These 10 best recording studios in Arkansas all have one thing in common: they care about their artists. Arkansas recording professionals take pride in local musicians and have a passion for seeing them succeed.
Fortunately for the musicians and bands in Arkansas, these studios are spread throughout the state and have a lot of resources. Take a look and see if there is a studio near you.
- JOKER ENT. Recording Studio
- FRETMONKEY RECORDS STUDIO
- Crystal Recording Studios
- Blue Chair Recording Studio
- East Hall Recording Studio
- Raney Recording Studio
- Street Star Studio
- Redroom Music Studio
- Chop Spot Recordings
- Grim Muzik Studios
- 1. Game Plan
- 2. External Hard Drive
- 3. Powerbank
- 4. Snacks and drinks
- 10 Best Recording Studios in Arkansas
JOKER ENT. Recording Studio
Starting off in Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, Joker ENT. Studio has been in business since the late ‘90s, and owner/engineer Kevin Cotrell has been capturing music for artists in the hip hop, gospel, soul, and R&B genres.
You can tell that Joker ENT. and its owner Cotrell are passionate about the music industry and recording because their website is very informative. It has a lot of info about the process that many studio websites do not have.
78 Google reviewers give Joker ENT. Studio a rock-solid five stars. Many of the reviewers praise Cotrell’s knowledge and professionalism. They also comment on Cotrell’s patience and the time he takes with each track, making sure the artist’s vision succeeds. One reviewer noted that Cotrell brought “something from nothing.”
Website:
Location:
1200 John Barrow Rd #206, Little Rock, AR 72205
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mixing
- mastering
- beats
| Service | Cost |
| Recording by the hour | $60 an hour with a 2-hour minimum |
| Recording block time | 4 hours for $230, 8 hours for $444, 10 hours for $540 |
| Quick mix per song | $60 |
| Quick mix per album (up to 80 minutes) | $720 |
| Full mix per song | $300 |
| Mastering per song | $70 |
| Mastering per album | $840 |
| Beats | $300 per beat |
FRETMONKEY RECORDS STUDIO
Fret Monkey started in Conway in 2015 as a small studio dedicated to recording and video recording. It was the brainchild of award-winning guitarist, owner, and engineer Kevin Blake Goodwin and it quickly turned into a record label with the goal of being an artist-run and artist-informed community.
To that end, Fret Monkey has continued offering studio recording services to their surrounding community of artists. Through the talents of Goodwin who is the lead engineer and producer, they specialize in rock, R&B, lo-fi, pop, electronic music, and lo-fi.
31 reviewers on Google have given Fret Monkey an average of 4.9 stars. Reviewers praise not only Goodwin but engineer Andy Wallace. They love the vibe of the place and the care and patience that the studio shows to new bands and first-time recorders.
Website:
https://www.fretmonkeyrecordsstudio.com/
Location:
1004 Front St, Conway, AR 72034
Services & Cost:
- recording
- production
- mixing
- mastering
- studio time in 2, 4, and 8-hour slots
| Service | Cost |
| Studio tracking (no mixing or mastering) | $100 an hour (including engineer) |
| Mix and master | $300 to $375 |
| Producer Bundle: includes up to six hours of studio time and full production, mix, and master | $1,000 to $1,500 per song |
Crystal Recording Studios
Located southwest of Little Rock in Bryant, Crystal Recording Studios offers comfortable and economic recording with the quality that has brought groups like Evanescence to the studio.
They record all styles of music in all different forms including solo artists, bands, and choirs. Their setup allows you and your group to record all at once which saves you money. Owner Ray Brooks started the studio with the intention of using it as his private recording space, but it soon opened up into a sought-after studio.
Google reviewers praise the high-end equipment and the relaxed and comfortable vibe of the studio. They give it an average of 4.8 stars.
Crystal Recording Studios also offers the talents of Evanescence member Rocky Gray as producer your project for $100 per song and $35 an hour for studio time.
Website:
http://www.crystalrecordingstudios.com/
Location:
2307 Brandon Rd, Bryant, AR 72022
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mixing
- mastering
- live recording
- commercial voiceovers
- CD manufacturing, artwork design, and layout
- video production
Other than the prices mentioned above, contact Crystal Recording Studios for costs.
Blue Chair Recording Studio
Blue Chair Recording Studio has been serving the Arkansas music community since 1997. With a particular focus on helping singers, songwriters, and bands, Blue Chair is comfortable recording in any style.
