Turn Your Melody Demo Into a Fully Produced Track
Boutique arrangement built around your melody, lyrics, and creative vision. From piano sketch to streaming-ready production — remote, async, and priced for independent artists.
Arrangement and production, explained
Understanding what we do — and what we don't — so you know exactly what to expect.
Arrangement is the bridge between a song idea and a finished record. You have a melody — maybe it's a voice memo you hummed into your phone, a rough piano sketch, or a guitar-and-vocal recording. That's the seed. Arrangement is everything we build around it: the chord progressions that support it, the drum patterns that drive it, the bass line that anchors it, the synths, strings, pads, and textures that give it color and movement.
Production is the next layer — the sonic decisions that turn an arrangement into a record: sound selection, dynamics, transitions, ear candy, build-ups and breakdowns, spatial placement, and the overall feel that makes someone hit repeat instead of skip.
This service is for artists who have a song idea but not the production skills, gear, or time to build it out. Maybe you're a singer-songwriter who writes on acoustic guitar but hears a full band in your head. Maybe you're a vocalist with a melody and lyrics but no instrumental track. Maybe you're a producer who's hit a wall and needs fresh ears and arrangement expertise to finish a track.
What we deliver: a fully produced stereo mix of your song, built to streaming-ready standards, with all instruments programmed, performed, or sampled to match the sound you described in your reference tracks. You walk away with a WAV master and MP3 reference — ready to upload, pitch, or shop.
What we don't do: compose a brand-new melody from scratch (that's our Mandarin Songwriting service), work from lyrics alone without a melody, or mix full multitrack sessions from other studios (we mix vocals over a 2-track instrumental — see our Vocal Mixing service).
Three things to get started
Every arrangement project requires these materials. They're non-negotiable, and here's why each one matters.
1. Melody Demo
A voice memo, piano sketch, guitar recording, or rough demo of your melody. Quality doesn't matter — phone recordings are fine. What matters is that the melody is clear enough for us to hear the notes, rhythm, and phrasing. This is the foundation everything else is built on. Without it, we're composing, not arranging — which is a different service entirely.
2. Lyrics
Complete, final-draft lyrics for the song. The lyrics determine phrasing, syllable count, emotional arc, and section structure — all of which shape the arrangement. We don't need them formatted perfectly; a text file or Google Doc works. If you need lyric writing or editing, that falls under our Mandarin Songwriting service or would need to be handled separately before we begin.
3. Reference Tracks (1-3)
Links to existing songs that capture the sound, genre, energy, and production style you're going for. References do more than any written description can — they tell us about drum tones, reverb style, vocal production approach, bass texture, arrangement density, and overall vibe. Pick tracks where the production specifically inspires you, not just songs you like. Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud links all work.
Personal and Commercial tiers
Every project starts with a clear understanding of your needs. Here's what each tier includes.
Personal (2C) — For Independent Artists
- One song, up to 3.5 minutes
- Release-ready foundation arrangement
- Core instrumentation (drums, bass, keys, 2-3 additional elements)
- Standard structure (verse/chorus/bridge)
- One round of minor revisions
- WAV 24-bit/48kHz + MP3 320kbps
- 5-10 business day turnaround
- All Basic features
- Richer, denser instrumentation
- Stronger structural dynamics (builds, drops, breakdowns)
- 4-6 instrumental layers beyond core
- More detailed sound design and transitions
- Ear candy and production flourishes
- One round of minor revisions
- All Standard features
- Complex multi-layered arrangement
- Advanced sound design and texture work
- Cutdown-ready structure (radio edit, instrumental, etc.)
- Premium sonic finish and detail
- Greater instrumental depth (8+ layers)
- One round of minor revisions
Commercial (2B) — For Brands, Agencies & Client Work
- One song, up to 3.5 minutes
- Release-ready foundation arrangement
- Core instrumentation
- Standard structure
- Broader usage rights (advertising, client delivery)
- Extended coordination and revision handling
- WAV 24-bit/48kHz + MP3 320kbps
- Richer instrumentation and structure
- More detailed sound design
- Commercial usage rights included
- Extended revision handling
- All Basic deliverables
- Premium, complex arrangement
- Cutdown-ready deliverables
- Advanced sound design
- Full commercial usage rights
- All Standard deliverables
| Feature | Basic | Standard | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song length | Up to 3.5 min | Up to 4.5 min | Up to 5.5 min |
| Instrumental layers | 5-6 (core) | 7-10 (rich) | 10+ (complex) |
| Structure | Standard V/C/V/C/B/C | Dynamic with builds & transitions | Custom with cutdown variants |
| Sound design depth | Clean, professional | Detailed, polished | Premium, intricate |
| Revisions included | 1 round minor | 1 round minor | 1 round minor |
| Turnaround | 5-10 business days | 7-12 business days | 10-15 business days |
| Personal price | $999 | $1,299 | $1,699 |
| Commercial price | $2,499 | $3,499 | $4,999 |
Arrangement & production demos
Original compositions produced in our studio — listen directly to hear our production quality.
