Course # / Title:	AET 4190 Recording Techniques
Course Credit Hours:	3 Credit Hours
Semester:	Summer Session 2008 (Full Term)
Instructor:	Bil VornDick – BBA. - Music Business
Instructor Contacts:	615-948-6251; bilinstudio@comcast.net
Instructor Office Hours:	Available before or after class
Class Location:	Ocean Way Studios – 17^th and Edgehill, Nashville, TN
Meeting Time(s):	Saturdays, 10am - 3:30 pm
Final Exam:	August 2^nd, 2008 10am

Course Description:

AET 4190. Recording Techniques (3). Prerequisites: AET 3090, AET 3190, and permission of instructor. An intensive study of microphone design and techniques used for recording acoustic instruments. Hands-on experience is provided in several methods of recording different instruments and vocalists to produce a variety of musical and non-musical results. Course of study includes a research project in microphone technology and applications. Lab hours required. ($30.00 course fee)

Course Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

ú explain the need for, and demonstrate a satisfactory preparation of digital delivery systems with in depth discussion of initializing and formatting for proper usage and storage, including partitioning, and read and write security

ú apply advanced miking techniques using all microphone types

ú learn and apply a technical language for use within the audio industry

ú demonstrate the archival and storage of Digital audio information

ú describe the overtone series of instruments in various key signatures and how it relates to microphone and microphone pre amp selection, and equalization

ú examine microphone selection in regard to tonal color and preamp selection.

ú implement microphone techniques on acoustic and eclectic instruments

ú know aliasing feedback and how it relates to distortion in analog to digital converters

ú predict the mixing tonal spectrum for instrument placement in a mix

ú demonstrate competency in multiple studio environments

Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:

ú demonstrate the ability to take apart microphones

ú explain the design and progression of technology

ú discriminate advanced microphone characteristics and their relationships to tonal color, placement, and pre amp choices and combinations

ú express an accurate, advanced technical language and problem solving ability using the advanced techniques relayed by the instructor

ú practice listening to inter harmonic overtones (Resonant Dominate Frequencies) that can conflict in the mix with acoustic and electric instruments

ú critique out-of-phase stereo miking techniques

ú apply advanced stereo miking techniques

ú perscribe session setups in Ocean Way A, B and C.

ú demonstrate proper data management for each song recorded

ú organize session notes and cumulative data collection according to NARAS standards

ú conduct (1) large group project during the semester

ú recognize the Nashville Number System

Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes mastery will be evaluated by:

ú Class participation

ú Group project

ú Technical paper

ú Final Exam

Activity	Credit	Purpose/Description
1. Group Project	30%	Projects will be done by teams and turned in on the last day.
2. Individual Project/Paper	30 %	Papers will be written by each student , that want to research answers on a topic or item they have always had questions about.
3. Final Exam	40%	A comprehensive test over course materials.
Total Points	100%

Course & Classroom Policies:

Attendance & Participation: Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.

Materials: A new notebook that you can keep for your career. Various handouts will be supplied by instructor. You will be responsible for all information contained in the handouts. A hard drive for group project, blank CD’s, paper, pen, CD marker, etc. is needed.

Grade Evaluation: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:

Grade	Percent (GPA)
A	94 (4.0)
A-	90 (3.7)
B+	87 (3.3)
B	84 (3.0)
B-	80 (2.7)
C+	77 (2.3)
C	74 (2.0)
C-	70 (1.7)
Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major.
D+	67
D	64
D-	60
F	< 60

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.

Class Schedule:

1	7-Jun	Intro to Oceanway; Oceanways staff instructs how the studio will be set-up and left. Console and routing discussed.
		Paperwork for studio use is reviewed and filled out. Student papers and projects are assigned.
		Archival recommendation of Digital Media is handed out and reviewed.
		Laminates made for class, handed out to each student.
2	14-Jun	Hard Disc Management, AF, Mic history, recording environment, microphone and mic pre application and discussion of this with Drum and continuing to most electric instruments.
3	21-Jun	Application of class 2. Live drummer in studio, education on tuning, micing styles. Class will be limited
		to 23 microphones, but each student must provide a drum mix with 3, 5, 7 & 9 of the microphones set-up.
		This will be a long class and usually goes past 5pm.
4	28-Jun	Application and lecture of miking techniques for all most acoustic instruments and vocals.
		Tonal color of mic and preamp combinations discussed.
	5-Jul	No class - 4th of July weekend. Work on group projects.
5	12-Jul	Acoustic performer comes in and the class applies the techniques learned in the previous class.
		Long class to about 4:30 p.m.
6	19-Jul	Band or artist comes in to perform. The class has to apply and choose the appropriate techniques learned in class.
		This class might take a field trip to NAMM for that Saturday. You will have assignments
		to complete while attending. It will be all day.
7	26-Jul	Mixing techniques, bussing, and routing with outboard gear, plug-ins are talked about and applied to mixes. Some
		Secrets of the art form are demonstrated.
		Class elects what they need to know more about at the end of class 6. Time in class 7 is spent to fill
		in any unknowns.
8	2-Aug	Final Exam. Students papers are due. Team projects are due and listened to in class. How to "get in the door and stay there” is discussed.