Birdroom Studio is the home recording studio of musician Jordan Mayland located in Des Moines, near Beaverdale. From demos and full albums to short film scores and commercial music, Birdroom Studio is now open for booking.
For booking and any questions, please email jordanmayland@gmail.com.
Booking:
Please email me at jordanmayland@gmail for booking or any questions.
Rates & Services:
Rates: I am currently running an introductory rate of $100/4 hours. Recording prices will change to $35/hour after the first 4 hours. I cannot guarantee availability and will be choosing the projects I feel I have the time to work with.
Mixing: I tend to mix and edit as we track to give ourselves an idea of how things are sounding. I am happy to send out rough mixes after your sessions, but we will wait on full mixes until the project/songs are finished. That being said, yes, I can mix your songs and we can discuss those rates as we prepare for your project. I am also more than happy to send out the tracks for someone else to mix as well, but please let me know your plans at the beginning or midway through your sessions. While I can mix and have experience doing so, I still might recommend having another mixing professional take over after tracking. Production, musicianship, and vibe is my speciality, and I have wonderful recommendations for professionals who can continue to polish and master your music after we finish recording. I do not master projects.
Musical Services: I am proficient with piano/keys, drums, bass, or guitar. If you’d like to invite me to play on any songs, it is an option! I’m happy to do that during your session time with you, or we can discuss me doing that outside of your studio time for a rate. That being said, I love throwing down on projects outside of the studio as well. If you need some extra love on your music I’d be excited collaborate by recording what you need and sending that out to you to perfect your music.
In-House Gear and Instruments:
You are welcome to use my music gear in the studio. As a musician and multi-instrumentalist, I have been collecting all sorts of gear to explore my sound.
GUITARS
- Gibson Les Paul Studio: Stock pickups.
- Fender Telecaster: Upgraded Seymour Duncan stacked pickups.
- Fender Strat: Upgraded Lace Sensor pickups and a Dimarzio humbucker in the bridge. This guitar stays in C# Standard.
- Fender Cyclone: Tex-Mex neck pickup and Super Distortion in the bridge.
- Washburn Vulture Bass: P-Bass style pickups, through neck, 4 string. A rare beast.
- Alvarez Acoustic/Electric: Easy to play with a built in tuner.
- Fender Classical: The action is a bit high on this guitar but has recently been restrung and sounds nice.
PIANO/KEYS
- Wurlitzer Spinet Acoustic Piano: Tuned 3/22/2024
- Kawai Organ with rotating Leslie speaker
- Moog Liberator Synth: You’ll believe it when you see it.
- Yamaha DX7 Synth with original settings and two cartridges.
- Juno DS 88 Keyboard/Synth: A very versatile keyboard. Explore different piano sounds, Rhodes and Wurlitzer sounds, classic Juno synths, strings, layering, and more.
- Microkorg XL Synth: This synth is also set up with specific pedals at the helm to get even weirder with.
DRUMS
You may use my drum-set or feel free to bring your own. If you’re bringing yours let’s get them in early so it doesn’t take up your recording time! No extra expense.
Gretsch Catalina Birch 5-piece drum set.
- 22″ Kick, 14″ Snare, 12″ Rack Tom, 14″ Floor Tom.
- 10″ tom is also available, but drums are usually set up as a 4-piece.
Cymbals*:
- Zildjian 14″ Hi-Hats
- Dream/Bliss 16″ crash
- Zildjian vintage 18″ crash
- Zildjian 21″ Sweet Ride
- Zildjian 20″ crash/ride
- China cymbal
- Practice cymbals
*I would prefer you bring your own cymbals if you’re a heavy hitter, but mine are available if needed. I also have auxiliary percussion like shakers, tambourines and more I might suggest throwing in. There’s also a trumpet, melodica, and many pedals around as well.
AMPS
- 1966 Fender Bandmaster: This is my pride and joy amp and it ain’t getting any younger. You are welcome to use it, but there will be a $10/hr charge for upkeep. I have a matching Fender 2×12 cabinet it is paired with.
- 1958 Alamo Capri Tube Amp: This amp has recently been serviced. It’s not terribly loud but sounds wonderful.
- Fender Pro Jr III: A basic tube amp with volume and tone options.
- Fender Rumble 100 Bass Amp: A solid state bass amp with a DI option that can get the job done. You could also use other guitar amps or DI for bass recording as well, depending on the project sound.
