This seems like a subject that is outside of Music Promotion but believe me it is a perfect fit. The quality of your demo tape or CD plays a major role in every aspect of your music career. A good recording can help your band get gigs, get you heard by A&R people, and, in general, get people interested in your music.
Having some sort of demo tape or CD is a necessity in this industry. If you're just getting started, go for a CD or if you're on a really tight budget CD-R. What's the first step of making a demo? Sitting down with your band mates and creating a budget. You need to know exactly how much money you have to make the demo. Don't discount the value of a good demo. Many bands try to cut corners when making demos and the results show it - don't fall prey to this mistake.
Once your budget has been set, you need to start investigating your options - digital versus analog recording or home studio versus commercial studio. The choices and combinations are endless. It is now time for some hard core research. Some questions to consider when making assessing your options are:
- Do I want to immerse myself in a home studio project or rely on someone else's expertise?
- How quickly do I need this demo?
- Do I have the money for a commercial studio project?
- Do I know someone with a home studio or the necessary equipment for one?
- Can I combine working in a home studio with some commercial studio time for mixing or mastering?
- How much time do I have to learn about home studio equipment?
- How comfortable am I with a computer?
- How comfortable am I with electronic equipment?
- What are the commercial studios that are available to my band and what are their pricing options?
- Which commercial studio do other local musicians recommend?
- Do local musicians have a preference for a particular sound engineer?
- Am I planning to record more that just a demo in the near future?
The answers to many of these questions can steer you and your band in a particular direction. Often musicians dismiss the home studio option because the expense and learning curve seems prohibitive. The reality is that the cost of creating your own studio might surprise you. Changes in technology and the declining cost of equipment have made home studios a viable option and when compared with the cost of actual commercial studio time you might be better off at least starting a project in a home studio. A big factor in this decision is whether or not you want to take the time for a home studio. Building and using your own studio will require that you spend time doing research on home studio options, selecting equipment, and then learning how to use it. There are a lot of forums, discussion groups, articles, and books available to help you get started.
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