RCA Studio B (unless
otherwise notified)
Instructor: Ken Landers
landersk@mail.belmont.edu
615-460-6174
Barbara Massey Hall #246
Office
Hours:
Class Description: A detailed study of the
technical characteristics and performance of each component of the recording
studio. Topics include basic studio electronics and signal flow, tape machine
alignment, dynamic processing, basic microphone design, studio acoustics, basic
session procedures, and the role of the assistant engineer. Emphasis is placed
on developing audio perception skills for recording engineers. Lab hours
required.
Required Materials:
1. Text. Audio in Media 6th edition by Stanley Alten. Wadsworth 2002.
2. 1/4 analog tape, DTRS (hi-8) tape, DAT tape, and CD-R.
Course Content: This course covers a wide range of material. It will move very fast. Topics covered will include: microphones, direct boxes, console signal flow (for at least two consoles), analog recording, compression and limiting. Students will work on vintage and modern equipment alike gaining a wide body of experience.
Attendance: Students may miss up to four class periods throughout the semester without any grade reduction. After four misses, a students final grade will be reduced by 5%. After six misses, the students final grade will be reduced 10%. After eight absences, the student will be removed from the class roster and withdrawn from the class with a grade of F.
Labs. Attendance is mandatory. The lab times are as follows:
|
Section |
Day |
Time |
Location |
|
MBU 3090.03A |
Wednesday |
|
RCA-B |
|
MBU 3090.03B |
Friday |
|
RCA-B |
|
MBU 3090.04A |
Monday |
|
RCA-B |
|
MBU 3090.04B |
Friday |
|
RCA-B |
Projects. Each student will have two recording projects, one in RCA Studio B, and the other in Studio C at the CEMB studios. The RCA Studio B project will be on analog tape; the CEMB Studio C project will be in the DTRS format (8 tracks). Multiple sessions will be assigned for students for each project.
Assisting Hours. The best place to learn recording is in the studio. As an assistant engineer, you will help out engineers in the Audio I and Audio II classes and will help them complete their assignments. For full assisting credit, you will need at least 20 hours of assisting during the course of the semester. You can get extra credit for up to 5 extra hours of assisting time (25 hours total).
Assignments. Students will be responsible for all assignments given in class including readings, papers, and other assignments.
Exams.
There will be at least 3 tests and a comprehensive final exam in the
course of this class. No makeup or late exams will be given. If you
know you must miss an exam, see the instructor at least one week prior to the
test date.
The finals will be at the following time:
Section
.03 Monday, December 13th @
Section
.04 Friday, December 10th @
Grade Evaluation.
100 93 = A 89-87 = B+ 79-77 = C+ 69-67 = D+ < 60 = F
92 90 = A- 86-83 = B 76-73 = C 66-63 = D
82-80 = B- 72-70 = C- 62-60 = D-
ITEM/ CRITERIA PERCENTILE
1. Attendance/Participation 10%
2. Tests (3) 20% (combined)
3. Final Exam 25%
4. Individual Projects/Assignments 20%
5. Labs 15%
6. Assisting Hours 10%
Audit Students. As per the
current Belmont University Bulletin (catalog), students who audit are
allowed to attend classes as a non-participant
in a non-credit, non-degree seeking status. However, audit students are encouraged to
participate in class discussions and labs and to attend and observe recording
sessions in the CEMB studios. Students
who audit will not be given recording projects or allowed to assist as an
assistant engineer on project recording sessions. In addition, since auditing has non-credit
status, participation as an audit student will not meet the minimum
qualifications for booking and participating in recording sessions held in
Accommodation of Disabilities.
In compliance with
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Ace,
Honor Code: The
The following is provided so that you can retain a copy of the honor code for your reference.
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.
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Audio I (sections .03 and .04) Project Requirements Fall
2004
You
are required to record & mix two Recording Projects as part of AE1. These projects will give you practical,
hands-on recording experience, and will require you to organize and coordinate
sessions as well as record the music. If
you have any questions after reading these requirements, please see your
instructor.
Students
are required to do the same song with project 1 being a demo and project 2
being a master recording. If you
choose to work this way, that is no problem; however you are not constrained to
this methodology.
MATERIALS
REQUIRED
·
1 Hi-8mm Metal
Particle (MP) tape (available at Corner Music,
·
4 blank CD-Rs
with jewel cases (do not use CD-A discs)
·
Neato Labels
for CD-Rs (provided at RCA Studio B)
·
2 analog tape
(provided at RCA Studio B)
·
1/4 analog
tape (provided at RCA Studio B)
·
7 box label
(provided at RCA Studio B)
·
2 manila
envelopes with clasp (or equivalent) to turn in projects (will contain CDs,
1/4 tape, & paperwork)
GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS
·
Engineers may
not perform on their own sessions.
·
Assistant
Engineers may not perform on sessions.
·
Only enrolled
AE1 students may assist on AE1 sessions.
·
Scheduled
Engineers or Assistant Engineers who do not show up for confirmed sessions will
lose ten points from their FINAL grade.
Assistant Engineers who must miss a session must contact the Engineer
and make arrangements for a replacement.
It is the responsibility of the Assistant Engineer to find their
substitute.
·
Only moving
coil microphones may be used no exceptions.
·
Turn in
projects separately (different envelopes).
SCHEDULING
SESSION TIME
·
Project
sessions are assigned in class. The
sessions are considered on HOLD, and are posted in RED typeface on the Studio
Schedule website: http://campus.belmont.edu/mb/studio/schedule.htm.
