The instructor will devote three hours per week to lecture/demonstration. One hour per week will be spent working on lab assignments under the supervision of the instructor. Students will be expected to complete regular assignments and projects outside of class time. These can be done in the lab (Room 3220) or at home.
No prior experience with computers or recording equipment is assumed.
- A brief history of audio recording.
- Analog and digital audio concepts.
- Sound reinforcement techniques, including microphones, mixers, amplifiers and speakers.
- Basic recording techniques, including microphone types, recording media and outboard equipment.
- Editing and manipulating digital audio.
- Introduction to multi-track recording, including tape-based and hard disk techniques.
- Incorporating MIDI tracks and loops with recorded audio.
- Creative manipulation of sound, from Musique Concrète to current integrated music software.
- Mixing and mastering techniques.
- Setting up and troubleshooting a typical project recording studio.
- Recording live concerts.
Through lecture/demonstrations and hands-on lab work, students will learn the basic theoretical and practical applications of audio recording. Emphasis will be placed on the creative and artistic use of these tools. Due to the continually evolving nature of technology, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts common to all recording software and hardware, and the ability to transfer their knowledge and skills to new situations.
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of important developments in the history of audio recording, along with an understanding of analog and digital audio theory.
- Record digital audio from microphones, synthesizers and other electronic instruments.
- Edit and manipulate digital audio using Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software.
- Mix a multi-track audio project.
- Master a final project to compact disc.
- Use analog sound reinforcement and recording equipment.
- Demonstrate creative and inventive uses of the techniques learned in this course.
| Tests (minimum of 2): | 30% |
| Quizzes (minimum of 2): | 20% |
| Midterm Project: | 20% |
| Final Project: | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
No texts or materials are required. All required hardware and software for the completion of assignments and projects is available in the lab (Room 3220) or studio (Room 3280). Students who wish to work outside the lab may want to purchase their own copies of the software used in class. A complete list of recommended software will be available at the first class session.
MUSC 1182 or permission of instructor