In this article, we’ll look at the absolute best way to create as many music demos as possible in record time and why exporting these demos swiftly is a game-changer for your music career.
As Best Friends Club, I’ve released over 50+ songs on Spotify and have had those songs streamed over 6.5 million times and added to over 20 official Spotify editorial playlists.
This combined with my 13+ years of writing and releasing music has resulted in my learning quite a bit about what it takes to finish songs in a way that is both fast and high-quality.
So let’s take a look at how you can start creating & exporting song demos faster than you ever have before & even if you’re brand new to making music…
P.S. For even more help on your journey to creating and releasing more music, be sure to check out my free Five-Step Song Finishing Checklist. 🙂
Why Finishing New Songs Quickly Is SO Important
The more demos you produce, the more finished songs you’ll have in your arsenal. And with more finished songs, you gain the ability to release music consistently.
Fans, the Spotify algorithm, and the music industry are all about freshness and recency.
The more you put music out there, the greater your chances of catching that viral wave and achieving the success you desire.
WARNING: If you’re not putting out music regularly, you’re missing out on vital opportunities to grow your career & other artists are going to leave you in the dust.
How Quantity Leads To Quality (…Especially When You’re an Artist, Songwriter, or Music Producer)
One of the biggest things that I’ve learned throughout my time finishing and releasing more music than most artists on labels is that you don’t need to sacrifice quality for quantity (or vice versa).
In fact, by finishing & releasing as much music as possible you are able to learn MUCH faster than if you were to focus all of your time and effort on just 1 song.
The more demos you create, the better your understanding of your unique style and the more you can develop the habits, systems, and workflows that work best for you.
You can reflect on each demo and identify patterns, allowing you to refine your sound with each new creation.
Plus, having a large demo stockpile gives you the luxury of selecting only the cream of the crop for release.
Why Exporting Your Demo Recordings Quickly Is SO Important
Finally, there’s the importance of not just finishing your songs quickly but also exporting the demos & recordings of those songs quickly as well.
Having those audio files readily available allows you to listen to your work in various environments & sound systems – on your phone, during walks, in the car, or even when sharing with friends.
If you’re a DJ or live artist, you can seamlessly incorporate your demos into mixes and/or test them in front of live audiences.
This will allow you to write down notes so that you can continue to improve your song’s structure, its mix, its master, etc, etc.
Ultimately, this kind of real-world testing is invaluable for refining your sound since you can hear your music in different environments & sound systems in addition to getting feedback from others.
3 Easy Steps to Create & Export Music Demos Quickly
To be able to actually be the kind of artist, songwriter, or music producer that is able to rapidly produce and export demos, follow these three essential steps:
Step 1: Structure and Arrange Quickly
Your first goal is to push your song to the structure or arrangement phase as swiftly as possible:
- Avoid getting stuck in an endless loop; aim for a full four to six-minute song structure.
- This is the foundation upon which your demo will grow.
Step 2: Rapid Mixing and Mastering
Next, expedite the mixing and mastering process:
- Skip the intricate details for now and focus on getting your track to a listenable state.
- Quick mastering allows you to have your demo in MP3 format promptly, ready for evaluation.
Step 3: Listen, Test, and Reflect
Once your demo is exported, take the opportunity to listen to it in various settings:
- Load it onto your phone for casual listening, include it in DJ sets, or share it with friends for feedback.
- Real-world testing is key to improving your music.
A Real-World Example Of Me The Rapid Demo Process
In this video I’ll show you behind the scenes of one of my Ableton projects where we’ll walk through the steps I use to swiftly produce and export demos:
5 Extra Tips For Creating & Exporting Demos Fast
- Starting with the Core Idea: I began with a basic loop, showcasing the initial concept. This loop serves as the foundation upon which we’ll build.
- Expanding and Exploring: I then expanded on this idea, adding depth and complexity to the baseline and musical elements, ultimately making the track more interesting.
- Fast Arrangement: I promptly moved to the arrangement phase, using a predefined arrangement template as a guide to structure the song.
- Quick Mixing and Mastering: Without delving into intricate details, I applied basic compression and saturation to glue the elements together. The goal here is not perfection but speed.
- Reflect and Test: With the demo ready, I used various methods to reflect and test the track, including DJ mixes and feedback from friends.
This streamlined approach allows for rapid production and export of demos, which can dramatically accelerate your music creation process.
Now It’s Your Turn To Release Music Faster Than Ever Before
The ability to create and export music demos quickly is a valuable skill for any musician or producer. It enables you to generate a large catalog of potential releases, refine your style, and gather feedback to improve your music.
While this may not be the exact workflow for everyone, it can serve as an invaluable starting point for crafting your own unique song-finishing system.
For an even more comprehensive resource to help you on your journey to creating and releasing more music, be sure to check out my free Five-Step Song Finishing Checklist.
Adapt these techniques to fit your unique style and workflow. Embrace the power of speed, and watch your music career soar.
More demos mean more releases which means more opportunities for you to hit the goals that you want to achieve in YOUR music career, my friend.
