provision of exported files after the completion of a project, the studio reserves the right to provide no further assistance with uploading, sharing or promotion of music on behalf of a client. However, informal advice can be given during the course of a project.
17. Mix Revisions
The studio will make every effort to create music that is professionally produced, well balanced and in line with the musical vision of the client. However, music production is highly subjective and some revisions may be necessary, before the client is happy to sign off a mix.
Alterations or revisions to projects and associated exported files may be a requirement of achieving a high quality of production. Impressions and opinions concerning the sound of a completed production can change, often when listening with ‘fresh ears’ on a different day, after becoming more familiar with a mix / master, or group review with other band mebers.
The studio will work collaboratively with clients on up to three mix revisions (either remotely, or in person) without payment for the additional time taken.
For more than three mix revisions, payment for the additional studio booking or time taken will be required.
18. File Backup & Storage
During the course of a project, the studio will ensure that client and customer project data is securely backed up. For security, two data copies will be made, stored in remote locations physically separate from the studio.
The studio is under no obligation and does not have the facility to provide ongoing long-term file storage of any data associated with client or consumer projects. It is the responsibility of the client or customer to store and back up their audio and data files on a long-term basis.
Following project completion, if the client or customer requests any adjustments or amendments to a project or export of additional files, the studio will be under no obligation to undertake additional work as part of the agreed project fee. The additional work will be undertaken as overtime and the client or customer charged accordingly.
19. Copyright
The client indemnifies the studio against any claim which may arise due to the exploitation of works recorded or produced at the studio where relevant permissions have not been obtained by the client prior to exploitation.
The studio exercises its right to receive the following credit on all labels, sleeves of all configurations of product and any paid trade advertising: “Recorded and Produced at Fulcrum Studio”.
Copyright in the song will remain with the songwriter.
Copyright of material recorded at the studio is jointly owned by both parties (the studio and the client).
Fulcrum Studio reserves the right to use recorded material in its portfolio, both online and offline. Artists will be fully credited, whenever possible.
For customers utilising backing tracks for their projects, please refer to the licensing agreement provided by the backing track provider regarding use of the backing track. For backing tracks provided by Karaoke Version, please refer to their individual licensing agreement.
20. Use of The Studio
Clients and customers are encouraged to follow good studio etiquette, to ensure projects run as smoothy as possible.
There is a strict no smoking / vaping policy at the studio. The Studio reserves the right to remove any client in breach of this policy.
Clients and customers shall not use the studio in any way that may result in annoyance or disturbance to the studio address or surrounding area. The studio reserves the right to remove any person who’s behaviour is considered to be inappropriate.
No refund will be payable if a client or customer is removed.
Clients and customers are welcome to take photos and video during their studio sessions.
21. Personal Equipment & Belongings
Clients and customers are responsible for any personal equipment or belongings that they bring to the studio, including personal items bought to the studio by all individuals booked on their behalf, associated performers or their entourage.
Clients and customers will be expected to leave the studio in he condition in which it was found and to ensure personal items and belongings are removed from the studio at the end of a session.
22. Parking
Free parking is available at the studio address for one car, plus roadside parking in the local area, where available.
Roadside parking is subject to availability and outside the control of the studio.
Customers and clients of the studio park their cars at their own risk.
The studio will not be liable for any damage or theft of vehicles left outside the studio.
23. Food & Drink
Food and non alcoholic drinks are permitted at the studio. Clients and customers are requested to take care and keep food and drink away from studio equipment and furniture. A toilet and hand washing facilities are available at the studio.
24. Damage & Theft
Clients, customers and all individuals booked on their behalf are responsible for the sensible and safe use of all studio equipment. If at any time during a studio session or thereafter, damage or theft of studio equipment, facilities or fabric of the building is discovered, the client will be charged in full for replacement or repair (at the studio’s discretion) of the property in question.
Clients and customers will be expected to leave the studio in the condition in which it was found and to ensure personal items and belongings are removed from the studio at the end of the session.
25. Questions or Concerns
The above terms & conditions provide an intelligible and transparent contract between the studio and its clients and customers, in order to establish an ongoing, fair and reasonable working relationship between parties.
Clients or customers with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the studio before problems arise or escalate. If concerns are not raised during a project, the studio will assume that the client or customer is satisfied with the service being provided.
For questions or concerns relating to any of the above terms & conditions, please contact Richard at the studio, who will be happy to clarify outstanding issues, or answer questions about any aspect of the studio or project.