demo tape
Aspiring musician's submission
A demo tape is a rough recording made to showcase a musician's or band's work, typically sent to record labels, producers, or venues in hopes of getting signed or booked.
The term persists from the cassette era, though demos now circulate digitally: Their demo tape got them a record deal.
Demo is short for demonstration.
Informal song compilation
- tracklistAlbum's song index
- EPShort music collection
- singleOne in number
- albumUnified collection of recordings
release · indie · unsigned · garage · band · artist · songwriter · hip-hop
Trial performance for selection
- pitchFrequency of sound
- showcaseCabinet for displaying items
- portfolioCollected works or assets
- press kitPromotional materials for journalists
headshot · callback · A&R · talent agent · manager · record label · query · rejection
Magnetic audio cartridge
- reelWinding cylinder or dance
- trackPath or monitored route
- sessionScheduled time for activity
- studioCreative professional's workspace
mastering · dubbing · multitrack · overdub · analog · microphone · four-track · bouncing
Small cut portion
- excerptPortion taken from larger work
- previewAdvance showing sample
- teaserSomething that piques interest
- clipCut or attach
showcase · glimpse · taster · sampler · highlight · selection · representation
In original state
- roughUneven in surface
- unmasteredNot fully learned
- uneditedNot yet corrected
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
lo-fi · homemade · garage · first take · rehearsal · basic · sketch · preliminary
Magnetic audio cartridge
- reel-to-reelTape threading between spools
- analogComparable equivalent
- four-trackRecording with separate channels
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
retro · old-school · classic · archival · unearthed · lost recordings · collector's item · memorabilia
mixtape
Informal song compilation
album · release · indie · unsigned · garage · band · artist · songwriter · hip-hop · rapper
audition
Trial performance for selection
press kit · headshot · callback · A&R · talent agent · manager · record label · query · rejection · contract
cassette
Magnetic audio cartridge
studio · mastering · dubbing · multitrack · overdub · analog · microphone · four-track · bouncing · home studio
snippet
Small cut portion
- excerptPortion taken from larger work
- previewAdvance showing sample
- teaserSomething that piques interest
clip · showcase · glimpse · taster · sampler · highlight · selection · representation
raw
In original state
- roughUneven in surface
- unmasteredNot fully learned
- uneditedNot yet corrected
scratch · lo-fi · homemade · garage · first take · rehearsal · basic · sketch · preliminary · DIY
cassette
Magnetic audio cartridge
- reel-to-reelTape threading between spools
- analogComparable equivalent
- four-trackRecording with separate channels
nostalgia · retro · old-school · classic · archival · unearthed · lost recordings · collector's item · memorabilia · rarities
- Indieindie rock, indie pop, indie folk, indie film, indie music
- audio mediavinyl, LP, CD, cassette, 8-track
- music businessrecord label, record deal, royalty, album, single
- music makingsinging, jam session, jam sessions, karaoke, open mic
- recorded mediavideo, audio, clip, video clip, audio clip
- recordingsaudio recording, albums, studio albums, video recording, live albums
demo tapestudio album
Professionally recorded music collection
finished product · final mix · remastered edition · deluxe edition
demo, tape, demos, demoed, demoing, demonstration, demonstrate, demonstrates, demonstrated