Recording An Album... (Long Topic, But Worths It!)

[TheBrewer]

Hi guys!

I'm in the middle of my album's production (actually, there's 10 songs out of 12 that are mixed so far) and i have to tell you that i learned so much during these 3 last months... VST's, AU's, DAW, mixing, mastering, recording tips, how to market an indie album, building an entire website, setting up an e-commerce solution to sell my album online, Subscribing to a release-on-demand cd pressing company, doing all the album artwork on Photoshop, Youtube tutorials, Blogs and groups advices, midi configurations, preparing a press file for medias, preparing 3 official launchings, organizing schedule to arrive on-time with the master to have the CD ready for the launchings, how to use social networks (Thanks John!!), arranging songs, high pass filters, low pass filters, Compressors, limiters, spreaders, and so on...

Man, that was a lot of work! and there's still some to complete so far... I need to record 2 more songs, mix them, and after all, do the mastering, and all this for the 31st! This is what my schedule says and i'll do it, i'm not afraid of that... But the most interesting part of that project, i guess, is that i did everything myself and it is go cool! I have to admit that for a first album, i will be completely satisfied, and i have to tell you that i'm a freaking perfectionist!!

The most surprising thing in this is probably the fact that, after 17 years of doing absolutely nothing on the music related side, my writings and singing has improved so much, well, this is what i personally think...

I would really try to help people here if they have any related questions or advises to ask about making an indie album and how to promote it. A lot of people helped me by giving me some good informations, i wanna do the same in return. As for an example, the release-on-demand cd press company was absolutely something i didn't have a clue of the existence, and it is so, so, i mean so nice to be able to deal with those guys... I don't know if you already did things with one of them, but mine (Indie Pool) is giving me the opportunity to have 2 major options, here they are:

- SMRT setup: they organize everything for your cd to be produced. They do a file check on the artwork with possibilities to verify 3 times for approving. They provide you a CUP code to put on your album. CD's are Digipaks and they are shrink wrapped. They can be produces in any quantity (from 1 to 2000 if you want, it will always be the same price for one cd! Quality is very nice. They give you cart buttons, checkout buttons, everything you need to put on your website to sell your cd (hard copy). Let's say 8 people check out for a cd on my website, automatically Indie Pool receives at the end of the day a report and they will produce the cd's on demand under 48 hours! They even ship the cd directly to the customer and apply to them the regular shipping rate for it! At the end of the month, they keep a small amount by cd for them and that's it! They send you the rest!

- Digital distribution: They put your album on 40 different affiliated album sellers sites (Amazon, Chapters, Itunes, Napster, HMV, etc...). They even put your album inside a catalogue which is distributes throughout 350 music stores in North America and music stores can order one or more if they like, even on a customer' special demand!

For those two options, you have a once-on-a-lifetime subscription fee by album and it is a ridiculously small one! The album will be there for life! You can decide to not doing business with them anymore by cancelling under a 30 day notice without any fee. They don't keep any rights on your music, they're just helping you to distribute it. They keep 20% of the cd selling price (for hard copies) and send you the rest every month. That's all it costs!

For the digital distribution, you have to deal with the percentage of every single reseller's site, but Indie Pool don't make anything on those. They just help you to distribute your music, that's it!

So far, i'm really satisfied with the sample i received (they made me a sample for approval). It looks really professional! Now the album release will be on November 19th, and from there, it will be available for ordering online on my website, but i can even order some myself for my launchings for the same price (20%) + the small shipping fee they're charging me.

If you'd like their infos, i can provide but they're located in Toronto, Canada...

Anyway, stay tuned to my website if you would like to hear some samples of my songs after the release ( 2 are featuring right now, but they are only rough mixes, no masters for now) and if you like what you hear.... :-P

Thanks guys and hope that this topic helped a bit and will help in the future!

Pascal

[TheBrewer]

Oh yeah... By the way, i didn't have time yet to update the 'The Album' section on my english version' website. If you have a chance, go see the same section in the french one (L'Album) and you'll see how it will look like shortly on the english one too... This page is an HTML5 version, very neet but on the english one, it's a flash version... Thanks!

[john]

Hey Pascal

Great post.

In doing your own album there is just soooooo much to do. You'll need an ISRC code for your release, a bar code, register the works with the US copyright office, register your work for VPL (possibly), PPL, with your performing rights org, get graphics for covers, labels, on body printing, posters, banner ads and other advertisement graphics, complimentary graphics on your web pages, sort out distribution, contact production companies to see if they can use your tracks, get your album recorded, mixed, mastered and set all codes and tags... but equal to all that added together is your album promotion.

Believe me when I say that if you neglect your promotion, much if not all of your earlier efforts to get it recorded and released will be completely wasted.. so, just to add to your learning, lol, you need a promotion plan and a promotion budget! If you aren't going to hire a company to do the promo you will most likely have to learn hod to do it yourself.

The biggest tip I can give you is... build a team. Team members bring in different skills, and vitally it gives you numbers for when you release making it easier to get the message out. Wise selection of tools can also help here.

I am currently putting together a course on guerrilla music promotion but it wont be ready for a couple of months. With all that is going on with the site, and trying to work on my own album taking a back seat for teh next couple of months I can't commit to being greatly involved, but I am willing to talk it over with you and try to see where I can help. I will certainly be able to give you some tips and point you in the right direction. Finn (other site admin) may be able to advise were you to go down the route of hiring a company to do so.

There may well be several Songstuff members willing to become members of your team. It's a chance for them to learn and go through the process of releasing an album. Some may be willing to do it as a trade. ie I help you if you help me etc.

I'll have a think meanwhile about what we can work out, assuming you would want more help lol

Cheers

John

[TheBrewer]

Thanks John!

I appreciate... In fact, i mentioned that i did everything myself, well it's true but only for one thing: i hired someone who works in communications and media relationships for the press file and she'll send them to her contacts she has for a long time to promote the album... We established a plan and we'll play on the fact that i did a burn-out 6 months ago, i'm in a depression now and also that i have an autistic child and 3 other kids, and on top of that, i had a big microbrewery before the burn-out... All the strategy will be based on the fact that a lot of people is not in the better situation in their life, that sometimes it could show it's cool, but it's not always cool... Those people are in the community, we talk to them, we know them, but we don't know everything about them, and those people sometimes can do a U-turn in their life and show people they can do great an amazing things, even if they're sick or in a hard situation. Medias here like those kind of things...

Our team has 2 members so far..!!!!

Thanks John!

[john]

Good for you. It doesn't sound like you have an internet music marketing strategy... Just be sure to put one in place.

Good for you too that you are putting a positive spin on what is a much misunderstood illness. Not easy to be so open about it either. I have been a carer for my wife for 20 years. She has severe manic depression so i well understand how big a step you are taking. Good luck.

Does your media contact know how to promote on the internet? I ask because marketing and internet marketing and are very different animals

[john]

Ok they are founded on broadly the same principles lol

I am not looking for extra work lol. I just want to make sure you have your bases covered.