Types Of Demos

and how to use them

Choosing the right demo for your project can be a tough decision. The factors to weigh in consist of price, use, and quality. What are you trying to accomplish, and what will work the best for you and on budget. To answer this question, you need to know what types of demo recordings there are. I primarily use three types, but we will go over all the important ones.

Here is a list of each demo type, important to this guide. In order from least expensive to most expensive, but also in order of quality from lowest to highest.

· SCRATCH DEMO (For getting the idea on a track)

· TALENT DEMO (For demoing an idea to a musician, usually just section(s) of the song)

· WRITERS DEMO (For demoing the song, for producers, may include mistakes)

· ACOUSTIC DEMO (Better than a scratch, but very basic, usually without major errors)

· STUDIO ACOUSTIC DEMO (Professional Acoustic Demo with Layers)

· FULL BAND STUDIO DEMO (Full Band, Multi Layered Demo for Pitching)

· PRODUCTION RECORDING (Radio and Release Ready, Full meal deal Recording)

The three highlighted selections are the ones I generally focus on or recommend. But let’s go through them all in a bit more detail.

The Scratch Demo

Generally, when I am hired to write music for a song, I preview the song to the client, and as I get green lights, I end up with a final Concept. The word concept is important there, because the song will progress as more hands touch it, but that’s for a different guide. Once I feel like I have created the best foundation I can, I will cut a scratch demo. Which is usually the first time the client will hear the song in its entirety. From there, I will get feedback from the client, and most of the time, any suggested changes are small enough to not require another scratch demo. Sometimes a client will request a new scratch demo with the changes, but the danger there is losing some cool factors from the initial scratch demo. A scratch demo might have mistakes, or lines delivered incorrectly, but it is ok, because the only point of the scratch demo is to get the ideas on a track, and let the writer or client hear the ideas. Also serves as a track for a producer to use to chart the song, and hear the ideas and emotion, so he has the right mind set when he begins tracking the final product. Usually, the price for this is included in the price for writing the music for the client.

Side Note:

When the process continues, after approval, a demo down the list is chosen to record the song. Everything past the talent demo has an actual producer. That producer receives the scratch demo and the notes from the client, and can then record the song, and the elements that we neat in the scratch demo are preserved. He will also have his own ideas which will be added into the new recording.

The Talent Demo

A talent demo is basically a scratch demo, but might have extra layers, to convey a certain riff or harmony that has been created by the melody writer to fit the vocal melody, or the vocal melody was written in such a way, that requires that extra part, and the talent demo is a scratch demo that also will have any extra ideas. Essentially the same as a scratch demo, just multi-layered. A talent demo might have mistakes, or lines delivered incorrectly, but it is ok, because the only point of the scratch demo is to get the ideas on a track, and let the writer or client hear the ideas. The extra layers of harmonies, or instrumentation / riffs might be played sloppy or wrong, but if the idea comes across, it has done its job. The writer generally will not be as well of a musician or performer as a studio guy who will be able to lay down the tracks perfectly. So, looking for quality or amazing performance won’t be found in a talent or scratch demo. Also serves as a track for a producer to use to chart the song, and hear the ideas and emotion, so he has the right mind set when he begins tracking the final product. Usually, the price for the scratch track is included in the price for writing the music or melody, however, depending on the additional work for the extra layers, you could see an additional cost. In my experience however, usually $20 dollars or so per extra layer.

The Acoustic Demo

An Acoustic Demo is the most cost effective and basic demo you can get, that is also worthy of showing your friends. This demo is straight forward. It usually consists of 1 acoustic track, and 1 vocal, professionally recorded, perfect in time, tempo, key, emotion and performance. This is done at a professional studio, with a producer, and will sound great in the end result. The vocals and guitar tracks will be edited, tuned, and professionally polished. Sounds great right? Well, it is. It is also not that expensive. You can usually get this accomplished with a scratch track and $150.

