AET 3090.01                                                                                      8 AM TR

AET 3090.02                                                                                      9:30 AM TR

RCA Studio B (unless otherwise notified)

 

Instructor:      Ken Landers

                        landersk@mail.belmont.edu (always the best way to reach me!)

                        615-460-6174

                        Barbara Massey Hall #246

                        Office Hours: 11 AM - 5 PM W.  Other hours by appointment.

                       

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.      Text.  Make Mine Music by Bruce Swedien.  MIA Press 2004.

 

For Recording Materials – See the project requirements later in this syllabus. 

 

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.  Students are responsible for learning all presented material from class and texts.

 

Attendance:  Students may miss up to four class periods throughout the semester without any grade reduction.  After four misses, a student’s final grade will be reduced by 5%.  After six misses, the student’s 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  After eight absences, the student will be removed from the class roster and withdrawn from the class with a grade of F. 

                        Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled studio sessions.  Failure to attend a scheduled session can result in a 10% reduction of your final grade.  If you need to change your studio time – see Mike Janas, RCA B Studio Manager.  janasm@mail.belmont.edu.  Sometimes he will be able to arrange for you to have a different time.  Do not wait until the last minute to change times however.  This will result in the studio sitting empty for your original session and may block other students from using the time.

 

 

 

 

Labs.  Attendance is mandatory.  The lab times are as follows:

                       

Section

Day

Time

Location

AET 3090.01

Monday/Wednesday

1.00 – 1.50 PM

RCA-B

AET 3090.02

Monday/Wednesday

2.00 – 2.50 PM

RCA-B

Students will attend one of the two weekly sessions (either Monday or Wednesday) as assigned.

 

Lab and Class Schedule.

 

WEEK

LAB

1

Session Setup

2

Signal Flow-ProTools

3

Mic Lab 1 (vocals, piano, acoustic instruments)

4

Mic Lab 2 (amps & other electric instruments

5

Mic Lab 3 (drums & perc)

6

EQ

7

Dynamics

8

Reverb & Delay

9

Mixing

10

Analog Alignment

 

 

LABS: BRIEF DESCRIPTION (12 labs, each lab is 50 minutes)

Setup Labs: Orientation to RCA-B studio: goal is to acclimate AE1 students and enable them to assist

Signal Flow:  route signal thru console to tape machines using an oscillator & a mic prep for the Mix Project

Mic Lab 1:  Prep for Live-2trk project: mic piano, acoustic guitar, and vocal

Mic Lab 2:  Micing techniques for amplified instruments, including elec gtr, organ; include DI

Mic Lab 3:  Techniques for drum micing.

EQ Lab:  Practice using the console eq and the Lang EQ. 

Comp-Gate Lab:  Practice using the comps & gates. 

Reverb-Delay Lab: Practice using plates, chamber, spring reverb and tape delays.

Mix Lab 1:  10 minute rough mix, then print 30 seconds of it to Pro Tools & 1/4", edit head-tail.

Mix Lab 2:  Mix using students' choice of outboard, print to Pro Tools & 1/4"  & edit.

Analog Alignment:  Students align 2-trk. 

 

Projects.  Each student will have two studio projects in RCA Studio B. 

1.      The first project will be a 2 session 8 Track Record & Mix Project.  The student will mix a previously recorded multi-track tape and will perform the task of balancing levels, equalization of tracks, use of dynamics processing, and spatial (time-based) effects.  You will have one session to complete this project.  (4 studio hours)

 

2.      The third project is your full 2 session 16 Track Record & Mix Project.  It will involve two sessions.  The first session will be a tracking session.  Here the emphasis will be on the rhythm section recording and getting a good basic track.  The second session will be for overdubs.  Typically solo instruments, solo vocals, and background vocals are done during overdubs.   The third session will be a mix session where you will use the mix skills developed in the earlier projects to create a cohesive mix on analog 2 track and in a digital format to be determined.  (8 studio hours)

 

Assisting Hours.  The best place to learn recording is in the studio.   As an assistant engineer, you will work with 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.

 

Class Report/Presentations.  Students will do at least two (2) or more (if assigned) recording reports and class presentations.  The first will be a recording analysis of a song recorded at RCA-B from 1957-1977.  The second will be a recording done before 1980 in any recording studio. 

 

            The student will scrutinize the original recordings and will seek to provide information on instrumentation and production techniques used to make this recording.  Students will present their finding to the class in a short (5 minute) oral presentation and will turn in a typed and well-edited report documenting their findings.  Grammar, spelling, and presentation count towards full credit.

