Finding the Best Studio for Recording your Demo CD
The best way to begin looking for studio is to ask around for recommendations from artists who have already made demo CDs. People who have experienced this process will most likely tell you all about their experience creating a demo CD. Also, research your local listings from phone books and online sites.
When you are interviewing potential studios, there are some protocol questions you should ask.
- Ask about the quality, including the number, types, and age of the equipment.
- Ask about the location and how/if the area is affected by noise from outside sources.
- Ask about the approximate cost of the entire project. A rough estimate is very useful because if the estimate is close to your budget limit, you should not use that studio in case of over spending . Also you should ask about any hidden costs because some studios charge extra for equipment loans, recording tapes and/or computer backups.
- Ask how long it will take to produce the final project. Make sure that this is a reasonable amount of time.
- Always check out the studio facility in person before you a make a final decision. It is always a good idea to bring a friend who knows about recording music because they can give you impartial advice about the quality of the studio. You will also want to ask to hear examples of recordings they have done so that you can listen to the quality of their work. This also gives you a chance to see if they have produced music in your genre.
- Build trust with the engineer/producer. Honest feedback, opinions, and ideas are extremely important in this relationship. These thoughts can influence the decisions made about your music. The honest truth can save you time and money. The engineer is a very important part of the recording process, so you should be able to converse easily.
- Respect for one another is vital to the success of your studio recordings. Respect for time, talent, contributions, strengths, and weaknesses highly influence the quality of the any relationship and anything that is produced.
- As with anything is life, communication is the most necessary and critical part of the music industry. Developing great communication skills makes solving problems easier (Klar).
- Commitment is extremely important when it comes to producing a demo CD. Because production can be so time consuming and stressful, commitment is the key to keep your overall goals together and reachable. Dedication, work ethic, and willingness to go the extra mile is a necessary component that each member of the group and studio staff need to have.
- Delegation of responsibilities is essential to the success of creating a demo CD. Being able to accomplish the task you have been assigned is imperative. Also, knowing where you job ends and another person's begins can make the difference between quality production and poor production. You will need to be aware of what is expected of you.
- Organization can save lots of time and lots of money. Being organized can help the quality of production, efficiency, and overall outcome of your demo CD. Be prepared to record before you actually record in the studio you choose. Make notes about what you need to accomplish during the sessions.
- Preparation is also just as important as organization. Being prepared to record can save you lots of time, money, and frustration. If you do not feel comfortable with the rehearsals, you will not feel comfortable during recordings. The bottom line is to prepare everything before you enter the studio .
- When you choose a studio, the main thing you should look for is the comfort factor. Are you comfortable in the studio? Are you comfortable with the producer/engineer? These aspects are extremely important because you could be spending lots of time.
The outcome of a demo CD is greatly dependent on your and the engineering team's competency and commitment level as well as the tools that are available for use (Wakeham). Be comfortable, organized, prepared, and willing to put forth the time and effort to record your demo CD.
- Kelia Thurman