BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:  Live Recording Techniques

Course #: AET 4580

Credit Hrs: 3

Semester:  Spring 2007

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 – Mr. Tony Cottrill  (615) 460-6144   Email: cottrillt@mail.belmont.edu

 

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.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 

In this course, students will:

  • Understand the specific techniques of live recording as compared to studio recording
  • Understand how acoustics can affect a recording and learn how to use a venue’s acoustics to their advantage
  • Apply this knowledge through recording and mixing projects for stereo and surround broadcast systems
  • Analyze venues and sound systems for their suitability for live recording
  • Determine appropriate recording system configurations for a variety of acts and venues

 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:

 

Students will:

  • Demonstrate their knowledge through examinations
  • Write evaluations of performance halls and audio systems available at Belmont
  • Design a live recording rig for a specific purpose.
  • Record and mix CEMB showcases
  • Obtain and report on preliminary data regarding all class recordings.

 

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 available at http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=39

                                                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.      Acrobat Reader (free  at http://www.adobe.com)

                                                 v.      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 that is 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.  This includes showcases as well as other performances.  These will encompass many different types of music.  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 – 27 February 2007 in class

Final Exam – 3 May @ 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

11 Jan

Basics of Live Recording Systems

SRH 1-42

Hall/Performance 1 Assigned.

18 Jan

Power, Transformers, & Lines

SRH 281-302, 325-246

 

25 Jan

Signal Flow of MCMR Trucks

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

 

1 Feb

Room Assessment – Audience/Ambience Micing

SRH 43-60, SRH 113-148

Venue Assessment Assigned.

8 Feb

Urban Prep

 

 

10 Feb

Urban Showcase

 

 

15 Feb

Non-musical Recording Situations

 

Venue Assessment Due. 

22 Feb

Midterm Exam

 

H/P 1 Due. H/P 2 Assigned.

1 Mar

open

 

 

8 Mar

Spring Break

 

 

15 Mar

Recording System Design

SRH 71-112

Design Project Assigned.

22 Mar

Other Prep

 

 

24 Mar

Other Showcase

 

 

29 Mar

Live Film & Video Synchronization

SRH 390-408

H/P 2 Due. H/P 3 Assigned.

5 Apr

Easter Break

 

 

12 Apr

Art of Mixing Live Recordings

DSMM 44-51,

 

19 Apr

Thanksgiving Break

 

Design Project Due

26 Apr

Best of the Best Prep

 

H/P 3 Due.

28 Apr

Best of the Best

 

 

 

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.