Welcome To Recording Studio Techniques!

MUGN-M355 Section 001

Instructor: Jake Eckert ​ Contact: [email protected]

Course Term: Spring 2021 ​ Class Meetings: Mon. & Wed. 3:30pm-4:45pm

Location: CM426/427 or CM428A-F

Catalog Description

Recording Studio Techniques is an in-depth study of the techniques and methods used to produce recordings in the studio. A special emphasis will be placed on recording methods and microphone techniques in the modern recording studio environment.

Prerequisites

MUGN-M115 - Intro to Music Technology

MUGN-M225 - Digital Audio Production

Textbooks and Other Materials to be Purchased by Student

Optional Textbooks: ​ Modern Recording Techniques, 9th Edition

Author: David Miles Huber

Release date: 2018

ISBN-10: 0240821572

ISBN-13: 978-0240821573

Publisher: Focal Press Cost Estimate: $40

Instructor will provide other texts as needed.

Students will need the following technical materials:

- USB Flash memory sticks as needed

- 1 USB 3.0 or compatible hard drive (SSD encouraged). At least 300 gigabytes of capacity.

- 1 Functional pair of headphones

This course requires a course fee of $75 which will be assessed on the students tuition for all Non-Music Industry majors. College of Music and Media majors will not be charged this course fee. Additional fees may be incurred during final project recording sessions as indicated below.

Course Requirements and expectations

Students are expected to attend all class meetings, online meetings, Canvas assignments and participate in discussions. Assignments will be assigned at regular intervals, and as needed by the instructor. A mid-term and final examination will be given on discussed class topics. A final project will be assigned and is due on the final day of class.

Course Objectives

This course is an advanced look at the techniques and methods required to be an effective audio engineer in a recording studio environment and builds upon tracking, mixing, editing, and effects usage knowledge learned in MUGN-M115 and MUGN-M225. This course seeks to enable the student to be able to plan, record, and mix a studio recording to professional quality standards using common practices. This course seeks to make the student knowledgeable in the history of recording studio development and future industry trends.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

● The student will be fully competent in common modern studio techniques. ● The student will be able to produce professional-quality audio recordings. ● The student will be familiar with contemporary audio technology and its uses. ● The student will have theoretical foundations suitable for further advanced study.

Course Outline

Weeks #1-3

Recording Studio Overview, Microphone Types, Preamp Basics, Overdubbing basics: ​ ● What a recording studio is, different types of studios, an overview of the recording process and its place in the music industry. ● Recording studio equipment, terminology, cable wrapping and care and handling of equipment. ● Connection Types, Cable Types: XLR, ¼ Inch, TRS, Balanced and Unbalanced. ● Microphone Types: Dynamic, Ribbon, Large and Small Diaphragm Condensers. Phantom Power. Popular microphone brands and models. ● Microphone polar patterns, and pattern characteristics. -Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Supercardioid, Hypercardioid, Figure Eight (Bidirectional). ● Basics of overdubbing, preamp operation, preamp selection, and optimal input level settings. ● Mic Level, Instrument Level, Line Level, Speaker Level.

Assignment #1 (Lab): Record a short 4-channel song by overdubbing using various sounds created in the Loyola studio or home studio, either with instruments or objects. Playback for class (or instructor) and discuss during Week 4.

Weeks #4-6

Microphone Techniques, Live Tracking Techniques, Overdubbing Techniques:

● Microphone Selection and Placement. ● Distant, Close, Ambient and Accent Miking. ● Phase, 3:1 Rule ● Proximity Effect

Stereo and Multi-Channel microphone techniques:

● Coincident Pair: XY, Blumlein, Mid/Side + Matrix ● Near-Coincident Pair: NOS, ORTF ● Spaced Pair: Decca Tree, AB

Other Recording Techniques:

● Direct Inputs ● Direct Boxes ● Re-amping ● High-pass and Low-pass filters. ● Pads ● Tracking "Live" vs. Overdubbing ● playlists/comping ● Direct signal vs. miked signal

Lab Assignment #2 (Lab): Record a singer/songwriter musician in stereo using 3 different microphone techniques. Play back the session for class ( or instructor) during Week 6.

(Assignment #2b ) Write a brief explanation of what microphone techniques you used and explain how you used them. Send to instructor via Canvas.

Weeks #7-8

Recording Techniques of Specific Instruments:

Recording Techniques: Drums, Bass, Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Acoustic/Electric keyboards, Hammond Organ/Leslie, Horns, Vocals, and other instruments and situations upon student's request.

