Phone: 612-827-2384           Email: brucehoffrec@comcast.net

Who the heck is Bruce Hoff?

Originally from Winona, MN, I moved to the Twin Cities in 1981 and went to school at Brown Institute, where I studied electronics. I intended to become a recording engineer but wound up a telecommunications technician instead. While still earning a living with my ‘real’ job, I decided to once again pursue my love of music and recording by starting a recording business (my accountant says I can’t call it a hobby since I make money from it) on the side. Though I lack formal training in recording (except what I learned at Brown 20 years ago), studio caliber equipment, and even a studio (I use a room in my house) I think I do just fine for what I am trying to accomplish. With my days in telecom behind me, I’m having the time of my life doing it! This isn’t work-it’s fun!

History of Bruce Hoff Recording

In August of 2000, I recorded my friend’s gig, just to see if I could do it.  All things considered, it turned out very well if I do say so myself.  From that recording, five songs were chosen and put on a separate CD.  I made 20 copies for him, which he used as demo discs to help get gigs.  He said his band got more gigs as a result of that demo disc than anything else.  Since then I have made him 80 or 100 more copies!  When asked if he thought there would be a market, or demand for something like that, he said there would be a huge demand, and that’s how I got started.  I envisioned myself going out to bars and recording bands.  Thankfully, it hasn’t turned out that way.  I say thankfully because that’s not really what I wanted to do, having lost my interest in going to bars long ago.  Nonetheless, I realized there was probably an untapped market out there of local musicians who lacked a decent recording of themselves and did not have the means or need to go to a “real” studio to make such a recording.  I consider that to be my market niche.   An idea was born.  I had my first paying customer in February of 2001 and since then have been just about as busy as I’d like to be.  Along the way I’ve learned a lot, bought a lot of equipment, and met some real good people.  More importantly, I’ve had fun doing it!

What is Bruce Hoff Recording?

I consider myself a low-cost alternative to a recording studio. Since I don’t have a studio per se or formal training, I do not consider myself to be in competition with local recording studios. Clearly, we operate on different levels. If you want to make an album to put in the stores, you’re out of my league. That’s above and beyond my capabilities. Go to the professionals. On the other hand, I have done some albums which are being sold at gigs, so maybe I’m not giving myself enough credit. What I see as my targeted clientele is the musician that wants a good quality recording but doesn’t have the means, or even the need, to go to a real studio to get it done. What I do mostly is demo recordings and albums to be sold at gigs. We can record at my house or I can come to you. Most people choose to record at my house (sometimes passing airplanes can be a problem). Due to space limitations, we may have to record somewhere else if you require much room. I do not normally furnish instruments, but I may let you borrow a guitar and/or amp. If you want a recording made of something that is not strictly music, I could do that, too. I once recorded a wedding ceremony. Other things that I have not recorded yet, but see no reason why I couldn’t, would be choir, and school band and orchestra concerts. I could also do simple things like speeches and lectures.

Why Bruce Hoff Recording?

• Value - Compared to what you’ll get at a studio, I think what I offer is a much lower price with only a small difference in quality.   Put another way, if you go to a studio you can expect a professionally produced and engineered recording of very high quality with a price to match.  You get what you pay for.  I like to think I give my customers more than they pay for.  I believe that what I offer is a quality recording, not professionally produced or engineered, that is almost as good as you can get at a studio at a far lower price.

• Portability - My equipment is portable, so recording can be done in my home or I can come to you.  That may mean recording a live gig, in your home, or even some other location such as a school, church, etc.

• Honesty - I think it is important that I work within my limits and not pretend to know something I don’t or be able to do something I can’t.  I am very honest with my customers and I think they appreciate that.

• Satisfaction - I operate under the principal that you are paying me to do a job, and that makes you the boss.  I may make suggestions, but ultimately the customer has final say over everything.  I strive to give the customer what they want-not what I think they should have.  So far, this approach has worked well.  I want every customer to be happy with what I’ve done for them.  That is my goal.

• Free trial - If you’re unsure whether or not I’m the guy to record your music, I  offer a 1-hour (or whatever seems reasonable at the time) trial period.  If, after working together for that time, you decide to call it quits, you walk away and owe me nothing.

• Flexibility - I will try my best to accommodate you and your schedule whenever possible, whether that means mornings, afternoons, evenings, or weekends. If you anticipate trouble with my payment policy, let me know. We’ll work out something. Whenever issues of any sort come up, my standard response is to ask the customer what works for them. Nothing is cast in stone. You’re paying me, so you make the rules.

• Friendly “Like being at home” Atmosphere - I’ve been described as friendly, easy-going,  and easy to work with.  I make jokes about everything-except your music.  I do not see or treat my customers as dollar signs.  I treat them as friends.    If we’re working at my house, I treat you like a guest.

• I record children - Does your child play an instrument? A recording makes a great gift or memento.

• No minimum - There is no minimum job size.  I’ve done jobs as small as $20.  I’m happy to help you out with your small projects.

Website Last Updated: Sunday March 15 , 2009