Policies

Where imagination becomes reality

1. All sessions begin at the time scheduled, regardless of when you arrive. We typically schedule numerous sessions back to back and this is the only way to ensure that things run smoothly.

2. All audio data will be retained by us for 90 days after we have given you the finished audio data files regarding the project in question. All video data will be retained by us for 30 days after we have given you the finished video data files regarding the project in question. After that time period, it is not our responsibility to keep copies of your data. For an extra charge, we can provide you with OMFI files or individual track files of your songs on disc, which you can then import into a recording software of your choosing. You can also pay a fee to store your data on our hard drives for a specified period of time.  But, this must be arranged with us upon the completion of your project.

3. Regarding music videos, you are required to pay for all transportation expenses, props, and tapes. Other charges may apply, based on the particular music video.

4. For music videos, you will have to put down a $100 deposit on the video. This money will go towards pre-production costs. What ever is left over will go towards covering the filming of the music video. For instance, if you want to use the ‘filming special’ you will put down the deposit. Then, when you go to pay for the ‘filming special,’ the deposit would go towards paying for costs pertaining to the ‘filming special.’ So, usually you could deduct $30 for tapes and $20 for transportation. Other fees may apply. But, just for hypothetical purposes, lets just use those figures. You would take the $30 and $20 and add them together. That would leave you left with $50 to go towards the actual filming process. So, when you go to pay for the ‘filming special,’ you would only have to pay $100 instead of the usual $150, because the money remaining from the deposit went towards paying $50 of the ‘filming special.’ The main reason we have to require a deposit is that we don’t want to spend time planning and storyboarding a music video, only to find out in the eleventh hour that someone doesn’t have the money to do the video any more. Also, if we have to travel far outside the Pittsburgh region to film the video, travel expenses will need to be paid beforehand. If you have any questions about the deposit or travel expenses, you can contact us for details. Refunds of the deposit will only be granted if we are notified of cancellation of the music video 5 business days in advance. However, costs associated with any services rendered up to that point, will be deducted from the deposit. So, if you had us write a technical script for the music video and then you cancelled the video, we would deduct the costs associated with writing the technical script from the deposit and you would get back what ever is left.   

5. All prices on this website are subject to change without notice. However, once you book a session, it is locked in at that rate, unless you book the session over 90 days in advance.

6. Payment must be received in full before final copies of any media are released.

7. We only accept personal checks from established clients. You can’t just show up to a first time session with a personal check. We would have no way of knowing if your check is valid. If you have the money in the bank there’s no reason you can’t have it in person. For some reason, if you must pay by check or credit card, you can arrange to do so before hand. You can also get a postal money order and pay with that.

8. There is no smoking permitted inside our facility.

9. Under no circumstances are firearms permitted on the premises.

10. If you do not show up to a recording session, a $10 fee will be incurred, due at the beginning of your next scheduled appointment.

11. Due to the large array of guitars we possess, we do not replace the strings on them, unless requested to do so beforehand.

12. Due to the time consuming nature of placing drum microphones, if you want to use our drum set, a setup fee will be incurred beforehand. This fee covers setting up the drums, tuning them, placing microphones on the drum kit, and routing the microphones into the DAW.

13. We no longer record Rap. However, we continue to cater to pre-existing Rap clients that we acquired before this change. 

14. Regarding music videos, the customer covers all transportation expenses. So, if you want us to film something out of town, you are paying for travel and hotel related expenses. You will also have to pay us for the time it takes us to get to the destination. For out of town videos, you can enquire about special pricing, meaning you can pay us a negotiated rate for coming to film a video in a specific location for a given time period. 

15. If you want to pay via credit card you can do so via paypal. This must be arranged before the session begins.

16. We do not correspond via text message. If you want to contact us, please do so via telephone or email.

17. If you break or damage any of our equipment, you will be responsible for replacing or professionally repairing it within 30 days following the date that the destructive act occurred. If you do not rectify the situation by the end of the 30 day period, legal remedies will be sought.

18. Occasionally, we may utilized your music in an attempt to showcase our work to clients. This may be done on our website or myspace page. We do not mean to suggest that we have the authority to sell your work, we are only showing samples of our capabilities to potential and current clients. We never charge any one for these samples, nor will you receive any compensation for their use. If for some reason you do not want your project to be used in this manner you must tell us clearly in written form before receiving the finished copies of your work. If for some reason you do not receive a written response to your instructions, then we must not have received your request. In any event, if we use your material by accident then you agree not to hold us liable for any wrongdoing. It is our intent to comply with your wishes.  

19. Steel City Audio and its writers retain the copyrights on all original music, lyrics, and compositions created for clients.

20. Due the complex nature of creating and maintaining websites, occasionally there will be typos and or coding errors on the website. We will not honor false prices/deals that result from such errors.

21. Periodically, equipment will break or be replaced. If you want to utilize a particular piece of equipment you must discuss this with us in advance, so that we can ensure it is present and operating properly.

22. Occasionally, we will forego requiring people to put down a deposit on music videos for varying reasons. But, this must be discussed with us in advance.

23. Steel City Audio reserves the right to modify policies without notice.

24. If you want to film music videos in locations we deem to be unsafe, to us or our equipment, you will be required to pay us to hire security personnel.  This money is non-refundable and must be paid for before shooting begins.