"How much would it cost to produce my song?" It's the question I get asked most, and few people in the Peruvian/Latin American music scene answer it honestly. Here are A Dúo Studio's real 2026 prices, what each service includes, and why a producer charges what they charge. No fine print.
The short answer
To professionally produce a song from scratch (preproduction + recording + mixing + mastering) in Lima, the typical range is between S/ 1,200 and S/ 3,500 (approximately $320 - $940 USD). Price depends on:
- How many instruments the song has
- Whether you bring it raw (idea/demo) or already arranged
- How many recording hours you need
- The level of detail you want in the mix
If you already have tracks recorded and only need mixing + mastering, the range drops to S/ 500 - S/ 800 per song. If you only need mastering: S/ 150 per song. Full breakdown below.
Why prices vary so much
When you ask online "how much does a music producer charge?", you'll find answers from S/ 100 to S/ 5,000 per song. The difference isn't whim — three factors move the price up or down.
Producer experience
It's not the same a producer with 1 year of experience as one with 10+ years. Experience translates into fewer mistakes, faster decisions, and a result closer to what you hear on streaming platforms. Charging more doesn't guarantee quality — but charging too cheap almost always raises questions.
Studio equipment
A basic home studio vs. a studio with acoustic treatment, professional microphones (Neumann, AKG), high-end preamps, and reference monitors is night and day. Equipment doesn't make the producer, but it defines the ceiling of possible quality.
Time invested
A professional mix takes 8-15 real hours per song. Mastering can take 2-4 hours. If someone offers you "mix + mastering in 1 hour for $25", they're charging you for time, not for the result.
Real prices at A Dúo Studio (Lima, 2026)
These are my current prices. They're reference points: each project gets a custom quote after listening to your material. No fine print — what you see is what you pay.
Complete Preproduction — S/ 350 ($100 USD) per song
What's included? Artistic guidance, demo creation, complete arrangements, tempo and key definition, demo recording, and revisions.
Who's it for? Artists who bring a song on guitar or piano and need to develop it before recording the final product. This is where you decide if your song works — and you save A LOT of money detecting problems before serious recording.
Studio Recording — S/ 50 per hour
What's included? Recording engineer, professional microphones, high-fidelity monitoring, acoustically treated environment.
How many hours do I need? As reference:
- Lead vocals: 2-4 hours
- Backing vocals and harmonies: 2-3 hours
- Acoustic guitar: 1-2 hours
- Full band (rock): 8-15 hours across multiple sessions
Note: musicians/instrumentalists are not included. If you need session musicians (bassist, drummer, etc.), I can connect you with the right people for an additional cost.
Audio Editing — S/ 100 per track
What's included? Vocal tuning (pitch correction), instrument alignment, noise removal, timing correction, track cleanup.
When is it needed? When you recorded without a tuner and want to polish the performance, or when there's background noise, excessive breaths, or timing issues. It's optional but makes a noticeable difference.
Mixing + Mastering — S/ 500 per song
What's included? Complete professional mix, streaming mastering, optimized tonal balance, 2 included revisions, high-quality files ready for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, radio.
Who's it for? Those who already have tracks recorded (in my studio or elsewhere) and need the final step that turns a recording into a competitive song.
Mastering Only — S/ 150 per song
What's included? Professional stereo mastering, optimized for streaming (competitive LUFS volume), 1 included revision, WAV and MP3 format.
Who's it for? Those who already have their final stereo mix and just need the professional final touch. Here I explain what LUFS are and why they matter.
Quick calculator: how much will your project cost?
