Music 181

Recording Arts I

 

Christy Coobatis, Instructor

ccoobatis@miracosta.edu

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This class is an introduction to the physics of sound, sound recording, and sound reproduction.

 

Topics: The sound chain, basic midi techniques, studio geography, and studio organization and operation will be studied. Basic music skills will be introduced.

 

Materials needed: If you plan on continued work in the Recording Arts Program, t is suggested to purchase a Mackie Hard Drive for their hard disk recording system as soon as possible.  See Mackie.com for details. Your favorite cassette or DAT tape can be used for mixdowns.  

 

Grading: Grades will be based on attendance, participation, and a demonstrated knowledge of the sound chain at the end of the semester.

 

Textbook: Modern Recording Techniques, Fifth Edition, by Huber and Runstein.

 

Website: http://crusher.miracosta.cc.ca.us/cgi-bin/etudes.acgi?request,logframe!cs_id,26855534!

 

Attendance: You are expected to attend every class and to stay the whole time! In class discussion is vital to understand studio procedures and operation. If your attendance drops off you may be dropped from the class. To avoid a poor grade it is your responsibility to drop before the prescribed drop dates. Do not expect to be dropped by the instructor.

 

Office Hours: after class every day or by arrangement

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Student Objectives

 

Students will be evaluated through competency tests. Access to the studios will depend on meeting specific proficiencies.

 

 

 

Following are the proficiencies that must be demonstrated.

 

 

1st Competency Test:

Input channel - Signal path from microphone through the input channel , the 2-track mix and to the near field monitors.

Parametric EQ. - Demonstrate a prescribed tone control manipulation using a Quasi-parametric EQ.

Suggested completion Week 1-2

 

2nd Competency Test:

Tracking - Signal path from the input channel to assigned tracks on the ADAT or Mackie HD. The signal must be monitored at the same time.

Monitoring multi-track - Signal path for monitoring tracking and pre-recorded tracks.

Head phone send - Signal path to auxiliary 1 and or 2 to headphones. The signal must also be monitored in the booth.

Suggested completion Week 2-3

 

3rd Competency Test:

Make sure the elements of the headphone distribution system are all intact.

 

Set up the mixing console as we have previously done with the source signal going into two input channels.  Configure the mixing board so the signal can be sent to the headphones from two tape return channels.  Discuss how the headphone mix can be monitored in the control room.

Suggested completion Week 3-4

 

4th Competency Test:

1)  Set up the mixing console to record as you did in the previous competencies.

2)  Configure the aux sends from both the input and return side of the console that are normalized to the outboard effects.

3)  Describe the various ways you could assign the effects to track them.

4)  Describe the various ways to monitor the effects without tracking them.

Suggested completion Week 4-5

 

5th Competency Test:

Final Project

 

Suggested completion Week 5-6

 

A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations. Please contact your instructor and/or the Disabled Students Program and Services Office for further information.

revised Summer 2003

 

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