The Studio Acoustic Demo

A Studio Acoustic Demo is the next level of an acoustic demo. The main difference is, multi layered tracks. So, instead of one guitar track, you will usually have multiple tracks laid down. A right and left acoustic rhythm track, an acoustic lead track, vocals, harmonies, and doubled or stereo vocals in the choruses or wherever they fit. You might get track padding by an organ, or even fiddle in the mix, depending on the song. Piano is also an option to have tracked. Most of this is done by a multi-talented producer and the music writer. It generally isn’t loaded with tracks, but depending on the needs of the song, it might become more complicated and further tracking needed. If a part is complicated or tricky, a professional is brought in, usually at a price increase between $100 to $150 dollars per part. That would be added on to the general cost for the track of around $300. For that money, you will have a radio quality Acoustic track to be proud of.

The Full Band Studio Demo

A full band studio demo is just that. Of course, it depends on the song, but you will likely see Drums, Bass, Acoustic Rhythm, Electric Rhythm, Electric Lead, Lead Vocals and Harmony Vocals. The basic point to this demo is for pitching your song to artists, in hopes they pick it up and decide to record it for themselves. It’s quite involved and leaves little to the imagination, really hoping to sell the artist on making it their own, and released by them. Full production goes into this type of demo, the track is also edited, mixed and mastered, and radio ready. The only downside is, the extra instruments and possible effects that would usually be added by the artist or band that picks up the song. You don’t want to put heavy piano on a song that is picked up by Randy Rogers Band, because he is fiddle heavy. So generally, both is left out so it fits a broader audience. You can find smaller bands using this demo as actual releases, using the efficient pricing to put out their music as they are getting started. This type of demo usually runs about $800 to $1000. That should pay the studio, producer, studio guitar player and vocalist. If you do add an instrument, for instance, Fiddle, Steel Guitar or Piano, you would be looking at about a $100 to $150 per instrument added.

Production Recording

A production recording is what you hear on the radio, by the big artists, and small artists alike. When you are producing up a song, to its fullest potential, you may be hiring a steel guitar player to do small pads through the song, that are really in the background, but it helps created a layer of sound that helps mold the emotion coming across in the track. The track may employ a fiddle player to come in for one, 10 second track during the electric guitar solo, and not again in the song. When you are going for the best, the production recording is the mindset where the producer looks to elevate the song at every turn and make it as catchy and ready for a listening audience as he possibly can. It’s basically the same as the before mentioned full band studio demo, but it spares no expense. And I’m not talking financially, but creatively. It takes and explore all possibilities and tries to propel the song into orbiting its own perfection. The quality and production are exactly the same as the full band studio demo, but its focus is knowing the end product is the end product. For instance, its going on an Album, on the Radio, or for a Video of some sort. Basically, saying there is no future landing spot, this is it. This demo can run anywhere from $800 to $2000 or more depending on the scope of the tracks recorded. You will generally hear from the producer before anything is added that will cost extra money. Usually, you will get the price from the studio, and if additions are inquired upon, you would be asked before proceeding. That is definitely how the studio does it that I work with.

Side Note:

Full band studio recording and Production recording, for our purposes, even for band and albums, usually are the same thing. I work mostly with country and rock bands and artist and songs, so there is much difference, where 99% of the songs we work on fall under $1000 with the final recording.

Final Thoughts

It is important to know this information, and important for me to write this and share this, because I want you to enjoy your time working on your ideas and music. That said, learning this helps you understand how and where to spend the money to accomplish your goals. If you just want to show your friends your songs, and need a smaller budget, then the Studio Acoustic Demo is probably perfect for you. If you want to pitch your songs to a band to consider cutting for their own album or release, then the Full Band Studio Demo would be right for you. You at least would want to have the Studio Acoustic Demo if you’re pitching an artist. If you’re going to release the song, or want it full band, on a smaller budget, then a conversation about that can be had. You can do a Full Band Studio Demo with basic instruments, and get out around the $1000 mark, and have an incredible recording to show friends or to demo for artists. It’s all about what is the final goal.

This guide should help you avoid cutting them in order as listed above and paying over and over. Figure out what the end game is, and only cut the final demo once. You’ll always need the scratch demo, but after that, you should only have to cut one more demo to suite your purpose.

I hope this guide has helped you understand the different types of demos, and your use for them.