Demo Recording 101
Learn how to record a professional-sounding demo quickly and effectively using minimal gear.
A good demo is your first step to getting heard, but in today's competitive music world, it's not good enough to just roll out a live recording. The good news is that it's possible to make demos that sound like a finished product without a lot of gear, if you know what you're doing.
In this free course, veteran sound engineer Vishal Nayak, owner of Black Lodge Recording, will take you through the process of recording a professional-grade demo in a day using only two microphones. We'll cover what's known as the "basics" — how to record all of your instruments and sort out your arrangement so you have a track you can be proud of. Throughout the course, we'll follow along the recording of Arthur Lewis' original track "We Ride" to illustrate the concepts being taught.
Note: You'll get the most from this course if you have a song ready to record, a basic understanding of digital audio workstations (DAW), two microphones, and an interface, but they are not requirements. We'll elaborate more on the recommended gear within the course.
Vishal Nayak
Engineer, Drummer, Producer
Vishal is a drummer, engineer and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. He started recording music with his friends as a teenager in Kolkata, India before moving to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music in 2005. Vishal owns and operates Black Lodge Recording in Bushwick and records bands constantly. He also plays drums with Empress Of. You can find out more at: http://www.blacklodgebrooklyn.com/
Course Outline
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Section 1
Getting Started
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Section 2
Scratch Tracks
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Section 3
Drums
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Section 4
Bass and Beyond
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Section 5
Guitar
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Section 6
Vocals
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Section 7
What's Next?
MORE INFORMATION
Who is this course for?
Anyone can take this course at any time, though it is designed and developed for artists who are ready to record a song and who already know their way around digital audio workstations (DAW). If you don’t have a song written, that’s okay, but this course will be more rewarding for those who do.
What are the requirements?
Although there are not requirements, having a basic understanding of digital audio workstations (DAW), two microphones and an interface, and a song to record, either an original or cover, are useful.
How long does it take?
The course takes about 2.5 hours if you're practicing some of the concepts you learn as you go.
What can I expect to get from this course?
You’ll learn the basics of demo recording, including how to lay down a skeleton version of your song, how to record your drums, bass, guitar, vocals, and more.