Musicians jam on a stage in a large room with carpeted bleachers running the length of the walls. An engineer sits at his computer, monitoring the mix. This isn’t a studio in San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose; this is Digital Recording Episodes in Hayward.

The stage is set in the corner with pro-lighting and a booming sound system. The players are recording, but there is no anxiety about it; they are relaxed, confident, even smiling and laughing.

“We were originally looking for a place to shoot a music video for our band, and started thinking about getting a warehouse,” co-owner Matthew Guerrero explained. “We realized we could start our own business, and came up with the idea of making it like a gym for musicians, and we decided to do it stadium style instead of cramming people into tiny rooms,” Guerrero laughs.

DRE is a digital audio and video recording studio, private venue and home of In Motion Improv, an improvisational comedy school. Clients can build and share their digital audio and video portfolios on DRE’s website.

Local musicians and entrepreneurs Dave Rodrigues and Guerrero started the venture in 2012 and currently have around forty members. Members have access to DRE’s facilities including pro-level microphones, instruments and the venue itself.

Guerrero, a guitarist, and Rodrigues, a percussionist, perform in Codigo 510, a Spanish rock band.

“We want people to be able to do a take until their fingers bleed, or be able to jam and explore ideas; go back and say ‘hey that sounds cool’ and find things you might otherwise miss,” Guerrero said with enthusiasm.

Unlike other studios that charge by the hour, DRE’s performing members pay an introductory initiation fee and monthly dues of $50, while students and non-performing viewers pay $30 and $10, respectively.

“We have one band, [Jurimiko], that records and then puts on production parties about once a month, promotes the event through social networking and asks for a small contribution at the door. Usually, membership doesn’t cost members a thing as long as we do at least one show a month,” said Guerrero.

Rodrigues and Guerrero felt most recording studios forced musicians to do takes as quickly as possible; rehearsing for weeks in advance to streamline the process and save money on costly hourly rates. This method of recording is not exactly conducive to sudden moments of inspiration and can stifle creativity in the recording process.

“The first day we went to the hardware store, got the lumber and built the stage, and the next day we made the bleachers and carpeted everything,” said DRE co-owner Rodrigues, who is in the carpeting business himself. The two, with the help of volunteers and interns, built the studio’s stage, soundproofing and acoustical treatment themselves.

In Motion Improv is one of DRE’s more recent additions featuring improvisational comedy classes, karaoke lounge and monthly performances by students.

“Mostly this is a place we want our members to come and be able to hang out, jam, feel comfortable and meet other musicians,” explains Rodrigues.