MUS 353 Recording Techniques

Once taught at Oakland University and Wayne State now designed for private instructions.
This course will familiarize you with studio terminology and the most standard forms of sound recording. It is your first step towards training for a position in sound related fields. It will help you in directing professional personnel for better sounding recordings, provide good training for related fields such as radio, video, sound recording, Foley, forensic audio, and also improve your own sound reproducing for stage, video and home recording. Because the emphasis is on the artistic aspects of recording techniques, you will discover the theories behind quality workmanship and the tools we use.

WK1 SOUND
What it is, how is it generated and heard. Acoustics. The ear, SPL, DB, loudness.

WK 2 MICROPHONES
What they are. How they work. How to place and use them optimally. Types. Impedance. Wiring. Direct boxes. Impedance matching.

WK 3-4 RECORDING CONSOLES
What they are. How they work. How to use them correctly. Is 0VU nothing? Design choice for your needs. Patch bay.

WK 5 DIGITAL RECORDING CONSOLES
What they are. How they work. How to use them correctly. Pro Tools, MOTU, Cu-Base? Design choice for your needs. Sampling.

WK 6-7 TAPE MACHINES ANALOG & DIGITAL, COMPUTERS
How they work. How to use them. Synchronization and basic maintenance. Waves, harmonics, amps, distortion, equalization, magnetics.

WK 8 SIGNAL PROCESSING
Filters. "EQ". Compressors. Limiters. Delay Lines. "D/A/D" converters. Noise reduction systems. Reverbs. Electronic quality check. Scope and meters test gear.

WK 9 SPEAKERS
Room and speaker systems. Crossovers. Monitoring. Test equipment, Tuned Rooms, Cabinets. Sound lenses.

PRACTICAL: The last three weeks are devoted to set up and the recording, mixing, mastering of a project. This is the application of the theories learned in the first nine weeks.

WK 10 SET UP AND SESSION START
The student will plan and practice set up, do sound checks, in a real studio or stage setting. Record Basic tracks. Cu-Base, Pro Tools Introduction. MIDI. Microphone use.

WK 11RECORDING AND OVERDUBBING
Direct feeds. Live sound set up. Mix board systems. Cables. Overdubbing.

WK 12 FINISH MIXING AND MASTERING
    Multi track analog and digital mixing. MIDI mixing. DAT Mastering. CD Mastering.
    Complete and finish all studio projects and mastering.

WK 12 FINAL EXAM
    GRADING: 3 Quizzes 50%, Final-40%, Attendance-10%.