Well, if it’s audio and sound design related, chances are we can do it. At Babble-On Recording Studios, we primarily record, edit, and mix voices, sound effects, and music for radio, television, video, podcasts and other non-traditional media. Recording via DigiPatch with other audio facilities is also part of what we do. We do searches for music and sound effects. (And, if you send us your script ahead of time, we’ll estimate the cost of your project.) We also handle electronic distribution and traffic to radio stations.

Check out the Services section of our web site. Or, for more information, e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

We’re happy to make voice talent recommendations based on what you’re looking for in your script. Contact us if you would like any input. We can take a look at your script and discuss your project needs and suggest voice actors to match. We also recommend giving our recommended Minneapolis talent agencies a call. They’ll be very helpful in the voiceover talent casting process.

All of Babble-On Recording Studios’ mixing and editing is done using Digidesign’s Pro Tools.

For more information, check out the Equipment section of our web site. Feel free to e-mail us or call Babble-On with any questions at 612.375.0533.

Babble-On is very competitively priced with other audio production facilities in Minneapolis (Twin Cities) and the upper Midwest. For a quick view, please see our rate sheet online. If you prefer, we’re more than happy to e-mail you our current rate sheet.

E-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533. We’ll be happy to talk to you about your project.

Yes. In fact, we’ve done some wonderful, award-winning PSA and pro bono work for a number of clients. We understand the creative opportunities that these types of projects provide. But, as a caveat, we ask for a wide berth in scheduling PSA or pro bono work so that we may fit them in around projects that are fully “on the clock.” We’ll be happy to work out a rate and schedule that will meet everyone’s needs.

Check out our rate sheet. Or, for more information, e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

We’ve included the details on booking (and planning) a recording session at Babble-On Recording Studios in our session planner.

You are welcome to call Babble-On at 612.375.0533, and we’ll walk you through everything.

Typically, Babble-On’s business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CST). However, we have been known to work outside of those hours on request. Babble-On Recording Studios is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota (CST, Central Standard Time Zone).

For more information, e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

As they say in restaurants, “everything on the menu is excellent” here at Babble-On Recording Studios, but, in all fairness, radio commercial production is our passionate focus and emphasis. In fact, sound design for radio is something for which we are known and often considered. That said, we’ve also won awards for TV sound design, and we’ve done quite a bit of work for interactive clients as well. Additionally, due to our extensive music libraries, we’re often sought out for our skills in music searches and finding just the right needle-drop music for advertising, web videos, entertainment and other projects.

Check out the Production page in the Services section of our web site. Or, for more information,e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

The answer is a resounding yes!

At Babble-On Recording Studios, we carry an extensive number of sound effects and music libraries that, we feel, rival even some of the better studios on the coasts. In fact, both our music and sound effects libraries are constantly expanding. Additionally, given the relationships that we have with our music and SFX partners, we’re able to quickly get on demand unique and obscure sounds and music.

In addition, Babble-On has made a significant investment in on-location recording equipment. If you absolutely must have a specific sound from a specific location, we have the means to get it. For example, we once needed the sound of tap dancers practicing in a canoe. So, we got a canoe, a dance line, and recorded the sound at a local Minneapolis lake. We’ve also been to several European locales to do interviews with “the local folk” as they enjoyed Summit beer. Recording on-location, especially in English pubs and German Biergartens, is what we love to do at Babble-On. Hey, sometimes you’ve got to suffer to get those authentic sounds.

Listen to some of our radio ads recorded on-location.

For more information, e-mail us or call Babble-On Recording Studios at 612.375.0533.