The studio was founded by engineer and producer Darian Stribling who has played guitar and bass for bands on major labels. He brings his expertise to the Chair and uses a lot of super cool vintage equipment that he has collected over the years.
20 Google reviewers love Stribling and particularly enjoy the open and comfortable environment that he has created at Blue Chair’s 1,800 square foot building. One reviewer has made four albums at Blue Chair. May others have benefited from Stribling’s musical ear and technical knowledge. Blue Chair has a 4.9-star average.
Website:
https://www.bluechairrecording.com/
Location:
161 Ray Sowell Rd, Austin, AR 72007
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mastering
- mixing
- radio commercials
- house musicians
| Blocks of Time | Cost |
| Day rate (10 am to 6 pm) | $350 |
| Night rate (7 pm to 10 pm) | $150 |
| Saturdays (10 am to 8 pm) | $450 |
East Hall Recording Studio
East Hall Recording Studio has a home feel that welcomes new artists from Fayetteville (where the studio is located) and the Northwest Arkansas region.
East Hall started in a dorm room and eventually became a real-life studio. They have been going strong since 2005 with the goal of bringing warmth and performance back to the music that too often has the computer-perfect feel to it.
The studio’s owner Chris Moore is generous and committed to this idea. For their 15th anniversary, East Hall held a competition to give away two-song recording packages to 15 artists. After receiving almost 200 submissions, the studio gave away 48 recording packages and gift certificates for $100 to the rest of the entries.
Google reviewers give East Hall a 4.9 rating and love the fact that Moore is patient, laid back, and passionate about teaching artists about the craft. The studio also has a lot of vintage and digital gear and one reviewer commented that the studio looks like it's run by NASA.
Website:
Location:
4210 N Salem Rd #892, Fayetteville, AR 72704
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mixing
- mastering
| Recording (includes engineer, setup, editing) | Mixing and Mastering | Cost |
| Half-day (4 hours) | $250 | |
| Full-day (8 hours) | $400 | |
| Multiple days | Contact for price | |
| Mixing (song record at East Hall) | $150 per song | |
| Mixing (recorded somewhere else) | Contact for price | |
| Mastering | $50 per song |
Raney Recording Studio
Raney Recording Studio has about 50 years of experience in the industry and are eager to impart that to your next project. The recording package that they offer indicate that they definitely have an album recording focus and offer to manufature it to both tape and CD. They will even take on the graphic design.
They are definitely a full service studio with relaxed family atmosphere and a couple of engineers to choose from. They have facilities large enough to record a forty person choir, or they can record you solo effort.
7 Google reviewer have given the studio a solid 5-star rating and at least one reviewer regularly recommends the studio’s services to fellow performs. The reviewers praise Jon Raney’s knowledge and ability.
Website:
http://www.raneyrecordingstudio.com/
Location:
110 S Front St, Drasco, AR 72530
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mixing
- mastering
- CD and tape production
- graphic design
Raney Recording Studio has a dated website but provides a lot of information about pricing. Look it up under products for more detail than what is provided below.
| 24-Track Recording | CD Production (only) | Cassette Production (only) | Promotional Material (per 1,000 copies) | Cost |
| Recording/hour | $65 | |||
| Mastering/hr | $65 | |||
| Day rate (10 hrs) | $500 | |||
| Record with master and 300 CDS | $1,520 | |||
| Record with master and 250 tapes | $1,265 | |||
| Record with master and 500 tapes | $1,485 | |||
| 50 duplicates | $250 | |||
| 100, 200, and 300 duplicates | $275, $375, and $475 | |||
| 500 duplicates | $750 | |||
| 1,000 duplicates | $950 | |||
| 250 duplicates | $420 with color insert$320 with B/W insert | |||
| 500 duplicates | $650 with color$550 B/W | |||
| 1000 duplicates | $1,050 w/color$950 with B/W | |||
| 8x10 photo | $340 color$115 B/W | |||
| Postcards | $240 | |||
| Business cards | $125 | |||
| 11x13 Posters | $380 color$180 B/W |
Street Star Studio
In Pine Bluff Rodeny Belin owns and operates Street Star Studio. With a banks of mixers and a studio full of mics, instruments, and other equipment, Belin both produces and records artists in the Pine Bluff region.
While nothing on the site describes a genre limit, their client list seems to indicate a Christian focus in the artists that they record.
Nevertheless, 20 Google reviewers give Street Star Sound a solid 5 stars. They love the studio’s professionalism and the high quality sound that they bring to the projects they record.
