Demo info + Songwriters / Producer relationships.......
Hi everyone,
I am interested in getting some feedback on the following points below. I love songwriting but my current production “skills” do the songs no justice whatsoever and I am getting impatient! If you actually work in the music industry, I’d really appreciate any feedback on the following points…..
1) For “demo” purposes, I have read many a time that songs “do not have to be of top studio recording quality” and have read comments such as “of course it helps us if we can understand the lyrics etc…” I would say that “any song” is going to come across better/impress if produced well although I would also like to think that a song with great potential can be recognised even with a poor quality production. Do any songwriters out there have any first hand experience with demos which have been successful (for whatever purposes) – and - being objective! - were they all originally of a very high recording quality?
2) I know that you can obviously get a professional producer/mixer to produce/mix your own songs. “If” you feel that the best way to get the best out of your song is for live tracks to be recorded by pro musicians/singers and the whole track to be produced/mixed professionally (and this possibility exists) – can anybody give me any idea of the cost of a track (eg, average pop track). Do many producers have "regular" artists who stand in on demo tracks for songwriters?
3) Re: Amateur Songwriters and Producers (for the purpose of making demos) – is it common for a “rough” track to be sent to the producer from the songwriter and after some discussion – the producer just goes for it? and finally…..can successful partnerships exist over e-mail ?! – oh – one more…..if a relationship begins and the producer feels he has given a lot to the song creatively and thinks he has played a part in its writing/creation – what happens then?!
I understand how a professional track/recording would come about with pro session musicians/producers/mixers/mastering houses and the "real" artist...etc....but I am trying to understand all the possibilities available to amateur songwriters in getting their songs heard in the best possible light. I know many years ago demos used to exist with a singer / guitarist and a tape recorder……..but I’d like a real insight on the music industry today. If all you pros are thinking……….."it’s who you know, not what you know" throughout this entire thread – then I’ll give up now!
Many thanks,
Rachel
I am interested in getting some feedback on the following points below. I love songwriting but my current production “skills” do the songs no justice whatsoever and I am getting impatient! If you actually work in the music industry, I’d really appreciate any feedback on the following points…..
1) For “demo” purposes, I have read many a time that songs “do not have to be of top studio recording quality” and have read comments such as “of course it helps us if we can understand the lyrics etc…” I would say that “any song” is going to come across better/impress if produced well although I would also like to think that a song with great potential can be recognised even with a poor quality production. Do any songwriters out there have any first hand experience with demos which have been successful (for whatever purposes) – and - being objective! - were they all originally of a very high recording quality?
2) I know that you can obviously get a professional producer/mixer to produce/mix your own songs. “If” you feel that the best way to get the best out of your song is for live tracks to be recorded by pro musicians/singers and the whole track to be produced/mixed professionally (and this possibility exists) – can anybody give me any idea of the cost of a track (eg, average pop track). Do many producers have "regular" artists who stand in on demo tracks for songwriters?
3) Re: Amateur Songwriters and Producers (for the purpose of making demos) – is it common for a “rough” track to be sent to the producer from the songwriter and after some discussion – the producer just goes for it? and finally…..can successful partnerships exist over e-mail ?! – oh – one more…..if a relationship begins and the producer feels he has given a lot to the song creatively and thinks he has played a part in its writing/creation – what happens then?!
I understand how a professional track/recording would come about with pro session musicians/producers/mixers/mastering houses and the "real" artist...etc....but I am trying to understand all the possibilities available to amateur songwriters in getting their songs heard in the best possible light. I know many years ago demos used to exist with a singer / guitarist and a tape recorder……..but I’d like a real insight on the music industry today. If all you pros are thinking……….."it’s who you know, not what you know" throughout this entire thread – then I’ll give up now!
Many thanks,
Rachel
iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.3.9), Logic Express 7.1.1