Babble-On Recording Studios has close relationships with companies that specialize in custom music scoring for TV, radio, video and film. For more information, or recommendations for composers of original music, feel free to e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Sometimes clients prefer to have music options identified prior to coming in to produce. Other times, cleints are just fine with searching for the music during the production session (if it’s something that doesn’t require prior approval of many disparate parties, and if the music compenent of the production is not too complicated). If your preference is to conduct a music search prior to producing your spots, Babble-On’s rule of thumb for a music search is to budget at least 1 – 2 hours per genre of music. For example, if you intend to produce three radio spots, and you need country music in one, techno music in another, and salsa music in the third (well, we’d be extremely interested in knowing what kind of campaign you’re working on!) but that aside, we’d recommend budgeting 3 to 6 hours of search time.

Accurate music search budgets allow us to really comb through our extensive music libraries to find numerous, good options for each style of music that you need.

For more information, e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

While we don’t have an actual Foley stage at our studios, we do pride ourselves 0n getting the most authentic sounds for knock out, dead-on radio and television ads. If our sound effects libraries have something that’s close, but not exactly what you’re looking for, we’re more than happy to take our portable digital recorders to the streets and get the real thing for you. We’ve been asked to do this a lot. In fact, we have our own custom sound effects library that includes the sounds of tap dancers in a canoe; the sound of an actual Vespa revving its engine; and pub sounds from Mother England.

Some might call it Foley; others might call it sound effects gathering, while others would classify it as on-location or natural sound.  Whatever you call it, at Babble-On we know that sometimes, the only thing that sounds like things dropping out of a woman’s purse as she walks down a sidewalk is . . . well . . . things dropping out of a woman’s purse as she walks down a sidewalk. And we’ll get you that sound, whatever it takes.

Check out specific samples of on-location spots on the Production page in the Services section of our web site.

E-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533 for estimate requests, or to answer any questions you may have about Foley, custom sound effects gathering, and on-location recording projects.

We include up to 10 SFX for your project in the cost of our studio time rate. For projects that require extensive sound design, we recommend that you call us for a quote based on your specific project need. If we need to create sound effects, the cost is billed at our studio time rate for the time it takes to create, or to go on-location to record your sound effects. If you have a project that requires heavy sound design, it may be wise to budget for an hour or two of sound effects searching in addition to your budgeted studio time for recording, editing and mixing. And, if you require location sound, natural sound, or custom creation of effects, you will definitely need to budget that time separately from the session time for recording the voice-over, editing and mixing.

Probably the most important thing to know about sound effects for radio and television commercials is that they don’t necessarily already exist. At Babble-On Recording Studios, we have extensive sound effects libraries that we are continually updating and expanding. Yet, the sound that you need and desire may require going out on-location, or custom creation to get it exactly right. With that in mind, the best thing to do is to send us your script ahead of time. That way, we can assist you in accurately planning and budgeting for your sound effect needs.

See our Session Planner for more information and helpful tips that will make your sound effects searches at Babble-On go smoothly.

Or, for more information, e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Babble-On Recording Studios can do a mono digital patch with any similarly-equipped studio in the world. For more complete technical information, see our Tech Capabilities page.

For costs associated with DigiPatch, check out our rates, e-mail us, or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

A phone patch (using plain old telephone lines) is a great way to direct and listen to voice-over talent or give feedback on voice-over selects, if one of your agency folks can’t make it to the recording session. However, we recommend that the best way to get approval on mixes is for us to upload or e-mail them, which we are more than happy to do for you.

For more information regarding phone patches, you can also e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Yes, we can e-mail mp3s, or upload mp3s. Many people use this option to get approval from someone who was unable to attend the session.

We can also take care of the traffic for you so that you don’t have to worry about that step.  Babble-On Recording Studios routinely uses electronic distribution systems for same-day or next-day electronic distribution of radio ads to radio stations across the country. You supply us with the traffic instructions, station list(s), and the spot (if it’s something that we did not produce at our facility) and we’ll do the rest.

For more information regarding electronic spot delivery, you can also e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Yes. Babble-On Recording Studios routinely uses trafficking and distribution systems for same-day or next-day electronic distribution of traffic instructions to radio stations across the country. You supply us with the traffic instructions and station list(s), and we will distribute the traffic instructions electronically for you.