● Common microphone types and choices specific to each instrument. ● Common miking techniques and choices specific to each instrument. ● Common preamp, channel strip, outboard gear, and signal chain choices specific to each instrument and situation.

Studio signal flow:

● What is a "signal chain"?

Written Mid-term Examination

Assignment #3 (Individual): Begin recording of Final Project. Meet with the instructor to show progress and ask questions.

Weeks #9-12

Continue Recording Techniques of Specific Instruments.

Outboard gear types, use and integration to the DAW:

● Common classic outboard preamps (API, Neve, Grace, Etc.) ● Common classic outboard compressors (LA-2A, 1176, Dbx 160, Etc.) ● Common outboard EQ ● Other common outboard processors and effects. ● Common order of connection of outboard gear in the signal chain.

Other recording studio subjects and techniques:

● Headphone monitoring and routing ● Click tracks, scratch vocal tracks ● Talkback mic operation ● Patch bay set up (thru, normal, half-normal). ● Tips for providing the artist with a rough mix. ● Cleaning and preparing tracks for the mixing engineer. ● How to maximize your home recording setup.

Begin Final Project:

● Pre-Production ● Project timelines

-Watch Tom Dowd & The Language of Music documentary

-Typical plug-in usage and outboard gear integration

-Playlists/Comping Tracks

Weeks #13-14

Individual meetings with instructor about the Final Project:

● Sign up for a time slot to meet with the instructor in the studio during class time. ● Discuss progress on the final project. ● Ask the instructor any specific questions about the final project or topics covered in class.

Assignment #4 (Individual): Complete the tracking of your final project. Do a rough mix of ​ ​ your song, play mixes for class (or instructor) during last class of Week 14.

Begin discussion on overview of mixing.

WEEK 15-16 (ONLINE ONLY)

Overview of a putting together presentable mix (This is not a class about mixing specifics).

● Gain Structure ● Panning ● EQ ● Compression/Bus Compression ● Reverb/Delay ● Plugins

Overview of what Mastering is (This is not a class about mastering specifics). ​ ● Overall Level ● Song to song level ● Commercially comparable level ● Metadata & ISRC Codes ● EQ ● Multi-band Compression (L2, L3 Plugin) ● Presenting Masters for distribution and manufacturing (Hi-Def, 16/44.1, DDP, MP3) ● Mastering for Vinyl

Final Exam to be completed on last day of class on Canvas.

The FINAL PROJECT is due by last day of class week 16. ​ For Final Project Please include:

1) The multi-tracked session in ProTools or Logic as it would be prepared for a mixing engineer.

2) A presentable bounced stereo master track, which uses at least one mastering plugin. Include a brief written description of the process used and which plugin(s) you used. ​ ​ (Word Document or PDF for written portion)

**(You WILL NOT be graded on the mix quality, but WILL be graded on the ability to execute the process of capturing the content, and applying the techniques covered in this course).

3) Deliver above content in one of the following ways:

Leave a usb memory stick with the instructor OR share a zip file on the instructors ​ ​ Google Drive [email protected])

Evaluation

Final Grading will be determined by the following component areas:

Assignments, Labs & Quizzes, Attendance 30%

Mid-term Examination 20%

Final Examination 20% Final Project 30%

Grading Scale

96-100%=A 90-95%=A-

87-89%=B+ 83-86%=B 80-82= B-

77-79%=C+ 73-76%=C 70-72=C-

67-69%=D+ 61-66%=D

0-60%=F

Assignments:

Assignments are due on the due-dates as assigned by the instructor. Assignments are not accepted after the due date and will be given zero credit if late. Electronic submission of assignments is accepted when allowed by the parameters of the assignment. Canvas will be used per instruction by the instructor.

Studio Labs (May change this semester due to Covid, per instructions from the instructor)

A bi-weekly 2-hour meeting with an assigned Teaching Assistant is required while enrolled in the course. Objectives and goals will be assigned for each lab meeting. Students ​ ​ can use the Monroe Library Mac Lab (room 113), recording studios, or other similar facilities for completing class assignments. ​ Assisted Labs

Students can work with Teaching Assistants to schedule lab times in the school studios as needed. The teaching assistant will enable access to the Recording Studio and schedule studio usage.

