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Recording & Production
How to Record
a Demo CD
Since the
advent of home computers, many
people now have the equipment to
record singers and musicians.
The problem is that good
equipment alone is not enough to
produce a recording a high
quality. So, you have a
few options to choose from.
You can go to a reputable
recording company that already
has a name for quality and
success.
It is a good idea to ask to
listen to the superiority of
previous CD productions. Some
studios employ not only a sound
engineer, but also a producer,
who has experience in getting
the best out of his talent.
It’s amazing how much a good
producer can get out of his
clients.
Another option you have to
record your demo CD is to use a
“backyard” recording engineer
who has his or her sound
equipment. Word-of-mouth
is one good way of finding a
reputable and competent
recording engineer. One
benefit is that the cost of
production will be a lot less
because of lower overheads.
Here's a fabulous link to help you set up your own Recording Label and develop a quality Music Business Plan. Click Here for more information. It contains some excellent advice for Singers and Musicians.
How to
prepare for a recording
It is vital
that you are very well prepared
when it comes to recording your
own CD. Lack of
preparation will lead to time
wasting in the studio which will
cost you a great deal of money
in the long run.
Decide exactly the songs you
want to record.
Make sure you have your
instrumental backings organized
in advance, whether it be a
karaoke or live instrumental
backing.
If you use live musicians,
remember that they should be
most competent. Let your
producer know which instruments
will need to be recorded.
How long
does it take to record a demo
CD?
Even if you
are well-rehearsed, each piece
of music can take a long time to
record.
For each 3 to 4 minute song, be
prepared to spend at least a
couple of hours to record in the
studio. The great thing
about recording in a studio is
that if you make a mistake, you
don’t have to start all over
again. The audio engineer
can “drop in” at any part of the
recording, without any strange
noises or clicks.
Once you have finished recording
the music and voice(s), the
recording process is not even
half finished. The
engineer then goes through the
process of “mixing” which means
that the recorded
tracks are balanced and
equalized. Often, special
effects are employed. For
example, reverberation and
compression can enhance the
recording.
The final process is burning the
CD. Depending what you
want to do with the final
product, you may want to have CD
labels made. Ask your
producer what he or she
recommends. They may also
help you to find the best place
to reproduce multiple copies at
a reasonable cost.
If you feel swamped by all the
do's and don'ts simply contact
contact us for friendly
advice and suggestions.
Someone
else’s composition?
Don’t forget
that, if your song or songs you
are intending to record are not
original, you will be required
ask permission for and pay for
the privilege of performing
someone else’s work.
In Australia or New Zealand, you
need to make contact with
AMCOS
(Australasian
Mechanical Copyright Owners
Society), which
represents the interests of
music publishers and their
writers.
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