Advanced Audio Recording I

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
MUSC 1270
Descriptive
Advanced Audio Recording I
Department
Music
Faculty
Language, Literature and Performing Arts
Credits
4.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
30
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours /week

Lab:  3 hours/week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning activities

In this courses, students will participate in lectures and demonstrations, working alongside the instructor, in the large studios or Technology Lab. Students will be expected to complete regular assignments and projects outside of class time. These will be done in the large studios.

Course description
Through lecture/demonstrations and hands-on studio work, students will learn to record and mix audio in a large studio environment. Lab work will focus on Pro Tools software; studio work will focus on Solid State Logic recording consoles. Students will be given the opportunity to earn their Avid Pro Tools 110 certification at the end of the course.
Course content
  1. Routing signals through a large studio console and patchbay, including equalization, inserts, busses, monitoring
  2. Advanced drum-recording techniques, including Recorderman, Glynn Johns, MS (mid side) and ORTF (Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française)
  3. Microphone "shootouts" (listening tests for common microphone applications), including vocals, drums, wind instruments, etc.
  4. Recording and mixing acoustic guitar using various microphone techniques and setups
  5. Recording and mixing piano using various microphone techniques and setups
  6. Using digital filters for complex multi-stage filtering operations
  7. Pro Tools production techniques, including virtual instruments, elastic audio, editing, advanced mixing and automation
  8. Working with Indigenous culture, communities and musicians in the studio, when possible
  9. Manipulating and rearranging samples (editing, pitch shifting, warping and restructuring samples)
  10. Quantizing drums using Beat Detective and Elastic Audio
  11. Beat-mapping in Pro Tools, matching the song tempo to the grid; for fixed or variable tempos
  12. Advanced vocal production techniques: recording multiple layers of vocals, synching them rhythmically, applying pitch correction
  13. Importing and exporting files from various DAWs (digital audio workstations)
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 

  1. Craft studio-quality drum tracks using advanced drum-recording techniques; 
  2. Select and position microphones appropriately for specific recording applications; 
  3. Automate mix parameters within a digital audio workstation; 
  4. Shape audio signals using advanced digital signal processing; 
  5. Produce and edit audio projects in Pro Tools according to industry standards; 
  6. Observe intellectual property and Indigenous cultural rights as they relate to music technology, including sampling, production and distribution processes; 
  7. Apply the 4 Rs of Indigenous Education (Respect, Reciprocity, Relevance and Responsibility) to professional practices in music technology. 
Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. 

The following is an example evaluation scheme:

Quizzes (minimum of 2) 30%
Midterm project 25%
Final project 35%
Professionalism 10%
Total 100%

Professionalism is assessed on consistent attendance, punctuality, taking responsibility for deadlines, constructive and considerate interpersonal communication and contribution to class discussion and group work. 

Instructors may use a student's record of attendance and/or level of active participation as part of the student's graded performance. Expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

This is a letter-graded course. 

Textbook materials

No texts or materials are required. All required hardware and software for the completion of assignments and projects is available in the studio

Prerequisites
Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Which prerequisite