Principles of Audio Recording
This module will provide students with an understanding of the fundamentals of recording music. While media for recording has changed throughout history, certain principles remain the same. A firm understanding of these concepts will provide students with a definitive edge to approaching, handling and completing recording projects. Students will also learn the characteristic nature of analogue sound, how these affect the capturing pure audio signals and how they should be factored into any recording situation.
Total Hours: 15 hours
Principles of Digital Audio
This module will provide students with an understanding of the fundamentals of recording music. While media for recording has changed throughout history, certain principles remain the same. A firm understanding of these concepts will provide students with a definitive edge to approaching, handling and completing recording projects. Students will also learn the characteristic nature of analogue sound, how these affect the capturing pure audio signals and how they should be factored into any recording situation.
Total Hours: 15 hours
Principles of Acoustics
This module will provide students with a solid grounding in the acoustical principles of sound production and how these affect the techniques used to record it. Students will explore acoustic principles instrument by instrument, and how these can interact (and be altered) with the surroundings before even being captured by the microphone. Also covered in this module is the perception of sound through the mechanics of human hearing. A good understanding of this aspect of the human anatomy will help the student compensate aural perceptions in certain situations.
Total Hours: 15 hours
Principles of Amplification
This module will cover the fundamentals of amplification; signal flow in amplification, different classes of amplification and the difference between them for instance Class A vs. Class A/B. The main emphasis will be on how tone is affected by various factors such as circuitry, speaker design, voltage and headroom. Students will also explore total differences between certain established amplifier tones for instance the Marshall, Fender, Vox, Hiwatt and Rectifier guitar tones as well as between different speakers for instance Celestion Greenbacks, Vintage 30’s, Jensen and Fane speakers.
Total Hours: 15 hours
Audio Equipment
Students will be introduced to the standard equipment found in recording studios such as mixers, monitors, patchbays and microphones. Students will learn the concept of signal flow in the studio, gain structuring, the concept of insert and sends, bussing, gain structuring and impedance matching to get the best recording possible.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Signal Processors 1
In this module, students will learn the functions of basic signal processors used in mixing namely compression, gating, reverb and delay. Students will also be taught the difference between insert effects and send effects. Another type fundamental effects processing that will be covered in this module is equalization and how to properly use it.
Total Hours: 9 hours
Signal Processors 2
This module explores the parameters and operation of modulation effects such as flanging, phasing and chorusing. Other effects include tremolo, pitch shifting, amp simulations and more.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Intro to DAW
This subject covers the following topics
- Hard disc recording concepts
- Windows/views concept
- Track features MSR functions
- Audio editing, cropping, slicing, fade in/out, crossfade
- Aux sends, buss outputs, grouping, master track
- FX plug-ins, 3rd party interfacing
Total Hours: 9 hours
DAW: Logic
This module explores the inner workings of Apple’s Logic Pro digital audio workstation. Students will learn the operation of specific functions unique to Logic Pro for instance the concept of the environment in Logic, the EXS24, EVP88, Ultrabeat, Scuplture and Flex Time. Students will also explore the workflow of this DAW and how it integrates with other VSTi, Rewire programs.
Total Hours: 12 hours
DAW: Sonar X1
This module explores the operation of the unique functions of this windows based powerhouse DAW by Cakewalk. These include V-Vocal pitch correction, the Sonitus FX Suite, Channel Strip Effects, the percussion strip PX-64, the Vocal Strip VX-64 and the Vintage Channel VC64, Pro Channel, Dimension Pro, True Pianos Amber and Session Drummer 3.
Total Hours: 12 hours
DAW: Cubase
This module explores the features and new functions of this dual platform DAW from Steinberg. Students will learn the Steinberg workflow, specific Cubase only functions such as Key Editor, Sample Editor, Score Editor, Drum Editor, List Editor, Cubase’s MIDI Plug-ins, Groove Agent, Halion and Variaudio.
Total Hours: 12 hours
DAW: Pro Tools
This module explores the operation of the unique functions of Pro Tools 9. This version henceforth requires no propriety equipment by Digidesign/Avid which makes it accessible to many new users. Students will learn the Pro Tools interface, the workflow in Pro Tools, the virtual instruments in Pro Tools such as Xpandi, Boom, Structure and the AIR plug-ins Suite.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Mixing 1: Critical Listening
In this module, students will be taught to listen analytically to the differences in tone of mixes of popular songs from the 60’s to present day. A detailed exploration will be made of the tones of each individual instrument from bass drum to cymbals, from guitar to vocals in these mixes so as to prepare students with a right sonic mindset and mixing ear for mixing modules to come.
Total Hours: 6 hours
Mixing 2: Mixing Drums
As the name implies, this module will explore solely the art of mixing drums in various styles ranging from pop and rock to jazz and R&B. Taken concurrently with Drum Recording Techniques, students will understand the importance of different mixing techniques for stylistic musical considerations. The module will explore the mixing of the kit one drum at a time, through the use of compressor, gate, clip editing, submixing and a combination thereof.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Mixing 3: Mixing the Rhythm Section and Vocals
Taken concurrently with Bass Recording Techniques, Guitar Recording Techniques and Vocal Recording Techniques, this module will explore the mixing of the rhythm section on top of the drum mix in different musical styles and subgenres, how to compensate frequencies when mixing different instruments and how to achieve a spacious mix of instruments within the sonic spectrum.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Mixing 4: Advanced Vocal Treatments
In this module, students will learn ways to enhance how vocals can sound in a mix.
