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How should a demo-track be like?
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Cannabis
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
Posts :
246
Posted : Jul 8, 2007 14:32
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This Q always kept me busy. I see some artists putting their tracks in high quality format on the web, while others cut their track to a short version, another implement noises, some lower the volume, etc.
It is understandable that an artist with lots of releases can afford to put one or two tracks in high quality on web for stream or download, which can be used for Djing or private use, but what about those artists with low or no release rate?
Which path is the more appropriate one? And what are your thoughts?
cheers
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knocz
Moderator
Started Topics :
40
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1151
Posted : Jul 8, 2007 15:48
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Hi!
I think everyone should be honest. There should be enough confidence and trust in each others so there wouldn't exist any problems of that type. BUT we don't live in a "pink world". You have to be carefully nowadays!
I remember a topic here in isratrance where some guy sent his track to a label for a V.A. and the label released the album, screwing everyone who made the tracks. They sold their tracks but never got the money...
Everyone here knows our reality, the world we live in. Just about every song is downloadable.. And in the trance scene you all know how its like. I think Cosmosis's approach is good: he gives all his tracks away. Just as Talamasca with his new cd. I think thats the quickest way to make your music go around the world. And music shouldn't be a luxury, it's a necessity. You shouldn't be charged for a necessity.
I understand all the hard work it takes to make a track, so an album contains a lot of sweat. And to see everyone downloading it free... :'(
But that is reality and there is very little we can do about it. But in the trance scene there still are artists making a living with it and only selling 1500 cd... Because they play live a lot. Compare all the concerts one of your favorite trance artists does with lest say Madonna. You will see that commercial music doesn't make their money with concerts.
I say let your music free. If you really don't want your tracks flying around, then record you live or on a DJ set and release that. At least they wont have the raw tracks, and they can even see your music how you see it.
To sell your track you should cut the quality,put in noise or silence when showing the demo. After approval, then send the quality one.
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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TuK
TuK
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
228
Posted : Jul 8, 2007 16:17
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i think you shouldnt worry about that you can download entirley any track from the web anyway, especially if your a starting artist who wants to spread your music around. giving people to here your music with no disruptions in the middle is good and even giving d.j.s to play your music is good it will only get your name spread around faster. artists make money from d.j. ing not selling their music and the better you spread your name the more gigs youl get. the exeption is when you want to release a specific track in that case its not a good idea to spread it around keep it for yourself and for labels. another thing to think about is that maybe you want your set to be unique and play your music that nobody else have and that will distinguish you from all the rest in that case you already have to be known and that your tracks are good enough be dominant in a set but i think its not relevant now, you should think about getting you name spread. |
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Cannabis
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
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246
Posted : Jul 8, 2007 16:33
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Thanks for your help
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Bagginz
Cosmosis
Started Topics :
20
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130
Posted : Jul 23, 2007 21:44
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Quote:
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On 2007-07-08 15:48, knocz wrote:
I think Cosmosis's approach is good: he gives all his tracks away. |
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Eh? I don't know where you heard this, but it's completely wrong.
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And music shouldn't be a luxury, it's a necessity. You shouldn't be charged for a necessity.
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I assume that your are trying to make a joke perhaps?
Food, water, air, shelter are the necessities in life.
MP3 players, Televisions, cars, cellphones music etc. are most definitely luxuries.
If in any doubt, some time spent trekking in India or Nepal should help to clarify matters very clearly.
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I understand all the hard work it takes to make a track, so an album contains a lot of sweat. And to see everyone downloading it free... :'(
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Many people appear to "understand" the hard work that is involved in making an album or any other works on digital media, that is until they boot up their version of Emule and go looking for some other stuff they can download for free.
