But, I Can't Afford to Make a CD!

This column is dedicated to those artists, musicians, self-created individuals who are in search of ways to promote, express, convey and carry their self-made works to various listening audiences. All of which may include radio, record and publishing companies as well as live venues, but reach beyond the cinder blocks of a musty-filled single-car garage, grandma's lasagna-painted kitchen, steamy, reverberating showers or tiny bedroom jam sessions.

There was a time when it wasn't affordable for artists to make a recording of their music to sell, or give to friends and family. That is to say, a full album printed up on vinyl wasn't as easy as having a CD made today. It is now common practice in many studios to have CD-making capabilities on site, although most of them can print only one at a time. It is a great tool while mixing or demo-ing a song or project.

There are many small CD replication companies that will produce up to 50 discs off your master for about $8-15 per disc. Your master could be a CD or DAT, as not many places remain that will run copies from an analog tape. You should always shop around for the best price. You would be surprised at the price discrepancies. Don't be afraid to negotiate if you feel there is room. Be sure to ask what is included with the cost. For example, some companies may charge extra for the initial set up, printing, labels and an hourly rate for their time. These same companies may also offer an additional mastering service, which can greatly enhance the sound of your CD.

There are so many inexpensive ways to record music now, that there aren't many reasons why you shouldn't. I was recently in the studio cutting a five-song demo, and Randy Gardner (long-time engineer of Ronnie Milsap and now Steve Wariner) commented on how lucky we are now to have the ability to do so much with so little. It wasn't long ago that we were all listening to the warm, hissy sounds of analog/vinyl. It was not so simple to get a run of 20 vinyl demos.

It is true that there are plenty of studios with hourly rates in the $100-plus range, but there are far more tiny home studios just begging for business. For example, if you needed less than eight tracks you might find a studio for $10-20 an hour. I find that I can usually get by with sixteen, especially if I'm not planning on a lot of over-dubs. There are many to be found in that category for about $20-30 per hour. It is realistic to say, that if your band is tight, you could come out of there with a five song demo, mixed, mastered and printed to disc (twenty copies), for less than a thousand dollars.

If you can spend more money, try and find the best engineer in town that you can afford. This can make a big difference. If you have heard any local projects that you really like, contact the engineer, and ask questions about their experience. How many projects have they engineered and mixed? How many years have they been engineering? What board do they feel most at home on? What style of music do they enjoy most?

If your band is country and the engineer dislikes that kind of music, you would be better off with someone else. Again, don't be hesitant to ask to hear their work. Pay attention to where they place the vocals, guitar, rhythm section, etc. That same engineer will most likely mix your project, unless you have the budget to go elsewhere. If you don't feel easy talking with them, continue looking. It is a downer to have someone at the helm of your project with poor communication skills.

If you're not sure where to start, look in the yellow pages under studios. If they are out of your price range, they will usually recommend one that isn't. It is also helpful to go to your local music store, where often they post that type of information. If your city or town has a local "arts" rag, it will most likely have a wealth of information listed in the music section. Once you find a few studios, ask if you can come in and take a look around. Make sure it can accommodate your needs. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You don't want to be unprepared when you are there paying an hourly rate. Even at $20 an hour, it can add up quickly.

Watch for next months article where I will discuss the actual time spent in the studio recording, how you can save time, keep your band members and engineer happy and get the maximum results for the minimum time and money spent. In the mean time, peace, love and groovy grooves!! KJ

If you have questions, comments or ideas please direct them to Katoorah@hotmail.com.

Katoorah Jayne is a Nashville-cased singer/songwriter who has written and produced five CDs, toured nationally with the band Western Vogue, and opened for The Rembrandts, The Bodeans, Joe Walsh, Los Lobos, The Texas Tornadoes, Holly Dunn, Leon Russel and James Cotton, to mention a few. Her music has appeared on several compilations discs alongside Shawn Colvin, Tori Amos, Julian Lennon, Leftover Salmon, Matthew Sweet, The Indigo Girls and others. Check out her web site at http://www.katoorah.com.