“This is a really cool space, man. I dig it”
— Many People
Things to Know
Birdroom Studio is located in the finished basement of my house. Recording artists are respectfully asked to remain downstairs and are not to wonder the upstairs living area. There is a bathroom downstairs, but if you would like more privacy please just ask to use the upstairs restroom. You will enter the house by the driveway where you can conveniently stack any gear on the small steps/porch, and from there you can head straight downstairs to the studio. Please be careful not to scratch the floor or walls carrying in your gear. After loading in please park your vehicle across the street. Please be careful backing out of the driveway as some neighborhood vehicles are often parked directly behind the driveway.
No smoking or vaping downstairs. If you need to smoke a cigarette, please do so outside near the driveway and dispose of in the outside garbage. There is a mini-fridge available and you can feel free to BYOB. Please be responsible and not set your drinks on any equipment. If there is a spill let me know and I’ll have you clean it up with suggested cleaning products available. Recycling and garbages will be pointed out to you.
About Jordan
I am a graduate of Central College where I studied music and earned my BA in Liberal Arts. I have also taught music and led many educational programs for over fifteen years. Many of the projects I have been involved in can be found in the Music/Bands page, but I have been known to stay pretty busy. I’d like to think my background is quite eclectic by being involved in so many different projects. I have been the primary songwriter for bands such as Keepers of the Carpet, Volcano Boys, Electronidoll, Jordan Mayland and the Thermal Detonators, and Everything Had Teeth. I’ve been a drummer in the garage-punk band The Wheelers, drummer/guitarist/synth player in the heavy electro band TiRES, synth player in Mantis Pincers, bassist for pop-rock group Nuclear Rodeo, and my solo music has varied from indie-rock, acoustic, classical, jazz, and however else you’d like to interpret it!
Birdroom Studio Projects
A lot has happened in the Birdroom Studio through the years. I have recently been contributing songs and recordings for a few TV commercials, one of which, has won multiple awards at the American Advertising Awards and will be competing in nationals soon. I’ve also had nice experiences writing/recording music for local film projects, one of which was a full on musical while another won best music at the Des Moines 48 Hour Film Festival. I am available for more commercial and artistic opportunities. Please reach out if interested in collaborating.
I have recorded many Iowa musicians and bands in the studio. In the last year, I have worked with Odd Pets, Acid Legs, Cartoon Smokers, and Courtney Krause. And from 2019-2021, I produced and hosted the Des Moines Music Coalition podcast In The Birdroom With Jordan Mayland, (sorry, no longer available) with most episodes also including a recording session with the musical guest. Here is a list of some of the bands and projects.
Most Recent:
- Odd Pets: Listen to their single, Go Easy, which was recorded, produced, and mixed in Birdroom Studio and mastered by Phil Young.
- Acid Legs: Album Currently in post-production.
- Courtney Krause: Album currently in production.
- Cartoon Smokers: Album currently in production.
- Jordan Mayland: Album(s) currently in production.
- The Dipsos: Currently in production.
Music for Commercials:
Check the Source, Of Course: This now two-time, award-winning commercial (American Advertising Awards) was written and recorded in Birdroom Studio. I wrote, recorded, and produced the music, along with the lyrical help of Jill Mclain-Meister (ZLR Ignition). Vocals were finished at Sonic Factory Studio and later mixed and mastered by Phil Young.
Wellmark, Blue Helps You Be You: This is the 15-second version of another TV spot. As a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, it’s a joy helping with this type of work, and I am definitely up for more projects! This was written/recorded/produced in Birdroom Studio and mixed and mastered by Phil Young.
In The Birdroom With Jordan Mayland Podcast: During my time working at the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, I hosted and produced many podcast episodes, interviewing musicians, bands, and music professionals. On most episodes, the band and I would collaborate on recording, and often times I would add extra instrumentation to the tracks, leaving my fingerprints on the music by musicians I very much admired. While the podcast is now offline, here are the artists that recorded in Birdroom Studio with their podcast episodes.
- Greg Wheeler and the Poly Mall Cops
- Dustin Smith
- Gleaner
- Penny Peach
- Sarah Routh
- Chill Mac
- Extravision
- Halfloves
- Huxley Maxwell
- The Vahnevants
- Bryon Dudley
- The Han Solo Project
- Contakta
- Joryn Brown
- Lily DeTaeye
- The Finesse
- DJ Marty McFly
Other Projects:
- Volcano Boys
- TiRES
- Jordan Mayland
- Electronidoll
- Everything Had Teeth
Jordan Mayland | Birdroom Studio 