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How to Record a Band Demo CD or Band Demo
Tape:
Band Demo Recording Tips - In order
to submit Band Demos to Venues, Club Owners, and Record Companies you
will need a great quality demo CD, MP3, or tape. The most common
format type of Demo to submit is in CD format. Simply because it is most
common and most people have a CD player or computer to play the demo.
Although with the digital age we are in, MP3 formats are becoming more common.
Some bands now submit there music to record companies etc. with flash drives or
submit them online. Listed below are a variety of ways to record a
band demo to pitch songs to venues, club owners, record companies, and
booking agents.
- Home Recording - You may want to rent or
invest in a portable home recording unit. Most music
equipment stores rent and sell these units. Some are more complicated than
others. Make sure that you use one with a good amount of memory so that you
don't have to stop recording and dump your material on CD or tape to early.
Once the demo recording process is complete, it is usually fairly
easy to burn your songs to CD on your home recording systems. You will want
to read the instructions on mastering your music before you burn your demo
CD. Maybe you would like to add effects to your songs, equalize, double
your vocals. All are good techniques to use before burning the CD. Most
home recording units come equipped with CD burners. Try reading some home
recording magazines and visit our home
recording tips page to get information on perfecting your sound for your
demo CD.
Computer Recording has now become popular to record music for band demos.
There are many software programs available from Pro Tools to Cubase to
record on computers. Your band will need a decent computer with enough Gigs
or memory to hold the amount of music you want to record. You will also
need professional audio interface equipment to record to your computer.
Some recording software may come with this interface equipment. Basically,
the audio interface allows you to plug in your mics, guitar, bass, etc into
the interface that takes the sound to the computer recording software.
Check with your local music stores and do research on the internet to decide
which software would be best for your band. A good number of professional
musicians have used pro tools in the past, but this software can be
expensive.
- Studio Time - Your band may want to book
studio time. Check with other local bands whose CD quality you really
like. Make sure the company is reputable. You may want to check the Better
Business Bureau www.bbb.org
to make sure the company does not have any complaints issued. Also, have
your material practiced and ready before you enter the studio. This will
save you time and money in the long run. Most studios will give you a few
master CD's from the sessions. You can then burn more CD's on your computer
or CD Recorder, or have them done through a professional
CD duplication firm.
- CD Cover and Jacket - Also, you will need a
good Quality CD Cover and Jacket for your demo or CD. If you just need a
small amount of CD covers to send to local venues, why not try a computer
program that prints CD Labels, Covers, Jackets, and more on your color
printer. You can find these programs at most music stores or department
stores. Just be aware that if your using color, your color ink will deplete
quickly with a lot of graphics of pictures. Therefore you may just want to
do a few, and maybe go to your local copy center and see what they would
charge to print out a larger quantity for you. You may also want to try a
professional CD Cover company. Do some research on the web and price out
the best few companies.
- Demo Contact Info - It's a good idea to have
your contact information on your demo, especially if your sending to clubs
or venues. That way the will have your info in the event your press kit is
lost in the shuffle.
- 3 or 4 Song Demo Limit for submission to Record Companies -
In general it's a good idea to keep submission demos to
Record Companies, Publishers, Producers to a 3 song limit. Include only
your best material and make sure the songs are copyrighted. Visit
www.copyright.gov for
copyright information.
- Quality - Make sure that your demo is of
professional quality even if it has been done through home recording. Rest
assured, the competition is putting great amounts of work into their demo,
and you don't want a rejection due to poor quality. If your having trouble
mastering your demo through home recording, try getting your material
mastered by a studio or someone you possibly have networked with in the past
that records music. Many computer programs can help with mastering your
music. You know what sounds good and doesn't. Keep at it until it sounds
as good as it can get.
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