 

Assignments.  Students will be responsible for all assignments given in class including readings, papers, and other assignments.

 

Readings:  Students will be responsible for all material presented in the text books regarding any subjects discussed.  For example, a test question may come from a chapter discussing microphones even if that particular aspect of microphones is not discussed in class.

 

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 given at the following times:

                        Section .01 – Thursday, May 4th, 2006 @ 8 AM

                        Section .02 – Tuesday, May 9th 2006 @ 8 AM

 

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-

 

Grading Criteria.

            ITEM/ CRITERIA                                          PERCENTILE

1.         Attendance/Participation                                             10%

2.         Tests (3)                                                                      30% (combined)

3.         Final Exam                                                                  20%

4.         Individual Projects/Assignments                                 20%

            a.  Studio Project 1                                                              5%

                b.  Studio Project 2                                                              10%

                c.  Projects/Presentations                                                   5%

5.         Labs                                                                            10%

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 Belmont’s studios.

 

Accommodation of Disabilities.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Ace, 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 this disability, please notify Tammye Tanksley, Director of Counseling and Developmental Support in the Office of the Dean of Students (460-6407) as soon as possible.

 

Honor Code:  The Belmont community values personal integrity and academic honesty as the foundation of university life and the cornerstone of a premiere educational experience. Our community believes trust among its members is essential for both scholarship and effective interactions and operations of the University. As members of the Belmont community, students, faculty, staff, and administrators are all responsible for ensuring that their experiences will be free of behaviors, which compromise this value. In order to uphold academic integrity, the University has adopted an Honor System. Students and faculty will work together to establish the optimal conditions for honorable academic work.

 

 

 

Audio I (section .01, & .02) Project Requirements Fall 2005

 

You are required to do two Recording Projects as part of AE1.  They will be an 8 Track Record & Mix Project and a 16 Track Record and Mix Project.  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.

 

 

MATERIALS REQUIRED

·          6 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 their 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 dynamic 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.

 

8 TRACK RECORD & MIX PROJECT

Studio:  RCA Studio B

Equipment:  API 2098 recording console, Otari MTR-90II 2” 16-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 labeled CD-R of the finished and rough mixes and required paperwork

 

·          You will make a simple acoustic recording in the RCA B studio. 

·          Recordings will consist of one or more vocals accompanied by at least two instruments. 

·          Instruments and vocals may be punched or overdubbed as needed. – without exceeding 8 tracks.

·          All instruments and vocals must be recorded utilizing microphones to multitrack. 

·          You will do a final mix on the second session using effects processing.

·          You will mix into the ProTools LE system.

·          Pro Tools Mix Information:  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 BWF (Broadcast WAV) file, then print 2 audio CDs of your final Pro Tools mix.

 

16 TRACK RECORDING & MIXING PROJECT

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 and rough mixes and required paperwork.

 

1.  RECORD

·          You will have 1 session 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. 

·          You may bounce tracks in order to free tracks for additional recording.

·          Direct Boxes (DI boxes) may be used for bass only.  All other electric instruments must be recorded utilizing amplifiers, speakers, and microphones.

 

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 BWF (Broadcast WAV) file, then print 2 audio CDs of your final Pro Tools mix. 

 

 

 

REQUIRED PAPERWORK FOR PROJECTS (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. Session Recall Documents:  All settings and patches used in the session should be notated on session recall documents.

·          6. 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.  Also include all song info including writing and publishing credits.  Don’t forget PRO info.

·        7. Cue Sheets:  Lyric Sheet, Separate Chord Chart.  Each notated with Tape Times for major sections of the song.

·        8.  Session Journal.  Minimum one page per session detailing the events of the session.

Student Information Sheet – write neatly.  I will be contacting you via the following email address and phone number if necessary.

 

Name:

 

Local Address:

 

 

Phone Number(s):

 

E-mail Address(es):

 

 

Hometown:

 

 

Why are you interested in recording?

 

 

 

 

Extracurricular Activities (Belmont and locally – sports, bands, church, community, etc.):

 

 

 

 

Favorites

Band (Recording Artist):

 

 

 

Album (CD):

 

Style of Music:

 

Song:

 

Movie:

 

 

TV Show:

 

Radio Station/Show/Podcast:

 

 

Website:

 

                                                               

Technology:  (Gadget, Software, etc.)