Regards,
Billy Cosmosis
www.cosmosis.co.uk
Webshop: http://cosmosis.bandcamp.com |
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Bagginz
Cosmosis
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
130
Posted : Jul 23, 2007 21:52
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Jul 23, 2007 22:21
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imo send in good quality but don t use fade and noise,to me it s a lack of respect for the label and it s anoying to listen , we are not in a scene with lot of $$$$,if a label steal me a track i really don t care.(but juste one hehe ) |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 00:51
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I have recently developed a system that could be used by labels and artists for the 'fingerprinting' of music for demo/promotional purposes etc; it started off as me geeking out in a "hey I wonder what would happen if I did this..." kind of way and ended up with me thinking "you know this could actually be useful..."
Put simply, anything from a simple binary code to a line of text can be encoded into eg. several different versions of the same track that can be sent to eg. different labels or promotional agencies. If used correctly this will let those concerned about the early release of tracks on the internet to identify the source of any leaks to release groups. For obvious reasons I can't go into any specific details but the information is encoded into the audio itself, and is robust enough to withstand repeated encoding to and from MP3. Because of the nature of the encoding, complex messages such as long lines of text have a very audible effect which can render a track unplayable; this would perhaps be useful for unfinished demos. Simpler messages (eg. morse or binary) have a much more benign effect and are more useful for "stealth tracking" of p2p releases.
Here's a demo of the more complex end of what is possible using my technique:
www.oood.net/mastering/Spectratext_Encoding_Demo_-_Colin_OOOD_vs._Tron_-_Compound_Sound.wav
I'm sure there will be differing opinions  here about the worth of this but in the end I don't really care as I think it's pretty cool whatever!
Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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dtd
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
17
Posts :
490
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 02:16
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On 2007-07-24 00:51, Colin OOOD wrote:
.. For obvious reasons I can't go into any specific details but the information is encoded into the audio itself, and is robust enough to withstand repeated encoding to and from MP3. ..
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This is steganography for audio signals. Anybody who is interested in more details on it can read the thesis "Algorithms for Audio Watermarking and Steganography" by Nedeljko Cvejic [1]. There's some general theory on watermarking and some specifics about robustness as well.
cheers,
dtd
[1] http://www.mp3-tech.org/programmer/docs/isbn9514273842.pdf $ exp(j*pi) + 1 = 0. $ |
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Speakafreaka
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
18
Posts :
779
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 03:30
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hey Colin, this is a variation of the canary trap used in intelligence circles to establish leaks of information.
The other way you could do it is just to give out subtley different mixes to everyone  (obviously this is what you are doing, but I think you know what I mean)
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http://www.soundcloud.com/speakafreaka |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
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5380
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 06:28
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Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
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158
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5306
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 13:25
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Psynaesthesian
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
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557
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 13:53
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On 2007-07-23 21:52, Bagginz wrote:
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On 2007-07-08 14:32, Cannabis wrote:
This Q always kept me busy. I see some artists putting their tracks in high quality format on the web, while others cut their track to a short version, another implement noises, some lower the volume, etc.
Which path is the more appropriate one? And what are your thoughts?
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Hello Cannabis,
it's a good question.
For my view and some advice on how to approach getting your music released on a label go here: http://www.cosmosis.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=40
Best wishes with your music,
Bill
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Totally Agree ... good sound advice!! and i think most efficient when ur working with limited resources and equipment!!
@Colin .... fingerprinting idea is really superb ... but does it has some sort of a security feature to it?
I supose, from my limited knowlegde that it's just the quality that is being subdued. It's interesting how you can have a sort of tracking system ... any many a question are coming to me right now .. but i'll leave that all that for now!!
I had this idea once where, when a track is sent out to x individual, it could only be played if the user stategically placed a codec on his / her system - this would be ID specific and hence could also be tracked if leaked .... but i'm no wizz so i'll just let my brain wander ... 
Good luck to u all in your endevours!!
B'om Shankara!!
"... b'om ..." |
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dtd
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
17
Posts :
490
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 14:21
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
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5380
Posted : Jul 24, 2007 15:23
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