How to start creating a demo cd?

[text]

I don't know if this is the correct forum to ask this question but it is worth a shot. My girlfriend's sister have this incredible voice and I want to create a demo cd to send to different music productions or at least just keep it for memory. I know how to do it using the karaoke recording in my home audio system but haven't try using my computer to do it. Which will create a better sound for her? If someone could help me started or point me to where I can learn more about all of this stuffs, I would greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[warlock110]

if u have pro audio equipment, or semi pro equipment doing it the analog style would probably produce good sounds, as far as computer recording you'll need some good sound card, probably in the 100 + dollar range, those audigy are just consumer cards, no good for recording. I think the audiophile is a good one, or one of the M revolution Delta. Then you'll need a pre mic and amp, a mixer is a must, and a good mic. After that a good enviroment is probably a must also, and you must be efficient with audio editing software. Some thing that i've left out, you'll probably need a vocal compressor or some sort of compressor also. That's pretty much it, if u got everything you should be able to produce something like or similar to CDs on the market depend upon your equiment. And lastly you'll need a good set of ears for master and mixing the song. good luck.

[warlock110]

if she really wants to do it that bad, better off saving up some money and get the pro to do it, i don't think it's worth it spending all those money on equipments just to record 1 song.

[stratcatprowlin]

Absolutely,there are so many studio's that could record her for less money than buying all that equipment and having to become a recording engineer overnight.

[text]

wow, I didn't know that I need all that just to create a demo cd. My thought is that I can plug a mic into the audigy and somehow record the tune that is being sing. This shows how little I know about this stuffs. :eek: So where might I be able to learn this? :)

[stratcatprowlin]

If you really want to sell this girls voice you should pay a professional to do it right.
Like I said,you wont become a recording engineer overnight.

[warlock110]

head for the audio forums on the net (do a google on "home recording), they'll show you around the rope, but it's hard though. The method you have just mentioned is not going to produce good result, there are several flaws in this.

1) Augidy is not a recording card, it's a "consumer card" basicly good for output (incredible gaming sound) but no good for input (hell not every gamer is a singer right? :))
2) The mic pluging in the sound card is most likely a computer mic, that is also crap for singing, alot of artifacts and they tend to pick up alot of background noises (my experience). a mic going through a mixer or premic before going in the computer is better, especially if the mic is design to be recording mic.
3) The final product will require master, mixing, and editing. This is not something that you can learn over night, over month or even 1 whole year.
if u want 1 demo, let the pro do it. If u want to get into the bussiness of recording, then it's worth while to take classes and start picking up the equiments :)

[zabomb4163]

you can get a professional to do it for less than 100$.