For more information regarding traffic instructions for radio stations, you can also e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Because Babble-On Recording Studios wants to make your session goes as smoothly as possible, we’ve assembled some useful tools and helpful information all in one section of our web site. Check out our detailed session planner, where you’ll find information on booking a session, scripts, music, sound effects, voice talent, Digi-Patch, session materials, directions & parking, rates, and most important of all – lunch.

If you have any questions about planning your session, you can also e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Babble-On Recording Studios is an audio production house in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We do voice-over recording, ISDN and Source-Connect digital patches, audio post and sound design for radio ads, TV commercials, film, corporate video, websites, podcasts, CD-ROMS and other media. We’re especially known for helping advertising agencies create and produce award-winning radio and TV spots.

Babble-On Recording Studios

5120 27th Ave S

Minneapolis, MN  55417
Tel.: 612.375.0533
E-mail Us

ENGINEER:

• André Bergeron

STUDIO MANAGER:

• Carol Bergeron

Check out our About Us page.

At Babble-On, our philosophy is that a creative environment, attention to detail, and exemplary customer service ultimately helps you walk out of our studio with the best possible advertising. That’s the nutshell version. If you’re interested in the details, listen to our creative work, peruse our services, or check out our session planner.

Comments or questions? E-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Yes, we can recommend studios in other cities for your ISDN or SourceConnect digital patch. Please see recording studios on our Affiliates page. You can also e-mail us or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533. We’ll be happy to talk to you about your project.

We’re happy to make talent recommendations based on what you’re looking for in your script. Contact us if you would like any input. We’d be happy to take a look at your script and discuss your project needs. Remember you can always upload your scripts to our file transfer site (FTP) once we’ve set up a folder for you. We also recommend giving our Minneapolis talent agencies a call. They’ll be very helpful in the voiceover talent casting process.

For more information, e-mail or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533

As a matter of fact, yes. In addition to numerous awards from local shows, ads produced at Babble-On have won Radio Mercury Awards and a Silver Microphone.

For more information, e-mail or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533

To hear some of the creative work produced at Babble-On, listen to the radio and TV advertising on our Samples page.

If you require additional samples of our creative work, e-mail us or call Babble-On Recording Studios at 612.375.0533.

Absolutely! We consider projects requiring “off-the-beaten-path” sound design to be some of our favorite stuff to work on. Check out just a few of the sound design solutions we were asked to come up with in the Creative section of our web site.

For more information, e-mail or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533

Babble-On Recording Studios has a very large live room for recording VO talent or musicians (up to 6 at a time if required).  We have some nice client waiting, work, and kitchen areas, a relaxing patio space (for when the weather is nice), a relaxing inglenook space with a fireplace (for when the weather is not-so-Minnesota nice), some cool original artwork, and more snacks and libations than a mall food court.

For more information, e-mail or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Let’s face it. Many studios feel like sensory deprivation chambers. There’s enough light to grow mushrooms, and that’s about it.

At Babble-On Recording Studios, we wanted a different experience. So, we asked one of the best recording studio designers in the country, Dave Ahl, to create s space with great acoustics and audio isolation, yet still have a lot of natural light and ambience. Tall order. Humbly, we think it’s turned out pretty cool thanks to the collaborative efforts of Ahl, Incorporated and Vujovich Design Build.

For more information, e-mail or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Check out our Equipment page for a complete listing of our gear, including digital audio workstations, A/D converters, Digi-Patch capabilities, microphones, mic pres, consoles, audio & video monitors, location recorders, and non-linear video.

For more information, e-mail or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Yes. We can capture picture from almost any source for use in a session. At the end of your session, we can provide you with the audio mix in any format you require.

