I posted a question under "Songwriting" but maybe some of you that check this section can answer better.

I want to record my band basically all at once, with very few takes. We just want to make a CD of about 12 songs (some are just piano/vocal, but some have drums, electric guitar, electric bass and a second voice) to give to our families as Christmas gifts.

I've talked to a bunch of studios already and can't seem to find one that is willing to sell us a block of time to record this way. They all have tried to explain to me that I absolutely need to record each track separately, that I'll want to do multiple takes, that I will need more than 4 hours per song, that nobody actually sings well enough to not need autotuner afterwards.

If I have someone come and do a remote recording, on the other hand, they are more than willing to just set up and record us concert-style, then take it back to the studio and mix it.

Can anybody explain why I would be required to use every bell and whistle available in the studio, whether I want it or not, or else not use the studio at all? I thought one reason for recording in a studio was to use the superior space. Is this just sales-pitch pressure I'm running into, or what?

For my purposes, $2500 for 12 songs is outrageous. It seems a reasonable price for what the studios are offering, maybe even a bargain, but they are offering way more service/product than what I am asking for. Even if price was not an issue, I would not want all the polishing and redubbing that they are describing. I like a clean, natural sound. Plus I like to have fun, and playing my instrument to a click track or a recording of the rest of the band, and retaking to get every measure perfect, does not sound fun to me. Sounds like tedium and torture. Also, I'm sure my band will not play well if we are not having fun.

Can anybody explain this to me or give me some advice on alternatives? Maybe this isn't something I can really do. ??? --Jean