Website:
https://www.streetstarstudio.com/
Location:
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Services & Cost:
- production
- recording
- mixing
- editing
- mastering
| Service | Cost |
| Production and consluting | $50 for 1 hour |
| Recording (per song) | $45 for 4 hours |
| Mixing and editing (per song) | $75 for 5 hours |
| Mastering (per song) | $25 for 3 hours |
Redroom Music Studio
Redroom Studio represents the collective experience of John LeCompt, Phil Taylor, and Rock Gray (who you have already read about in connection with Crystal Recording Studios in Bryant).
The artists who have had success with the bands Evanesence and We Are the Fallen bring their expertise in music and knowledge of the industry to a genuine passion for helping new artists achieve the sound thet they want.
23 Google reviewers have given the studio a solid 5 stars and with good reason. They love the high-end equipment and the industry level knowledge that comes from the staff. Many reviewers have recorded multiple projects at the studio and are still coming back.
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/redroomstudio/
Location:
5699 State Hwy 298, Benton, AR 72019
Services & Costs:
Redroom Studio doesn’t have a website so you will have to contect them through their Facebook page hyper-linked above. Contact them for specific services and costs.
Chop Spot Recordings
The Chop Shop makes its home in Little Rock where they bring about 20 years of studio engineering experience to the service of local and regional artists.
They bring industry level equipment, expertise, and care to your project. They really want local artists to succeed so they teach about the industry as well. Furthermore, as you will see from the pricing table below, they have options for the artist or band who is on a budget.
The Google reviewers love this studio’s attention to detail and their high quality sound. Many reviewers feel welcomed at the Chop Shop, love the amenities, and return for multiple sessions. This must be why they have a solid 5 stars from 16 reviewers.
Chop Spot
https://chopspotrecordings.com/
Location:
11715 Rainwood Rd suite A6, Little Rock, AR 72212
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mixing
- mastering
- beat creation
| Service | 1 hour | 2 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | 5 hours | Other Cost |
| Budget recording (no mixing) | $70 | $140 | ||||
| “A” quality recording (with mixing) | $50 | $100 | $135 | $180 | $200 | |
| “A+” quality (with mixing) | $75 | $150 | $220 | $280 | $325 | |
| 8 hours studio time | $320 | |||||
| 10 hours studio time | $400 | |||||
| Quick song mix | $60 | |||||
| Solid song mix | $100 | |||||
| Full song mix | $150 - $500 | |||||
| Quick album mix | $500 - $1,000 (depending on length) | |||||
| Full Album length | $2,000 - $4,000 (depending on length) | |||||
| Pre-master/song | $30 | |||||
| Full-master/song | $60 | |||||
| Full-master/album | $500 - $1,000 | |||||
| Show mix | $25 - $50 | |||||
| Overages | $30 for 30 minutes | |||||
| Transfer analog to digital | $50 to $100 | |||||
| Polish and warm stems | $50 - $200 | |||||
| Beat Creation | $250 |
Grim Muzik Studios
Grim Muzik Studios offers an unbelievably long list of high-end equipment and detailed and professional engineering services to the artists of Little Rock and central Arkansas. They have created an analog quality sound on a digital platform.
22 Google reviewers give the studio a 4.9-star rating. Many reviewers praise the quality of the equipment and establishment while adding that the staff and engineers treat the artists under their care like family.
Music recorded by Grim Muzikj has been used in movies for MTV and Universal Studios, and they have worked with such rappers as Gucci Mane, Moneybagg Yo, and Rocko.
Website:
https://grimmuzikstudios.business.site/
Location:
1211 E 15th St, Little Rock, AR 72202
Services & Cost:
- recording
- mixing
- mastering
| Service | Cost |
| Recording by the hour | $60 |
| Recording by 8 hour block | $450 |
| Recording for 1 week by:5 day, 6 day, and 7 day blocks | $2,000, $2,250, and $2,450 |
| Recording for 2 weeks by:5 day, 6 day, and 7 day blocks | $3,500, $3,900, and $4,200 |
| Recording 1 month (five days a week) | $6,000 |
| Mixing | $60 an hour |
| Mastering | $60 per song |
Don't Forget Your Recording Session Essentials...
1. Game Plan
You should go in there with a plan of what you want to achieve. This will make it easier on both you and the engineer, and will help keep things moving along.
2. External Hard Drive
Get yourself an external hard drive. This way, you can take your sessions home with you and have a backup in case something goes wrong.
3. Powerbank
You never know when you're going to need a power bank. It's always better to be safe than sorry!
4. Snacks and drinks
Stay hydrated and fueled up so you can perform at your best.
