Re: [Harp-L] Recording a Demo (reprise)

[Ed Kliman <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Quoting Jp Pagán <jpl_pagan@xxxxxxxxx>:


> recording studio before, and i'm wondering if anyone
> has any tips - either on gear, setting up, dealing
> with the sound, the studio guys, you name it.

JP:

1.  Most important of all:  *Do your rehearsal before the meter starts 
running*
means you'll save money and be under less pressure.  Don't wait until 
y'all are
in the studio to start haggling over arrangements;

2.  Hire the right sound engineer and then shutup and let him/her do 
their job;

3.  Save the party until after you're done working (and leave the band
hangers-on at home - recording engineers *hate* having company in the control
room unless it's the band);

4.  Don't buy into the "fix it in the mix" thing unless the engineer 
suggests it
- get it right the first time so you don't have to go back;

5.  Play the test CD you get after a session on several different 
systems to get
a more accurate idea of what you're listening to and make your changes
accordingly;

6.  It's only a demo, so remember to have some fun.  Don't forget why 
you're in
there is to have some fun with friends and play music in the first place.

> in and out asap, because i think the whole thing is a
> bit of a waste of money (we're a cover band, we could
> probably get gigs with just a recording of a live
> show, which we could do for much much cheaper.)

And have an average-sounding demo indistinguishable from the next 300 cover
bands with demos.  The point is to *be* more professional than your
competition.  Having a quality demo marks you as a better bet to hire 
for a gig
than someone with a blurry, poorly-recorded demo.

> have something i can play for friends and family that
> i can be a little proud of.

Follow points 1-6 above, remember to have a little fun, stay focused, do your
homework and you can be pretty sure you'll be proud to play it for your circle
of admirers and, hopefully, beyond.

Best of luck,

Tio Ed


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Ed Kliman
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