Course description
This course presents students with advanced topics in contemporary music production using industry standard Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and studio equipment. Students will develop skills in synthesis, sampling, beat-making, vocal and instrumental production, mixing, and musical arrangement.
Course content
- The role of a producer across different musical genres
- Music composition including musical arrangement, song structure, and building tension
- Critical listening
- Advanced session management, workflow, and project templates in Pro Tools and Ableton
- Professional workflow in Pro Tools
- Drum programming and rhythmic layering
- Advanced synthesis techniques using subtractive and FM synthesis
- Sample warping and audio manipulation
- Vocal production and instrumental recording techniques
- Mixing music for various genres including key concepts such as gain staging, equalization, compression, parallel effects processing, stereo imaging, etc.
- Collaboration and feedback, working with other artists
- Foundations of music mastering
Learning activities
Lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on studio experience.
Means of assessment
Assessments will be based on course objectives and will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.
Example Evaluation Scheme
Lab Assignments (minimum of 4) 20%
Quizzes and Tests (minimum of 2) 20%
Collaborative Project 20%
Music Production Project (minimum of 2) 30%
Attendance and Participation 10%
Total 100%
Students' record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course may form part of the student’s graded performance. When this is the case, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Fulfill the role of a music producer and collaborate effectively in a studio production environment;
- Apply advanced DAW techniques to manage sessions efficiently, including routing, layering, and project organization in Ableton Live and Pro Tools;
- Handle mid-sized Pro Tools sessions effectively in preparation for more advanced audio production workflows;
- Design and manipulate sounds using synthesis, sampling, and audio processing to create original musical elements;
- Program and arrange rhythmic and melodic content across a range of contemporary music genres using electronic and acoustic sources;
- Record, edit, and produce vocal and instrumental performances, including comping, double tracking, tuning, quantizing, and applying effects to achieve polished audio tracks;
- Mix multitrack sessions using EQ, dynamics, spatial effects, and automation to create balanced and expressive productions;
- Create complete, professional level music tracks, demonstrating a cohesive artistic vision from arrangement through to mix and final master.