Demo's

[Matt Thomas]

I thought I would start a new thread to discuss demo's as it seems to be in the middle of another thread at the moment.

Do we need one?

I would say yes, for the reasons given (promoting the band, getting gigs, etc.)

Where should we record it?

Alex, when you said we should do it ourselves how where you proposing to do it? I don't think we will be able to get a good enough recording in the Chicken Shack using just one mic and a laptop.

The alternatives are to use a studio. I have recorded at both Psyrex and Random Recordings.

Psyrex is cheap & cheerful. You can usually get 3 songs down in an evening, and it will cost you about £80.

Random Recordings is more expensive, and they take their time over everything. When we recorded there we where in the studio all day and just got 2 songs down. The results are much better though. I think it cost about £250 for an all-day sessing (12PM - 1 or 2 in the morning).

What does everybody think?

[Mark Wiltshire]

As i have said before, i am more then willing to spend some big money to get something that is of great quality.

[Matt Thomas]

markwiltshire said:

As i have said before, i am more then willing to spend some big money to get something that is of great quality.

Abbey Road Studion 2 anyone?

[Mark Wiltshire]

Hahaha Air Studios on Moseratt?(sp)

[Matt Thomas]

My suggestion would be to have an evening at Psyrex.

Last time we recorded there we turned up at about 7PM and left at about midnight. We recorded 4 songs live, Jo added some harmonies and then Mark (the engineer) mastered them. Bish, bash, bosh.

The results are much better than you could get from a mic in the middle of a rehearsal room but, as everything is done live, you still get that "edge" which would be a good reflection of our live sound. Also, it is relatively inexpensive.

I think we should wait a few weeks before doing this tho, in order to turn some of those #2's into #1's (as Mark says) so we have a bigger pool of songs to pick from. If I had to pick 4 songs to record now tho I would pick Care About You, Control, My World & Still as I think they give a good representation of our sound. What does everyone else think?

xx

[Mark Wiltshire]

TTSTS into Still
My World/In Your Eyes (When they are 1s)
Care about you
Spacejammed Control

[alexlea]

Good idea!

Matt - Do you have copies of recordings from both those places we can listen to, see what you actually get for your money?

I'm talking about a proper multitrack recording, not just a mic in the shack. Lay down guide to tempo at the shack, record the parts at home. It takes time so for 80 quid all in the convenience factor of all being done in an evening gets me. It would be nice to get the raw files too so we can mix/edit as we see fit if we don't like the mix.

Spending any more would be a grand waste of money at this point in time. Lets go gigging!

Agree, a few weeks and maybe a couple of open mics/gigs first would be ideal. Trying to find local places with electric open mics, anyone been to the volo recently?

If we want a more involved recording in the future I know someone who could probably record us at confetti for a few quid/cases of beer.

See Gigs thread for gig stuff!

[alexlea]

We (me especially) need to work hard on getting clean takes at the next practice!

[Mark Wiltshire]

I think we all have the tendancy to fruck up a note or two, or try something new which does not fit the song (refering to some of my bass fills) just something we gotta practice and iron out

[alexlea]

Lol, I'm always doing that "maybe it would sound better like this ... oh no it didn't"

Lovin the bass on the latest shack sessions, bright and punchy. Not really /heard/ it before

[Mark Wiltshire]

Yeah the bass sounded great at the time (Just downloading songs) And didnt sound as good this time around.

[alexlea]

Liked it both times around. The one on control is stuck in my head, love that song.

Looks like i'm off topic again.

[Mark Wiltshire]

Yeah i am loving the new bass lines on control, think they fill the song out nicely

[Matt Thomas]

I love the bass playing, especially on the Dm7 - G bit of TTSTS - genius!!

[Mark Wiltshire]

I just hope i can recreate the punchy low end sound, was genius if i do say so myself.
For TTSTS i think i am gonna come in on the DM7 - G Bit and the Ending.