Real scenarios with total prices. As a starting point:
Scenario 1: Basic single (acoustic, voice + guitar)
- Preproduction: S/ 350
- Recording (4 hours): S/ 200
- Mix + Mastering: S/ 500
- Approximate total: S/ 1,050 (~$280 USD)
Scenario 2: Band single (rock/pop, full band)
- Preproduction: S/ 350
- Recording (12 distributed hours): S/ 600
- Track editing (8 tracks approx.): S/ 800
- Mix + Mastering: S/ 500
- Approximate total: S/ 2,250 (~$600 USD)
Scenario 3: Mix and mastering only (you recorded elsewhere)
- Mix + Mastering: S/ 500
- Total: S/ 500 (~$135 USD)
Scenario 4: 5-song EP (full package)
- Complete production of 5 songs
- Range: S/ 6,000 - S/ 12,000 depending on complexity
- EPs and albums have special rates — write to me.
Comparison: Peru vs. Latin America vs. United States
Market reference:
- Peru (Lima, professional producer): $135 - $215 USD mix + mastering per song
- Mexico / Argentina / Colombia (professional producer): $200 - $500 USD per song
- Spain: €300 - €700 per song
- United States (established producer): $500 - $2,000 USD per song
- World top tier (producers with Billboard credits): $3,000 - $30,000+ USD per song
Working with a producer in Peru or Latin America gives you a huge cost advantage without sacrificing quality — as long as you choose well. If you live outside Lima, here I explain how we work remotely.
Red flags: suspiciously low prices
If you're offered these prices, be cautious:
- "Mix and mastering for $15-$30": nobody does a decent mix in less than 8 hours. At that price, the "producer" is charging less than $2/hour. The result reflects it.
- "Complete production for $50": impossible to cover preproduction + recording + mix + mastering well at that price. Something's being skipped.
- "24-hour delivery": a professional mix needs rested ears. One day isn't enough.
- No revisions included: every professional mix should allow at least 1-2 revisions. Otherwise, it's half-baked work.
- No contract or receipt: professional = invoice/receipt, deadlines in writing, clear terms.
Why charging $135 for mix + mastering is NOT expensive
Real numbers behind the work:
- Mix: 10-12 hours of dedicated work
- Mastering: 2-3 hours
- Revisions: 2-3 hours
- Communication + admin: 1-2 hours
- Total: 15-20 hours per song
That's $7-9 USD per real working hour. And that doesn't count investment in equipment (a professional studio costs between $20,000 and $100,000 USD), acoustic treatment, licensed plugins, or years of experience. When you see it that way, $135 per song is realistic — even cheap.
How to quote your project correctly?
For a producer to give you a firm price, they need to know:
- How many songs you want to produce
- Genre and reference (a Spotify link to a song you want yours to sound similar to)
- Current state of the song (raw idea / demo / recorded tracks / finished mix)
- How many instruments it has (vocal solo, full band, orchestral)
- Timeline you have in mind
- Approximate budget (to design the right scope)
If you give me this info, you'll have a realistic quote in writing within 48 hours.
Frequently asked pricing questions
Do you accept installment payments?
Yes, we typically work 50% upfront and 50% on delivery. For larger projects (EPs, albums) we can split into 3-4 payments by milestones.
What payment methods do you accept?
For Peru: Yape, Plin, bank transfer (BCP, Interbank). For international clients: PayPal in USD.
Is there a discount for full EP/album?
Yes. When you produce an EP (4-6 songs) or album (8-12), per-song rates drop between 15% and 25%. Write to me with project details.
What if I don't have enough budget?
Let's talk. Sometimes scope can be adjusted: start with the strongest song as a single, do a simpler acoustic version, or work in phases. The idea isn't to sell you the most expensive package — it's to get the best possible result with what you have.
Same prices for indie artists and labels?
Same prices. What changes is payment flexibility: with labels there are more formal contracts, but rates are the same. I prefer working with artists with clear vision — label or not.
Can I pay in dollars?
Yes, especially useful for clients outside Peru. Reference price is ~$135 USD per song for mix + mastering, ~$40 USD for mastering only, ~$100 USD for preproduction. Payment via PayPal.
Ready to quote your project?
Tell me what you need and I'll send you an honest quote in less than 48 hours.
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