BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:  Live Recording Techniques

Course #: AET 4580

Credit Hrs: 3

Semester:  Fall 2006

Class Location:  CMB B-25 and other locations as scheduled/specified.

Meeting Time(s):  Tuesday 2:30-5:00 PM

Final Exam:  Thursday, 7 December 2006 @ 2:00 PM

Instructor:  Mr. Ken Landers,

Contacts:  Phone:  (615) 460-6174     E-mail: landersk@mail.belmont.edu

                Director of Sound Reinforcement  (615) 460-6144   Email: ?

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

Prerequisite: AET 3560 and permission of instructor. A practicum based study of live-concert recording techniques utilizing a remote recording truck. The course will also provide the follow-up experience of mixing and mastering the live-recorded project.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

In this course, students will:

  • Examine the differences between recording in live and studio situations
  • Understand how acoustics can affect a recording and learn how to use a venue’s acoustics to their advantage
  • Make multitrack recordings of a wide variety of musical acts in a number of environments and venues
  • Mix these recordings for stereo and surround playback systems
  • Engage in individualized projects to further the student’s knowledge of live recording
  • Determine appropriate recording system configurations for a variety of acts and venues

 

GOALS OF THE MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS:

 

The following objectives will be applied toward course completion:

·         To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.

  • To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments.
  • To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

 

HONOR CODE: It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code.

 

“In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

1.    Attendance: As per the current Undergraduate Bulletin.  Students are encouraged to attend all class sessions.  This class moves very fast and covers lots of material.  There will be no make-up exams given.  If a student has an excused absence (official notice from the provost) and misses an exam, the other exam grades will be averaged without that test.

 

 

 

 

2.         Materials:

a.        Textbook(s)

                                                   i.      Sound Reinforcement Handbook, 2nd Edition by Gary Davis & Ralph Jones, Hal Leonard 1990. 

                                                  ii.      Soundcraft DC-2020 User’s Guide - pdf format (Need a reader? – free one at http://www.adobe.com)

                                                iii.      Dolby Surround Mixing Manual (part no. 91536, Issue no. 2) available at: http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/tech_library/44_SuroundMixing.pdf

                                                iv.      Provided notes in print

 

b.       CD-Rs and DVD-Rs as needed (for backup and turning in projects)

 

c.        Web Access.  Students will be required to access various informational sources on the internet.  WebCT access (via BIC) is also necessary.

 

d.       (Optional – but suggested) A Firewire/IEEE-1394 (7200 rpm or better) or USB2 drive will allow project portability and speedy methods of backup.  See the instructor for suggested chipsets for audio usage.

 

3.         Participation and Prepared assignments: 

a.        Exams.  There will be two exams this semester, midterm and final.  Attendance is mandatory.

 

b.       Showcase Preliminaries Assignment (Solo).  Students will be assigned a particular aspect of information needed to be completely prepared for recording each MCCEMB showcase.  Completeness and accuracy are two of the hallmarks of a good preliminary assignment.

 

c.        Showcases.  As a team, students will make multitrack recordings of the MCCEMB showcases.  Attendance and participation in an assigned manner are mandatory.

 

d.       Recording Projects. As a team, students will make multitrack recordings of assigned Belmont performances.  Attendance and participation in an assigned manner are mandatory.

 

e.        Mix Projects.  Students will be assigned mixing duties for mixing the showcase and other performance multitrack masters into cohesive and artistically valid mixes.

 

f.         Venue Assessment Project (Solo).  Each student will be assigned a particular performance venue.  Students are required to research this particular venue and provide the class with complete specifications for the venue as related to recording.

 

g.       Recording Rig Design Project (Solo).  Each student will design a theoretical recording rig.  A complete rig will take into account audio gear, power, monitoring, vehicle (if appropriate), and any other systems critical to recording a live performance.

 

h.       Hall/Performance Evaluation (Solo).  Students will be required to attend at least 3 performances during the semester.  The student will evaluate how the hall, sound system, and engineers interact with the performers and present possible solutions for any problems perceived.

 

 

4.    Testing:  Midterm Exam – 5 October 2006 in class

Final Exam – 7 December @ 2:00 PM

 

5.    Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin.

 

ITEM CREDIT (or %) Provide an itemized list of participation credits below, must include value assigned to each item).

 

A.  Attendance/Participation                                             10%

B.  Exams                                                                              25%

C.  Showcases                                                                       20%

D.  Recording Projects                                                        20%

E.   Papers & Solo Projects                                 25%

Total Percentages = 100%

 

6.          Class Schedule:  Readings are to be read before the class meeting!

 

Date

Class Topic

Readings

Assignments

24 Aug

Basics of Live Recording Systems

SRH 1-42

Hall/Performance 1 Assigned.

31 Aug

Power, Transformers, & Lines

SRH 281-302, 325-246

 

7 Sept

Signal Flow of MCMR Trucks

DC 3.1 - 4.37  (pgs 36-77); SRH 149-208

 

14 Sept

Room Assessment – Audience/Ambience Micing

SRH 43-60, SRH 113-148

Venue Assessment Assigned.

21 Sept

Pop-Rock Preliminaries

 

 

23 Sept

Pop-Rock Showcase

 

 

28 Sept

Non-musical Recording Situations

 

Venue Assessment Due. 

5 Oct

Christian Preliminaries

 

H/P 1 Due.

H/P 2 Assigned.

7 Oct

Christian Showcase

 

 

12 Oct

Fall Break

 

 

19 Oct

Midterm Exam

 

 

26 Oct

Recording System Design

SRH 71-112

Design Project Assigned.

2 Nov

Live Film & Video Synchronization

SRH 390-408

 

9 Nov

Country Preliminaries

 

H/P 2 Due.

H/P 3 Assigned.

11 Nov

Country Showcase

 

 

16 Nov

Art of Mixing Live Recordings

DSMM 44-51,

Design Project Due

23 Nov

Thanksgiving Break

 

 

30 Nov

Showcase Analyses Wrap up

 

H/P 3 Due.

7 Dec

Final Exam @ 2PM

 

 

 

AiM = Audio In Media 7th Ed.

SRH = Sound Reinforcement Handbook

DC = Soundcraft DC2020 User’s Guide pdf

DSMM = Dolby Surround Mixing Manual

 

ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITIES:

 

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.  If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.