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Course # / Title: |
AET 3090.02 Audio Engineering I |
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Semester: |
Spring 2008 |
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Instructor: |
Ken Landers, B.Mus., M.A. |
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Instructor Contacts: |
615.460.6174 landersk@mail.belmont.edu |
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Instructor Office Hours: |
Monday 1PM-3PM, Tuesday 11AM-1PM, Wednesday 9AM-11AM, Thursday 11AM-1PM |
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Course Credit: |
3 hours |
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Class Location: |
RCA Studio B, 1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203 RCA-B Office: 615-242-5167 http://campus.belmont.edu/rcastudiob/ |
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Meeting Time(s): |
9:30-10:45AM TR |
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Final Exam: |
Tuesday, 6 May 2008 @ 8AM |
Goals of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business: 1) To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship. 2) To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.
Course Description: Prerequisites: AET 1380 and permission of instructor. A detailed study of the technical characteristics and performance of each component of the recording studio. Topics include basic studio electronics and signal flow, dynamic processing, basic microphone design, studio acoustics, basic session procedures, and the role of the assistant engineer. Emphasis is placed on developing logistical as well as audio perception skills for recording engineers. Lab hours required. ($30.00 course fee)
Course Learning Outcomes: The student will demonstrate:
an understanding of the recording process used at RCA Studio B in the late 1950s and early 1960s
Performance Criteria: Students will:
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.”
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.
Course Requirements:
1. Attendance: Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.
a. After four total absences, a student’s final grade will be reduced by 5%. After six total absences, the student’s final grade will be reduced 10%. After eight total absences, the student will be removed from the class roster and withdrawn from the class with a grade of WF. Absences are excused at the discretion of the instructor.
3. Assignments: All projects are due at the beginning of class on the date stated below in the class schedule.
a. Assistant Engineering Assignment.
i. Song Chart. This involves charting song structure, identifying instruments and parts performed, and matching timings to a CD or downloaded recording. This is not about learning and charting chords, rather this is looking for “introduction, verse 1, chorus 1”, et al.
ii. Lyric Sheet. Using a word processor, format the song lyrics to match exactly what is on the recording. Provide boxes to the right of the lyric for marking takes.
b. RCA Studio B Song Analysis. Students will select a song that was recorded at historic RCA Studio B in its commercially operational years 1957-1977. Students must verify that the selected song was actually recorded at RCA-B with Mr. Landers or Mr. Janas to be accepted for credit.
i. Paper. Students will research the recording and include the following information in a well thought out and executed short paper (2 pages minimum). Students must provide the following information: label, album song was released on, song title, writer(s), engineer(s), producer(s), player(s) , and, if possible, recording format and anecdotes regarding the session. Citations must be in MLA form.
ii. Song Chart. As above, in the Assistant Engineering Assignment.
iii. Lyric Sheet. As above, in the Assistant Engineering Assignment.
c. Historic Song Analysis. Students will select a popular song (charted song in pop, country, rock, or similar charts) recorded and released prior to 1980. Otherwise, this assignment is identical to the RCA Studio B Song Analysis. The elements to be turned in include:
i. Paper. As above, see RCA Studio B Song Analysis
ii. Song Chart. As above, see RCA Studio B Song Analysis
iii. Lyric Sheet. As above, see RCA Studio B Song Analysis
d. Additional Assignments. The instructor reserves the right to add assignments as he deems fit or necessary. Any additional assignments will be averaged into the Additional Projects/Papers section of the grade evaluations.
4. Labs: Labs are hands-on activities with small groups of students in the studio. Credit for lab participation is based on individual attendance and participation.