Taken concurrently with Advanced Vocal Recording Techniques, this module will explore the sonic possibilities of combining specific recording techniques with special applications of compressors, EQ, reverb and delay to achieve particularly desirable outcomes.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Mixing 5: Automation
In this module, students will learn how various automations can enhance the mix in different musical styles, specific applications that are often overlooked and discounted. Also, students will explore how creative use of automation can to add drama to a mix.
Total Hours: 6 hours
Mixing 6: Compression in Mixing
Often novice engineers rely to much on plug-ins’ presets rather than proper fundamentals when it comes to the compressor effect. Others neglect it too readily. This module serves to train the student to fully appreciate the usefulness of every single parameter of the compressor and how to master their uses quickly. Different compressors will be explored both hardware and plug-ins to help students discover their personal inclinations and preferences.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Mixing 7: Advanced Compression
This module continues where Compression in Mixing leaves of. Certain musical styles benefit from the use of multiple compressors place in a certain order. Students will investigate the use of these techniques in various genres and on a variety of musical instruments. Students will learn the techniques used by established sound engineers from around the world and get plenty of opportunity to experiment these techniques on their own audio projects.
Total Hours: 24 hours
Drum Recording Techniques
This module explores in detail the techniques that have been used to record the drum kit from the 60’s to present day. Students will learn the different microphone techniques that can be used on each individual drum from kick drum to snare and to tom-toms. Also covered in this module are the techniques of minimalist mic’ing techniques as well as individual drum mic’ing.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Advanced Drum Recording Techniques
This module builds on the topics already covered in Drum Recording Techniques and explores the tonal factors of drum sound. Students will get to explore the effect of drum shell construction on the fundamental of the drum, how different heads such as (Coated vs. Clear) heads determine the tone and how different classes of heads (Ambassadors vs. Pinstripes) change the sound being recorded.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Guitar Recording Techniques
This module covers the techniques of recording acoustic guitars and electric guitar amplifiers. Students will explore different microphone placement positions to capture the right sounds for the desired style of music being recorded, layering guitar sounds and stereo amplifier recording.
Total Hours: 18 hours
Advanced Guitar Recording Techniques
This module explores some of the less common techniques that have been used in the recording of electric guitar. Experimental techniques were predominantly used in the 60’s and 70’s and produced some of the greatest tones in rock and roll. Students will understand the differences between the Marshall, Vox and Fender sounds as well as the more boutique guitar tones.
Total Hours: 18 hours
Bass Recording Techniques
Students will be introduced to the recording of bass guitar with an emphasis on electric bass. Factors to electric bass tone will be explored and students will understand the sonic difference between mic’ing up a cabinet as compared to DI’ing through preamps, hence to determine the best method to record bass for the desired style of music.
Total Hours: 6 hours
Advanced Bass Recording Technique
This module emphasizes the recording of acoustic bass namely acoustic bass guitar, double bass for jazz styles and cello recording.
Total Hours: 6 hours
Vocal Recording Techniques
This module will introduce students to the techniques of vocal recording. Students will study the effects of different polar patterns on the recorded vocal, the effect of tube microphones as well as ribbon mics on the sound of recorded vocals.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Advanced Vocal Recording
This module builds on Vocal Recording but extends the techniques to include stereo microphone techniques such as MS and Blumlein arrays for individual and multiple vocalists recording simultaneously.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Post-Production
In this module, students will be introduced to audio in post production work that includes voiceovers, sound design, sound effects, foley and dialogue recordings. Although this module involves audio for video, students will also get to work with video for music applications.
Total Hours: 30 hours
The Business of Music
This module will introduce students to the inner workings of music business namely label operations, marketing, A&R, events management and music publishing. This course will teach the student how a recording can be made into a complete product with images, creative concept, and design. Students will also learn how to prepare a marketing plan for such a release, for to organize gigs in support of it and how to effectively promote it after its release. This important module will provide students with the necessary skills needed to enter the music industry or to start their own studios.
Total Hours: 30 hours
MIDI Sequencing
This module teaches the student the fundamentals of MIDI in the DAW. Students will explore the processes and approaches in preparing a MIDI sequence through the use of MIDI loops, core audio Apple Loops, software samplers and sequencers such as EXS24, Dr Rex Loop Player, Session Drummer and Ultrabeat.
Total Hours: 12 hours
MIDI Composition
This module will introduce the process of composing music through MIDI from scratch through the use of external MIDI or Software instruments, VSTi or Rewire applications or a combination thereof. Students will learn how to compose music using these samplers/instruments and then mix these MIDI tracks to produce a final mix using various techniques.
Total Hours: 18 hours
Sampling
This module will teach the student the processes involved in sampling audio, basic MIDI synthesis and explore software samplers in greater detail, the differences between additive and subtractive synthesis, applications of sampling in the production studio and how to build a personal audio library for the professional audio engineer.
Total Hours: 12 hours
Intro to Mastering
Students will be introduced to the basics of mastering audio and the various techniques used by mastering engineers. Topics covered include hiss- and noise reduction, dynamic range optimization, stereo width expansion, psychoacoustic harmonics and more.
Total Hours: 12 hours
