Recording A Demo Song

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Category: Recording Studio

Published on Tuesday, 27 December 2011 00:13

Written by R. H. Amaro

Hits: 105

Are you kidding me? You want to record a DEMO song? For what? So later if it's a hit you go back to the studio and re-record it again... "better"?

Don't waste your time with "Demo" recordings you plan to use to get gigs and sell CD's to your followers.  If you are shopping for a studio to record your demo, that means you think you have a hit.  So why wouldn't you just record as a single?  Time and time again I've seen bands record demo tapes and get the gigs they want only to regret not having a kick ass recording of the demo songs to sell.  Assuming that you are an independent band or artist,  most of us do not have the cash flow to record a song twice.  Besides, most 1st recordings always kick more ass than remakes even by the same artist!

Chances are that if you record the song again, it will not be better than the demo. Why?  Because by then you have played the song live so many times that the band will not be so energetic and emotional as when you recorded the demo.  My take is that if you have the band, and they know the song, record it right, for the time may come when you have so many gigs you don't have time to record it again.

To me a demo should only be recorded so the band can learn the new song and should take no more than a 20 minutes to lay down the basic idea and the band together develops the song further.  Since the digital sound revolution made easy and affordable for bands to record at home, promoters and club owners are so spoiled now with the great sounding demos they receive from other bands, that you might be left in the cold if your "demo" can not compete with the others.

No one goes to the car mechanic to get a "DEMO" of the work they do, so don't think about it and record the song right from the get go while everyone is excited about it!  Good luck!

RA-

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