Instructor: Michael
J. Janas
Contact: Office
RCA-B / Phone: 242.5167 / email: janasm@mail.belmont.edu
Course Credit: 3
Course Hours
Class Meeting Times: Sec 04
Tue-Thu
Class Lab Times: http://campus.belmont.edu/mb/studio/LabSchedule.html
Final Exam: 11am Friday,
December 9, 2005
RCA-B Website: http://campus.belmont.edu/rcastudiob/
Course Description: Prerequisites: MBU 111, MBU 138 and permission of instructor. A detailed study of the technical
characteristics and performance of each component of the recording studio. Topics include basic studio electronic signal
flow, tape machine operations, dynamic processing, basic microphone use, studio
acoustics, session procedures and the role of the assistant engineer. Emphasis is placed on developing audio
perception skills for recording engineers.
Course Objective: To gain experience in setting-up a
studio for a recording session; to gain an understanding of acoustic and
electronic signal flow; and to become familiar with the various tools
(microphones, consoles, machines, outboard gear, etc.); and to learn procedures
that will help make recording sessions go smoothly, enjoyably, efficiently, and
will result in quality recording.
GOALS OF THE
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.
“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:
Attendance:
University guidelines apply at all times. See the current Belmont University
Bulletin. Class attendance policy
follows the guidelines presented in the current Belmont University Catalog
(i.e., counts as 15% of your total grade for the class – see grade evaluation
chart below).
Class & Lab Materials:
Audio Engineering 1 Workbook (Studio Class Lab – the red one); Audio
in Media by
Participation: Students are expected to show a sincere
effort of co-operation, participation, and self-application during this course
of study. Students are expected to read
assigned text, recommended reading and handouts, and to fully complete ALL class, lab, workbook, and project
assignments.
Labs:
In order to gain experience with specific tasks, you are required to
participate in lab sessions. These sessions
are hands-on activities with small groups of students in each studio. Credit for lab participation is based on
individual attendance and participation.
Lab sessions times are posted on the CMB website: http://campus.belmont.edu/mb/studio/LabSchedule.html
Academic Testing:
There will be written exams as well as practical exams and pop tests
when/if needed. Each will be
comprehensive and inclusive of all class, workbook, and reading material
covered up to that date. ABSOLUTELY
NO "MAKE-UP" TESTS WILL BE GIVEN.
Basis of Final Grade Evaluations:
|
ITEM DESCRIPTION |
PERCENTILE CREDIT (% of 100
points) |
|
1. Class Attendance |
15 % |
|
0 days absent = 100 points credit; 1 days absent = 92 points credit; 2 days absent = 84 points credit; 3 days absent = 76 points credit; 4 days absent = 68 points credit; 5 days absent = Dropped from class
with F. |
|
|
2. Written Test #1 |
05 % |
|
3. Practical Exam (Mid-Term) |
05 % |
|
4. Written Test #2 (Take-Home) |
10 % |
|
5. Final Exam (Written 15% & Practical 10%) |
25 % |
|
6. Project 1 |
05 %
9/16-9/26, Due 9/27 |
|
7. Project 2 |
05 %
9/29-10/10, Due 10/11 |
|
8. Project 3 |
10 % Trks
10/17-11/8; Mix 11/9-12/4, Due 12/6 |
|
7. Assistance Sessions |
10 % |
|
8. Labs Participation |
10 % |
Grade Scale: As per current Undergraduate
Bulletin. No Curves.
Recording Projects: You are required to complete three Recording Projects. 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.
See the “AE1 Recording Project Requirements” for a complete description
of the projects, which will be handed out in class as well as posted to http://campus.belmont.edu/rcastudiob/ (the RCA Studio B website).
Approach these projects with the intent of putting into
practice the subject material covered in class.
To that end, Engineers WILL NOT perform on their own projects, and
Assistant Engineers WILL NOT perform on sessions they are assisting. You may, of course, perform on projects on
which you are not the Engineer or Assistant.
Late projects are not accepted.