Specs for sending audio and video to Babble-On Recording Studios for use in our sessions:

VIDEO FILES:

Babble-On can use pretty much any type of QuickTime movie. If you’re creating the movie just for a session at our studios, however, it would be nice for you to make a less compressed version than the size of movie files that are often emailed or posted for client approval as it will look better on our TVs (larger file size, ideally 1280 x 720). All movies should have a visible 2-pop at the head and have an audible 2-pop and reference audio in the audio track.

AUDIO FILES:

Pro Tools can import an AAF or OMF 2.0 (also called “OMFII”) sequence with linked or embedded audio, but not embedded video. Video should be provided as separate QuickTime movies as stated above. Pro Tools can import, play back, and export an AAF or OMF sequence that either links to media files or has audio embedded within it. It may be most foolproof to use the “Consolidate and Embed” option when creating an AAF or OMF files in Avid, as this creates one file with both sequence information and embedded media. The other option, “Consolidate and Link to Consolidated Media” will also work without creating such a huge file. For occasions when an embedded OMF file will exceed the 2GB file size limit, the solution would be to create an embedded AAF file (no file size limit) or create an AAF or OMF with linked media. It’s up to the editor. An AAF sequence may refer to (via linked media) or include (via embedded media) MXF media files (audio only), but OMF sequences cannot refer to or include MXF files.

For any questions your editor may have, we can be reached at 612.375.0533, or e-mail us.

Yes, here are the specs for sending audio and video to Babble-On Recording Studios for use in our sessions:

VIDEO FILES:

BBabble-On can use pretty much any type of QuickTime movie. If you’re creating the movie just for a session at our studios, however, it would be nice for you to make a less compressed version than the size of movie files that are often emailed or posted for client approval as it will look better on our TVs (larger file size, ideally 1280 x 720). All movies should have a visible 2-pop at the head and have an audible 2-pop and reference audio in the audio track.

AUDIO FILES:

Pro Tools can import an AAF or OMF 2.0 (also called “OMFII”) sequence with linked or embedded audio, but not embedded video. Video should be provided as separate QuickTime movies as stated above. Pro Tools can import, play back, and export an AAF or OMF sequence that either links to media files or has audio embedded within it. It may be most foolproof to use the “Consolidate and Embed” option when creating an AAF or OMF files in Avid, as this creates one file with both sequence information and embedded media. The other option, “Consolidate and Link to Consolidated Media” will also work without creating such a huge file. For occasions when an embedded OMF file will exceed the 2GB file size limit, the solution would be to create an embedded AAF file (no file size limit) or create an AAF or OMF with linked media. It’s up to the editor. An AAF sequence may refer to (via linked media) or include (via embedded media) MXF media files (audio only), but OMF sequences cannot refer to or include MXF files.

For any questions your editor may have, we can be reached at 612.375.0533, or e-mail us.

Babble-On’s entire in-house recording, mixing and editing is done digitally using the most current version of Digidesign’s Pro Tools at 44.1/48kHz 24bit (unless our clients request other specs).

Feel free to e-mail us any questions about your project needs or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Babble-On Recording Studios can do a mono digital patch with any similarly-equipped studio in the world. For more complete technical information, see our Tech Capabilities page.

Feel free to e-mail us any questions about your digital patch needs or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Babble-On Recording Studios
5120 27th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Tel.: 612.375.0533

• André Bergeron, Engineer/Sound Designer
• Carol Bergeron, Studio/Business Manager

Our Contact Us page is where you’ll find directions (w/maps) to our Minneapolis recording studio, parking instructions and more. Feel free to e-mail us any questions or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533.

Our audio and sound design facility is conveniently located in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, near beautiful Lake Nokomis.

Our Directions & Parking page has a Google map, driving directions, parking information and other useful tips for finding our recording studio. Questions? Call Babble-On at 612.375.0533, or email us.

Feel free to e-mail us, or call Babble-On at 612.375.0533. Or, connect with Babble-On Recording Studios on our social media sites:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Babble-On-Recording-Studios/196636933712433
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BabbleOnStudios
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/babble-on-recording