5. Studio Recording Projects:
a. Project 1: Feb 5-11; due Feb 12. Lab Tape Mix 1. Student will have 1 hour to mix a song from the lab tape using only faders, pans, and mutes. Student will mix from both the channel side and the monitor side of the API console to Pro Tools. Student will have an assistant engineer to document console settings. Student will submit a CD of mix with proper documentation.
b. Project 2: Feb 12-18; due Feb 19. Lab Tape Mix 2. Student will have 1 hour to match a mix a specified song from the lab tape using only faders, pans, and mutes (the mix to be matched is printed on tracks 15-16). Student will mix from the channel side of the API console to Pro Tools. Student will have an assistant engineer to document console settings. Student will submit a CD of mix with proper documentation.
c. Project 3: Feb 19 - Mar 3; due Mar 4. Small Recording Session. Student Team (2 engineers) will have 3 hours to record and mix a song using 8 tracks or less. Student Team will have an assistant engineer to document console settings. Student Team will submit a CD of mix with proper documentation.
d. Project 4: Mar 4-17; due Mar 18. Large Recording Session. Student Team (2 engineers) will have 3 hours to record a song using up to 16 tracks. Student Team will have an assistant engineer to document console settings. Student Team will submit a CD of a rough mix with proper documentation.
e. Project 5: April 2-27; due April 29. Large Mixing Session. Student will have 3 hours to record and mix the song they tracked during the Large Recording Session. Student will have an assistant engineer to document console settings. Student will submit a CD and 1/4" copy of mix with proper documentation.
6. Assistant Engineer Sessions: In order to gain hands-on experience students are required to serve as an Assistant Engineer on sessions in any Belmont University studio, with a minimum of twenty (20) hours of assisting. Credit for assisting is given on an hourly basis. Each assistant hour will receive a credit of 5 points. Credit hours will be logged via the CMB Studio Invoice database system. Students must be properly booked on the session and sign the invoice at the end of the session in order to receive credit. If two (2) assistants serve one session, each assistant will receive 1/2 credit.
7. Testing:. Test dates. There will be 4 exams throughout the semester as follows:
a. Exam 1 31 January 2008
b. Exam 2 & Practical 26 February 2008
c. Exam 3 3 April 2008
d. Final Exam & Practical Tuesday, 6 May 2008 @ 8 AM
i. The instructor reserves the right to add unplanned or “pop” quizzes as he sees fit. Any “pop” quiz will be averaged with Exams 1-3 and will not be worth more than 5% of the Exam 1-3 grade.
ii. No make—up exams will be given. Students can only be excused from an exam with proper notification from the provost. In the case of excused, missed exams; the weight of the other exams will be adjusted accordingly in the calculation of the final grade.
iii. The mid-term exam (exam 2) and the final have a practical component as well as a written component. The practical exams count for 50% of the test grade.
8. Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin.
a. Itemized Credit
i. Attendance & Participation 10%
ii. Lab Attendance & Participation 5%
iii. Exams 45%
1. Exams 1-3 = 25%
2. Final = 20%
iv. Recording Projects 25%
v. Assisting Hours 5%
vi. Additional Projects/Papers 10%
1. Asst Engineering Assignment = 2%
2. RCA-B Assignment = 4%
3. Historic Song Assignment= 4%
Total Points (%) 100%
9. Class Schedule:
10 January Intro to Class, Tour, Assistant Engineering
15 January Lines, Balanced v. Unbalanced, Physics of Electrical Signals, Levels
17 January Decibels & Level Relationships
22 January Microphones; Physics of Sound in Air
24 January Microphones (cont) Recording Basics
29 January Microphones (cont), Stereo Mic Techniques
31 January Exam 1
5 February Basics of Signal Flow, Patchbay Usage
7 February Signal Flow – Aux systems
12 February Analog Tape Recording Theory
14 February Analog Tape Recorders – Usage
19 February Recording Techniques - Drums
21 February Recording Techniques – Guitars
26 February Exam II – Mid Term, Recording Signal Flow Practical
28 February Recording Techniques – Keys & Organ
4 March Recording Techniques - Vocals & Horns
6 March Dynamics
11 March Dynamics
13 March Equalization
18 March Delay
20 March Easter/Spring Break
1 April Reverb
3 April Exam III
8 April Mixing Techniques
10 April Mixing Techniques
15 April Analog Editing
17 April Digital Recording
22 April Digital Editing
24 April Final Review
29 April The Future of Audio