·
Complete a
WORK ORDER, and turn in to appropriate Studio Manager. Once verified, your session is CONFIRMED, and
is posted in GREEN typeface on the Studio Schedule website.
·
Work Orders
must be submitted no less than 2 weeks prior to the first session.
·
Schedule
change requests must be submitted directly to the appropriate Studio Manager.
PROJECT
#1
Studio: Center for Music Business, Studio C, Massey
Equipment: Mackie recording console, Tascam DA-88
8-track digital tape recorder, HHB CD Recorder
Materials:
1 Hi-8mm tape, 2 CD-Rs with jewel cases, 2 Neato labels
Turn In: 1 labeled
CD-R of the finished mix and required paperwork
1. RECORD
·
You have 2
sessions to record tracks through the Mackie console to the Tascam DA-88.
·
Required
Instrumentation: vocal, with no less
than three supporting instruments; guitars, keyboards, BGVs, and percussion are
suggested. Due to room size and lack of
isolation, drum kits are not to be recorded in Studio C.
·
You may not
use more than 8 tracks.
·
You may use as
many overdub passes as necessary to record the parts.
2. MIX
·
You will have
1 session to mix the tracks through the Mackie console and print the final mix
to the HHB CD Recorder. Print 2 copies
of the mix: a Master copy to turn in and
a Safety copy to keep.
Audio I
(sections .03 and .04) Project Requirements
Fall 2004 (cont)
3. PROJECT #1
REQUIRED PAPERWORK (EXAMPLES IN LAB BOOK)
·
1. Properly labeled mix CD Use Neato Label
·
2. Track Sheet/Microphone List (Mic List is on reverse side of Track Sheet)
·
3. Signal Processing Log: For both the record & mix sessions you
are required to keep a log of all signal processors used, in what order (signal
flow), and the settings. This includes
mic preamps, compressors, noise gates, and effects. Notate all settings: reverb & delay times, name of reverb or
effect program, compression ratio, threshold, etc.
·
4. Credits: Include all personnel who worked on or
contributed to this session: Client,
Producer, Artist, Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Musicians (and which
instruments they played), Vocalists, Staff Engineer
·
5. Cue Sheets: Lyric Sheet, Separate Chord Chart. Each notated with Tape Times for major sections
of the song.
·
6. Session Invoices:
Total of 3 track, overdub, mix
PROJECT
#2
Studio: RCA Studio B
Equipment: API 2098 recording console, Otari MTR-90II 2
16-track analog recorder, Otari MTR10 1/4 2-track analog recorder, Pro tools
LE system
Materials:
2 analog tape, 1/4 analog tape, 2 CD-Rs with jewel cases, 2 Neato labels
Turn In: 1 1/4 analog tape of the finished mix, 1
labeled CD-R of the finished mix and required paperwork
1. RECORD
·
You will have
2 sessions to record tracks through the API console to the Otari MTR-90II.
·
Required
Tracks: Drum Kit (bass drum, snare drum, toms, high hat, cymbals), bass
(electric or acoustic), Vocal, and at least 3 other instruments
·
You may add
any other tracks you wish to complete the song.
·
You must record
the rhythm section and a scratch vocal simultaneously. The rhythm section is to include at least a
drum kit, bass, and either a guitar or keyboard instrument.
·
You may not
use more than 16 tracks.
·
You may use as
many overdub passes as necessary to record the parts.
2. MIX
·
You will have
1 session to mix the tracks through the API console and print the final mix, simultaneously, to the Otari MTR10 1/4
2-track and the Pro Tools LE System.
·
Otari
2-track: Print reference tones first,
then the mix. Edit the head & tail
of the mix with white leader tape before and after it. Also insert leader before and after the
reference tones (LEADER TONES LEADER MIX LEADER).
·
Pro
Tools: Using the appropriate tools,
place a Fade-In at the head of the song and a Fade-Out at the tail. Normalize the mix to -.5dB. Bounce to disc as an AIFF file, then print 2
audio CDs of your final Pro Tools mix.
3. PROJECT #2
REQUIRED PAPERWORK (EXAMPLES IN LAB BOOK)
·
1. Properly labeled mix CD Use Neato Label
·
2. Properly labeled 1/4 analog tape use label provided by
RCA Studio B
·
3. Track Sheet/Microphone List (Mic List is on reverse side of Track Sheet)
·
4. Studio Layout: Show the locations
of each instrument in the studio during each phase of recording. Document mic locations & mic lines.
·
5. Signal Processing Log: For both the record & mix sessions you
are required to keep a log of all signal processors used, in what order (signal
flow), and the settings. This includes
mic preamps, compressors, noise gates, and effects. Notate all settings: reverb & delay times, name of reverb or
effect program, compression ratio, threshold, etc.
·
6. EQ
Processing Log: Document the EQ
settings of every channel used during the mix.
·
7. Credits: Include all personnel who worked on or
contributed to this session: Client,
Producer, Artist, Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Musicians (and which
instruments they played), Vocalists, Staff Engineer
·
8. Cue Sheets: Lyric Sheet, Separate Chord Chart. Each notated with Tape Times for major
sections of the song.
· 9. Session Invoices: Total of 3 track, overdub, mix
Honor Code
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.
Signature: ________________________________________
Date: ____________________________________________
Student Information Sheet
Name:
Local Address:
Phone Number(s):
E-mail Address(es):
Hometown:
Why are you interested in recording?
Things youd like to learn in this class:
Extracurricular
Activities (