StereoType Records

Recording your first demo (part one)

This is part of one a two part article series about recording a demo. You can read part two here

To demo or not to demo, that is the question. And it’s one that’s been doing the rounds quite a bit lately. A discussion on our Facebook group about when/why/how to record a demo prompted me to get a few points together and hopefully shed some light on the process of recording your first demo.

Now, before I go any further there are two types of demos – original music that you write and cover versions where you sing someone else’s music. Each of these will have a different approach and there will be different points to consider

I’ll start with cover versions for today, as this is where most people start.

Choose the right material

First off, choosing the right material for your demo is critical. If you can’t croon like Michael Buble, then you’re probably not going to sound good trying and no one will know what you actually can do. Choose material that suits your voice and your style. something you’re comfortable with. Once you’ve made your selection, make sure that you have the correct lyrics. It may sound daft, but I’ve cringed at demos where the artists was doing a cover and got the words wrong. With the vast number of lyrics sites online, there really is no excuse to get this wrong.

Before the recording

Now if you’re going to be signing someone else’s music, make things a little different! If you’re singing Michael Buble, then add a little bit of you to the recording There’s really no point in you being another Buble, there’s already a perfectly good one out there and since the aim of the demo is to get YOU noticed, try and make the song your own. And of course, rehearse rehearse rehearse. When you get to studio, you’ll be paying for every minute you’re in there, so be sure that you know what you want to do once you get there.

In Studio

When booking  a studio to record your demo, you’ll probably be singing to a backing track.  Getting musicians in to play all the instruments for your chosen song is an expensive exercise and hey, there’s a recession going on. Backing tracks are easier to work with and you can rehearse them without calling a band meeting and paying for pizza. Some studios will provide you with a backing track, but most times you’ll need to take your own along. If the studio needs to make the track for you or buy it for you, expect to pay extra for this. Make sure that your backing track is a good quality one. Your uncle’s scratched karoake disc with the funny sounding piano will probably not get your voice the attention it deserves. Snoop around on the internet and try to  buy a quality backing track.

With recording equipment becoming more and more affordable, there are lots of places that can record your demo for as little as R500. These days the term ‘studio’ is one that’s used very lightly. In my mind it’s anywhere you make music, whether this is your bedroom or a million dollar room. One thing to consider though, is that most times all you’ll get is some time behind the microphone and maybe a little studio magic here and there. At the end of the day, you do get what you pay for so don’t expect a massive studio production if you’re using a small project studio.

If you need help getting your cover version demo records, contact us and we’ll put you in touch with the right people who can record you at an affordable rate. After all, it’s all about the music.

In the next post I’ll go over getting a demo done for your original music. Look out for it on Monday!

Till next time, thanks for listening!

Lester

P.S If you have a demo and would like to get your music heard, Upload it on the right.

This is part of one a two part article series about recording a demo. You can read part two here