Ads say "Send current demo" but don't have one

RichardCranium · #1 09-09-2009, 01:29 AM

So lately I've seen a few ads for auditions and they ask to send them a current demo. Trouble is I don't have one. All I have is a demo (on cassette) from like 13 years ago which isn't indicative of my playing currently. Any ideas on how to get around this? I know they do this to weed out the pretenders but I wanna be taken seriously but just have no way to send them anything. Any ideas?

NKUSigEp · #2 09-09-2009, 02:17 AM

A digital 4-track recorder that utilizes a smartmedia card or something similar. I use a Boss BR532, it was cheap and though it's not a professional ProTools setup, it has great quality.

A XLR cable and decent mic (optional - DI vs. a mic'ed cab).

Some sort of card-reader so you can transfer your songs from the digital recorder to your computer. I use a SanDisk multi-card reader I picked up from the local mega-store.

Basically, just hook everything up, download the file converter program from Boss or whoever, hit record, start playing, hit stop, put the media card in the card reader and upload the files to your computer, and then convert them to a mp3 format with "switch" or something similar. After that, you can upload your songs to a myspace, email them, etc.

There may be simpler or cheaper ways, but this is what I've been doing and it's worked out great for me. Total cost was $50 for the BR532 (which was a good-buddy discount), Sennheiser e835 was $75, XLR was about $10 used, Multi-card reader was $30, file converter from Boss was free. You might want some sort of editing software which is where most of your money will go but the WavePad Sound Editor program is like $50 which is the cheapest I've seen. Again, it's not professional but it's WAY better than nothing at all and on par with programs costing much more.

As mentioned, there may be better ways but this is what I've come to use through trial and error. I posted a thread similar to yours when I first got on TB and most posts sounded like they wanted you to buy a whole studio and just start recording. This is the shortcut I came up with on my own. People kept saying get an interface and just record to your soundcard. Well, I still don't know what an interface is or where my soundcard is if I have one.

phatbass · #3 09-09-2009, 02:57 AM

Nope; if you don't want to get weeded you need to find a way to record yourself. Easiest is into some sort of pre-amp (a mini-mixer, or or use the line out on yer amp, or a clean boost pedal) straight into your soundcard.

Or get one of these:

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCG102.aspx

and download Audacity (it's freeware):

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Record straight onto yer computer via USB, export as mp3.

Cheap, and the quality is more than adequate for a demo

tom once dead · #4 09-09-2009, 03:30 AM

you could also get Kristal another freeware program and get a mic that will go into your compter, OR an adapter to do so, and put a mic right in front of your amp.

bassbully · #5 09-09-2009, 11:04 AM

Good advice here. You need something downloaded to a myspace etc to create a EPK (Electronic press kit) While i have booked a couple of gigs with no music heard by the venue, its rare and i am a good salesman

If you cant go the DIY home studio. Go out and hire a someone to do it for you. There are studios everywhere that do demos pretty cheap. I did a few with 3 songs mixed for less than $200.00. This was studio with guitar overdubs ,effects ,vocals etc. You can also look on craigslist for the guys who do it cheap at home. Get the recordings done burn copies to submit..done. Most clubs,venues ,festivals etc demand to hear your music. It is what seperates the hacks from the bands or artists that are serious...for the most part

jgbass · #6 09-10-2009, 10:49 AM

One of my bands made some good sounding demos with a Zoom mp3 recorder. The sound quality was surprisingly good. It was easy, using the card, to get it into my Windows Media Player and on my myspace site. These are relatively inexpensive. I did not even use the latest model. THe recorded is less than $200 and now I have a recorder I use for various things.

RichardCranium · #7 09-10-2009, 01:12 PM

Thanks got the advice guys. I have the capability to record stuff on my computer just not really sure what to put down. I was considering recording myself playing along with some covers, panned left & right. I've been out of the game too long I guess.