Assistant Sessions: In order to gain hands-on experience, you are
required to serve as Assistant Engineer for recording sessions in the CMB and
RCAB studios. Credit for assisting is given
on an hourly basis. Each assistant hour
will receive a credit of 5 points. Bonus
credit may be earned by completion of more than 20 assistant hours (i.e., 20
hrs = 100, 21 = 105, 22 = 110, etc.) up to a maximum of 130 points. Credit hours will be logged via the CMB
Studio Invoice database system. You 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. As assistant you will be
required to keep all session records including: track sheets, studio layout,
signal processing, effects set-up, etc.
Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Audit Students: As per the current Belmont
University Bulletin, 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 Center
for Music Business studios. Due to time
constraints on studio availability, students who audit are NOT allowed to
assist as second engineer on project recording sessions and NOT given recording
project session time. In addition, since
auditing is a non-credit status, participation as an audit will not meet the
minimum qualifications for booking and participating in recording sessions held
in the Center for Music Business Studios (CMB).
Fall 2005 Class
Schedule
|
Aug 25 |
Class
Overview; RCA Studio B History |
|
Aug 30 |
Basic Electrical
Concepts; Studio Equipment Interface: The Patchbay |
|
Sep 1 |
Balanced
& Unbalanced Circuits; Audio Connectors; Absolute Polarity; dB Chart |
|
Sep 6 |
Signal
Flow: API Console |
|
Sep 8 |
Signal
Flow: API Console |
|
Sep
13 L1 |
Written Test #1; Equipment Operations: Otari MTR90
2” 16-track machine; Basic Analog Recording Theory |
|
Sep 15 |
Equipment
Operations: Pro Tools LE, HHB CD burner; Basic Digital Recording Theory Project #1 begins Friday,
9/16/2005 – Project #1 Documentation |
|
Sep
20 L2 |
RCA
Studio B Session Setup & Teardown: Mics, Mic Stands, Baffles, cable runs,
cues |
|
Sep 22 |
RCA
Studio B Session Setup & Teardown: continue above; create a cue mix |
|
Sep
27 L3 |
Microphones:
Types, Design, Patterns & Specifications Project #1 Due |
|
Sep 29 |
Microphones:
Techniques for Recording Voice and Acoustic Instruments; Proper Recording
Level Project #2 begins Thursday,
9/29/2005 – Project #2 Documentation |
|
Oct
4 L4 |
Microphones:
Techniques for Recording Amplified Instruments; Proper Recording Level |
|
Oct 6 |
Microphones:
Techniques for Recording Drums & Percussion; Proper Recording Level |
|
Oct
11 L5 |
Practical Exam #1 Project #2 Due; hand out Project
#3 Documentation |
|
Oct 13-16 |
FALL
BREAK: No Class, Lab, or Sessions |
|
Oct
18 L6 |
Equalizers Project #3 Tracking Sessions begin
Mon., 10/17/2005 |
|
Oct 20 |
Equalizers |
|
Oct
25 L7 |
Dynamic
Processors: Compressors, Limiters, Expanders, Noise Gates |
|
Oct 27 |
Dynamic
Processors: Compressors, Limiters, Expanders, Noise Gates |
|
Nov
1 L8 |
Distribute Test #2 (Take-Home); Time Processors: Reverberation
& Delay |
|
Nov 3 |
Time
Processors: Reverberation & Delay |
|
Nov
8 L9 |
Test #2 (Take-Home) Due at
beginning of class; Equipment Operations: Otari MTR10 Project #3 Mixing Sessions begin
Wed., 11/9/2005 |
|
Nov 10 |
Mixing
Considerations: Building a Mix, Proper Mix Level, Monitor Levels |
|
Nov
15 L10 |
Test #2
Class Review |
|
Nov 17 |
Loudspeakers: design, specs, placement |
|
Nov 22 |
dB-SPL,
dB-A, Db-C weighting; equal loudness principle; Fletcher-Munson |
|
Nov 23-27 |
THANKSGIVING BREAK: No Class, Lab, or Sessions |
|
Nov 29 |
Analog
Tape Machines: detailed operations, recording theory, alignment |
|
Dec 1 |
Analog
Tape Machines: detailed operations, recording theory, alignment |
|
Dec 6 |
Final
Review Project #3 Due |
|
Dec 9,
11am |
Final
Exam (written & practical) |