Syllabus: Recording Techniques B furthers students understanding of the recording environment. It allows the student to become more familiar with recording equipment, procedures and techniques, and to further their awareness of music recording and editing processes. Recording Techniques B fosters skills in the use of recording equipment such as microphones, recording consoles, loudspeakers, signal processing and noise reduction devices, and sound recorders (stereo and multitrack). The course aims to develop an understanding of hard disc recording, digital audio workstations, mastering and CD production, and sound media.

1) Understand & define key audio concepts and principles

2) Apply theory and principles to practical situations, 

3) Describe sonic characteristics in technical terms

4) Organize resources ( musicians, equipment and venues ) to undertake a sound recording

5) Plan & Document the use of resources including details of setup and settings used. 

6) Arrange and place instruments in a studio to achieve good separation and communication 

7) Select microphones to suit instruments and musical genres 

            and position them appropriately and safely 

8) re-organise the studio setup to resolve audio problems, and report on the result

9) guide and interact with musicians effectively to realise the recording

10) Operate mixers, audio recorders and signal processors 

11) Evaluate sonic qualities of recorded material, Identify sonic problems,

            and judge appropriate enhancements.

12) Analyse sound quality, timbre and balance, 

13) Compare, select, apply and adjust signal processing options and settings to improve recorded sound quality.

14) Create a balanced mix

15) Break down complex problems into a series of simpler related issues and solutions

16) Select and connect equipment to achieve required goals

17) Generalise equipment operations from the specific items used

Learning tasks for specific equipment types (20%), two practical assignments (each 25%), and two written assignments (each 15%). 

Attendance required at 85% of classes for successful completion 

1) two written assignments (each worth 15%) (1,2,3,6,7,17)

           written work will  be assessed on accuracy and thoroughness

2) weekly practical 'set tasks' (worth a total of 20%) (10,11,12,13,14,15)

3) two practical assignments (each worth 25%) (4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16)

         Practical work will be assessed on: 

              Production values including: 

                   Sound quality of each instrument recorded  

                   Balance between instruments 

                   Recording levels 

                   Signal routing

                   Spill ( leakage between microphones)

                   Timbre of each instrument 

                   Use of panning, equalisation and effects where appropriate

             Transparency and musicality of edits

        Compliance with labelling and file management requirements 

Students undertake lectures/workshops and recording/mixdown sessions as appropriate. These may be delivered weekly or in intensive blocks (average of three hours per week).

MUSM1263