大唐国宴 — Grand Tang Banquet
Cinematic orchestral piece blending traditional Chinese instrumentation (guzheng, pipa, dizi) with modern orchestral production. Full arrangement with strings and brass.
江湖街舞曲 — Jianghu Street Dance
High-energy dance track fusing martial arts aesthetics with contemporary electronic production. Synth layers, heavy percussion, structured for choreographed performance.
燃灯舞 — Lantern Dance
Evocative festive piece weaving Chinese pentatonic melodies with atmospheric synths and gentle percussion. Warm strings support a lyrical theme for live performance.
How we build your track
Four steps from your demo to a finished production, designed for async collaboration.
Submit Materials
Send your melody demo, lyrics, and 1-3 reference tracks through our quote form. Tell us about your genre, mood, song structure, and timeline. The more context, the better the result.
Review & Quote
We review your materials within 24-48 hours and send a detailed quote with a tier recommendation, timeline estimate, and any clarifying questions about your vision.
Production Draft
We produce the first draft — 5-10 business days typical. You receive a private streaming link to review the full arrangement. Listen critically on multiple systems.
Revise & Deliver
Send consolidated feedback. We apply one round of minor revisions. Once approved, we deliver final WAV and MP3 files. Stems and alternate versions available as add-ons.
Arrangement pricing at a glance
| Service | Personal (2C) | Commercial (2B) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrangement & Production | $999 / $1,299 / $1,699 | $2,499 / $3,499 / $4,999 | Full instrumental production from your melody demo. One song, WAV + MP3 delivery, one round of minor revisions included. |
Add-ons
Payment: Projects ≤$300 = 100% upfront. Projects >$300 = 50% deposit to start, 50% on delivery. PayPal. All prices in USD.
Arrangement FAQ
What if I don't have a melody? Can you create one?
Arrangement requires an existing melody — we build production around it. If you need a melody composed from scratch, that's our Mandarin Songwriting service, which includes original melody composition, lyrics, and full production. For English-language projects without a melody, we currently don't offer standalone melody composition — the Mandarin package is the closest fit.
Can you work from just lyrics?
No. Lyrics alone don't tell us the melody, and arrangement is about building around a melody. If you submit lyrics without a melody demo, we'll ask you to record even a rough voice memo before we can quote. If that's not possible, the Mandarin Songwriting package is the alternative — it includes melody composition alongside lyrics and production.
What genres do you produce?
We work across pop, indie pop, synthwave/retrowave, R&B, folk, singer-songwriter, rock, Mandopop/C-pop, cinematic, and electronic styles. The reference tracks you provide are the best way to communicate genre — even if we haven't listed your exact style, send the references and we'll tell you honestly if it's within our wheelhouse.
How many instruments are included?
It depends on the tier and the song. Basic typically includes drums, bass, a harmonic instrument (keys/guitar), and 2-3 additional elements (pads, strings, secondary synth, percussion). Standard adds more layers and richer textures. Pro can include 10+ distinct instrumental elements, complex automation, and sound design. The reference tracks you send are the best guide — we match the instrumental density of the sound you're going for.
What's a reference track and why do you need it?
A reference track is an existing, released song whose production style matches what you want for your own track. It communicates things words can't: drum tone, reverb character, bass texture, arrangement density, vocal production approach, and overall sonic aesthetic. We ask for 1-3 references because one song might have the drum sound you want while another has the right synth tone. YouTube, Spotify, or SoundCloud links are all fine.
What counts as a minor revision vs. a major change?
Minor revisions: adjusting individual instrument levels, tweaking EQ on a specific element, changing a drum fill, modifying a transition, adjusting reverb or delay, small timing fixes. These refine without redoing the work. Major changes (not covered): rewriting the chord progression, changing genre, restructuring the entire song, replacing all instrumentation, or composing a new section. If you're unsure, describe what you want changed and we'll tell you whether it falls within the revision round.
Service Rules
Before you submit, please read
- Melody demo is required. Voice memo, piano sketch, guitar recording — any format works, but the melody must be audible. Lyrics-only submissions will not be accepted for arrangement.
- Lyrics-only is not arrangement. If you have lyrics but no melody, this is songwriting/composition, not arrangement. See our Mandarin Songwriting service for that workflow.
- One round of minor revisions included. Minor = volume, timing, individual part tweaks. Major = genre change, full restructure, new composition. Extra revision rounds available as an add-on (+$49 2C / +$149 2B).
- Reference tracks are required, not optional. They're the single most important communication tool in the project. Without them, we're guessing at your sound. Send 1-3 tracks that capture the production style you want.
- Commercial pricing applies to brand work, advertising, and client delivery. If the track is for an ad, a brand campaign, or a paying client, select the Commercial tier. Personal tier is for independent artists releasing their own music.
- Rush delivery adds 30-50% to your total. Standard turnaround is 5-10 business days. Rush (3-5 business days) is available if our schedule permits. Confirmed in your quote.