Final Project Specifications:

● The final project must be a single song consisting of a minimum of 8 recorded channels of audio, with at least four unique rhythmic or melodic elements, and lasting no longer than 5 minutes. Instruments like a drum set will only count as 1 unique element regardless of the number of channels captured. ● The project must be recorded in its entirety in a Loyola recording studio using either Pro Tools or Logic Pro Software. (Pro Tools Encouraged) ● A list of current studio teaching assistants will be provided to the class. They must be contacted and all studio sessions are scheduled through them. (Unless instructed otherwise)

Teaching Assistant info below may change based on current Covid situation and guidelines. Instructor will provide TA details on a case by case basis. ​ ● Studio teaching assistants must be present at all times during your final projects and the ​ ​ studio must be scheduled by them. (Unless cleared by Instructor/Staff) ● Students, musicians or other parties are not allowed to be in the studio unsupervised. ● Studio teaching assistants are students themselves and have limited availability for assisting with projects. If a teaching assistant declines your request for assistance for any reason, you must seek another teaching assistant immediately. Lack of a teaching assistant will not be accepted as an excuse for a project that is incomplete or defective, and zero credit will be awarded accordingly. ● Teaching assistants will not assist or intervene at any time during your recording sessions except if equipment damage or studio policy violations are imminent. They will not answer questions about recording methods, and such requests for assistance from them will be considered a breach of academic integrity and result in zero credit and other academic penalties. ● Studio sessions are to not exceed 4 continuous hours in length or else you will be assessed a fee at the rate of $20/hour. There is no limitation to the number of 4 hour long sessions that may be scheduled, assuming availability of teaching assistants who can be present. ● Projects submitted after the due date will receive zero credit and will not be accepted. Other students in the class are allowed to perform or play on your projects. Using outside or college of music groups is strongly suggested but not required. ● Use of Roussel Hall, Nunemaker Hall, CM 240 Band Room, and CM 230 Choir room, are available for use upon early request. Additional permission may be required from the managers of those facilities. ● Repair fees will be assessed to the student for any equipment damaged during the production of your final project if the value exceeds $75. ● Musicians, performers or the student are responsible for bringing all equipment necessary for the recording session to the studio. The studio will not provide any instruments for use. ● Order and cleanliness in the studio must be maintained before and after your session. All cables and equipment must be stored properly and returned to its correct location. ● The studio does not give any assurances that there will be hard drive space available on the computer or that the drives will be functional for use while recording. You are required to bring your own hard drives and to keep regular backups of all files used during the course.

Student Media Files and Data

Students should bring their hard drive to class and use it for storage needs. Hard drives that the studio provides can be used, but student data will be removed periodically. PLEASE SAVE SESSIONS ON YOUR HARD DRIVE AFTER EACH SESSION. The studio does not make any warranties that student data will be safe and protected from loss or tampering if studio hard drives are utilized. Work should be backed up on some external media ( flash drive, hard drive, etc.) on a regular basis. Hard drives provided by the studio may be purged periodically, possibly without notice.

Lab Policies ​ Food and drink including water is prohibited in the recording studio control room at all times. Smoking is not allowed in any part of the building, including the fire stairways. Dismissal from class will result if this policy is violated. Alcoholic beverages are also not tolerated and may result in disciplinary action if brought into the studio by the student or any talent that may be recorded during the duration of the course.

Attendance Policy

**Attendance policy for fall semester will be assessed on a case by case basis due to Covid.

IF YOU FEEL ILL PLEASE DON’T COME TO CLASS, AND CONTACT INSTRUCTOR ON HOW TO PROCEED.

Students may be absent for 2.5 hours of instructional time during the semester without penalty. Doctor’s notes or other documentation detailing the reason for absence is not required. Absences exceeding 2.5 hours during the semester incur a grade reduction. Every 30 minutes of instructional time missed beyond the initial 2.5 hours incurs a penalty of 4% off of your final grade in the course. Absences due to university activities, when approved by the department and the instructor in advance, will be excused and not ​ ​ counted as missed instructional time. You will receive an “F” if you are absent without excuse for 5 instructional hours of time during the semester. Students are responsible for information missed during absence. Instructor will not provide lecture notes or assistance with missed material.

Canvas

The Canvas system will be used for posting of announcements and grades,links to websites, videos and distribution of documents at the discretion of the instructor. ​ ​

Cell Phones

Turn off cell phones in class. Cell phone RF transmissions may compromise the quality of audio recordings while they are in progress.