Studio Techniques 1

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Sampling and synthesis
• Dynamics and Equalisation effects processors
• Reverberation and ambience effects processors
• Mixing techniques
• Monophonic and stereophonic microphone techniques

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Obtain high quality recorded performance from a particular performer
• Choose appropriate techniques for a given style of music

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply effects and mix multitrack recordings to stereo masters
• Communicate confidently with recording engineers as a producer
• Record in some traditional or modern styles
• Transfer final mixes to Audio CD
• Communicate confidently with a producer as a performing artist, composer or conductor

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Work with performers and/or other producers as a team

TThis unit builds upon music technology skills developed in MUSI2094, but it is not assumed that you will have any previous knowledge of recording techniques. The course is aimed at developing your proficiency in some creative recording techniques that are relevant to a musician, performer, producer or conductor and topics will typically include: microphones, mixing desks, mic-preamps, effects processing: eq, reverb, compression, noise gates, etc, mixing, live recording, sampling, software synthesis.

The University recording studios comprise two live rooms and two control rooms, with the possibility to patch both live rooms to one control room. Each live room has 16 audio tie lines to control rooms and each control room utilises a number of mic-preamps and compressors and a Mac Pro computer running Logic pro with a number of additional software plug-ins. Hardware and software are subject to change.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning methods include:

Lectures and demonstrations,

Practical tasks (both in-class and in independent study),

Reading hand outs and equipment manuals,

Individual/group research into practical applications of hardware and software in the studio,

Studying feedback on assessed work,

Small group tutorials.

Listening to professionally made recordings.

These activities are designed to help you acquire the necessary practical experience and theoretical understanding to support the necessary skills to record your own or other peoples’ music to a level of competence varying from good demonstration quality to master quality, depending on the style and complexity of the music involved.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Sound on Sound. Magazine

Textbooks

Paul White. The Sound on Sound book of recording & production techniques for the recording musician.

Paul White. The Sound on Sound book of creative recording,.

Moylan, William. The art of recording: understanding and crafting the mix..

Rumsey, Francis & McCormick, Tim. Sound and recording : an introduction.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal