Course

Studio Setup and Maintenance II

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course Code
MUSC 3285
Credits
1.50
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
26
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Typically Offered
Winter

Overview

Course Description
Through lecture/demonstrations and hands-on studio work, students will continue to learn the concepts necessary to design, set up and maintain a project recording studio. Topics covered will include room acoustics and treatment, equipment choice and installation, wiring and doing basic maintenance. An introduction to large studio issues will also be offered.
Course Content
  1. Room acoustics: resonant modes and modal patterns
  2. Types of room design: neutral, characteristic and variable rooms
  3. Soundproofing: STC, construction techniques and HVAC considerations.
  4. Equipment placement: ergonomics and ideal sound reproduction.
  5. Acoustical treatment: Sabine’s Law, reflective and absorptive surfaces, diffusion, wall treatments and bass traps.
  6. Wiring and connections: proper interconnection, power supply, grounding of studio gear.
  7. Studio monitoring systems: flush mounted versus free standing
  8. Maintaining equipment: soldering and equipment cleaning.
  9. Introduction to large studio design: acoustics, patch bays and studio interconnect systems.
Learning Activities

Lecture/demonstration. Students will work alongside the instructor, in one of the Douglas College recording studios. Students will be expected to complete regular assignments and projects outside of class time. These can be done in the lab, the studio, or at home.

Means of Assessment
Tests/Quizzes (minimum of 2) 30%
Midterm Project 30%
Final Project* 40%

* The Final Project constitutes one component of the graduation portfolio requirement.

Learning Outcomes

Through lecture/demonstrations and hands-on studio work, students will learn the basic concepts necessary to set up and maintain a project recording studio. Topics covered will include room acoustics and treatment, equipment choice and installation, wiring and doing basic maintenance. An introduction to large studio issues will also be offered.
 
On successful completion of the course students will be able to setup and maintain a typical project studio. Students will be able to understand and apply the following: 

  1. Room acoustics
  2. Types of room design
  3. Soundproofing
  4. Equipment placement
  5. Acoustical treatment
  6. Wiring and connections
  7. Studio monitoring systems
  8. Maintaining equipment
  9. Introduction to large studio design
Textbook Materials

F. Alton Everest: How to Build A Small Budget Recording Studio From Scratch: With 12 Tested Designs

Requisites

Prerequisites

MUSC 3185

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for MUSC 3285
Capilano University (CAPU) No credit
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU MUSI 3XXX (2)
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 3XX (1)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Individual assessment
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) No credit
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MUS 3XX (0.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025