Example Syllabus
MUS 163 - Music Audio Production I – 3 credits
Course Description
This course is designed to give students with a strong interest in music a basic understanding of the music production process. This includes the basic knowledge of audio/music production, the fundamentals of sound and microphones, digital and analog technology, recording, and mixing.
Goals
- To gain an understanding of the standard principles, tools and techniques of modern recording and audio production by classroom study
- To practice the standard principles, tools and techniques of modern recording and audio production by engineering a multi-track audio recording of a song
Course meeting times
Course meets twice a week for 75 minutes, and requires additional laboratory hours outside of class.
Meeting location
Community College campus – Building XYZ, Room 123
Course prerequisites
None, but experience with Music is recommended
Required text
Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber, Robert E. Runstein
Optional text
The Microphone Book by John Eargle
Practical Recording Techniques: The Step-by-step Approach to Professional Audio Recording by Bruce & Jenny Bartlett
Required items
External USB or Firewire hard drive
USB flash drive
Blank CDs
Internet access with the ability to listen to sounds, preferably with good headphones
COURSE SCHEDULE
PART 1
Week 1 – Aug 22 and 24
Topics: Introduction to class, Cables/connectors/patch-bays
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 2 – Aug 29 and 31
Topics: Soundwaves, Microphones
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 3 – Sept 5 and 7
Topics: Mixers, Preamps, Signal Flow
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 4 – Sept 12 and 14
Topics: DAWs - Computers, Multi-track audio recording software, Analog v. digital
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 5 – Sept 19 and 21
Topics: Signal processing, Effects, Power amplifiers & Monitors
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
(Band selection due Sept 21st)
PART 2
Week 6 – Sept 26 and 28
Topics: Critical listening, mic placement, documentation
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
Week 7 – Oct 3 and 5
Topics: Signal routing, metering, gain staging, building monitor mixes
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(Room/mic setup design assignment due October 5th)
Week 8 – Oct 10 and 12
Topics: Components and dimensions of a mix, recording, playback and overdubbing
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
Week 9 – Oct 17 and 19
Topics: Audio editing and rendering
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(Initial audio capture assignment due October 23rd)
Week 10 – Oct 24 and 26
Topics: Critique of initial audio capture
Facilitated in Classroom via peer-to-peer and instructor commentary
PART 3
Week 11 – Oct 31 and Nov 2
Topics: Audio editing, using plug-in effects
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
Week 12 – Nov 7 and 9
Topics: Metering for mixing, bussing
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(first draft mixes due Nov 13th)
Week 13 – Nov 14 and 16
Topics: Critique of first draft mixes
Facilitated in Classroom via peer-to-peer and instructor commentary
Fall Break – Nov 20-24
No Classes
Week 14 – Nov 28 and 30
Topics: Mixing tips and tricks, troubleshooting
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(final mix assignment due Dec 4th)
Week 15 – Dec 5 and 7
Topics: Critique of final mixes
Facilitated in Classroom via peer-to-peer and instructor commentary
Finals week – Dec 11-15
Final exam will be proctored at time scheduled by college
Grading:
Attendance/participation 10% of total grade
Quizzes 20% of total grade
Room/mic setup design 10% of total grade
Audio capture assignment 20% of total grade
Final mix assignment 25% of total grade
Final Exam 15% of total grade
Assignments and due dates
An important component of this course is the group recording and mixdown experience. You will team up with or be assigned a partner. The two of you will collaborate in the multitrack recording and processing of a stereo mix. The assignments below are dated so as to help keep this process on-track.
1. Band selection assignment due September 21st
You must have a band selected to participate in your recording process by Sept. 21st. They must be willing to take part in a pre-session interview and to be on-site for your recording session.
2. Room/mic setup design assignment due October 5th
Prior to hosting the recording session, the student groups must meet with the band they’ll record to create a plan for setup. The setup design is due on Oct. 5th.
3. Initial audio capture assignment due October 23rd
Once your band is recorded, the audio will be rendered with no mixing and will be presented to the class for observations, suggestions and positive critiques. This initial rendering of the captured audio tracks is due Oct. 23rd.
4. First draft mix assignment due November 13th
The first draft mix is due on Nov. 13th and will be presented to the class for observations, suggestions and positive critiques.
5. Final mix assignment due December 4th
The final mix is due on Dec. 4th and will be presented to the class for observations, suggestions and positive critiques.
6. Quizzes and Exams
Throughout the semester there will be occasional in-class quizzes. These quizzes will require written responses. These quizzes will ask questions about material presented in lecture, readings, videos and listening assignments. If a quiz is missed, it is the student's responsibility to take the quiz at the beginning of the next (and only the next) class meeting. Quizzes cannot be taken more than one class meeting after the quiz was originally given.
There will be a final exam for this subject.
Attendance and Participation
Attendance and participation are required. Excused absences include illness or emergencies communicated to the instructor before the absence. Beyond excused absences, students are permitted one unexcused absence without question or penalty. Always arrive to class on time. Frequent tardiness may negatively affect final course grade. If all or a portion of a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to make-up any missed work. Unless other arrangements are made, assignment deadlines remain regardless of attendance.
Course Description
This course is designed to give students with a strong interest in music a basic understanding of the music production process. This includes the basic knowledge of audio/music production, the fundamentals of sound and microphones, digital and analog technology, recording, and mixing.
Goals
- To gain an understanding of the standard principles, tools and techniques of modern recording and audio production by classroom study
- To practice the standard principles, tools and techniques of modern recording and audio production by engineering a multi-track audio recording of a song
Course meeting times
Course meets twice a week for 75 minutes, and requires additional laboratory hours outside of class.
Meeting location
Community College campus – Building XYZ, Room 123
Course prerequisites
None, but experience with Music is recommended
Required text
Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber, Robert E. Runstein
Optional text
The Microphone Book by John Eargle
Practical Recording Techniques: The Step-by-step Approach to Professional Audio Recording by Bruce & Jenny Bartlett
Required items
External USB or Firewire hard drive
USB flash drive
Blank CDs
Internet access with the ability to listen to sounds, preferably with good headphones
COURSE SCHEDULE
PART 1
Week 1 – Aug 22 and 24
Topics: Introduction to class, Cables/connectors/patch-bays
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 2 – Aug 29 and 31
Topics: Soundwaves, Microphones
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 3 – Sept 5 and 7
Topics: Mixers, Preamps, Signal Flow
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 4 – Sept 12 and 14
Topics: DAWs - Computers, Multi-track audio recording software, Analog v. digital
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
Week 5 – Sept 19 and 21
Topics: Signal processing, Effects, Power amplifiers & Monitors
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/powerpoint/audio recordings
(Band selection due Sept 21st)
PART 2
Week 6 – Sept 26 and 28
Topics: Critical listening, mic placement, documentation
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
Week 7 – Oct 3 and 5
Topics: Signal routing, metering, gain staging, building monitor mixes
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(Room/mic setup design assignment due October 5th)
Week 8 – Oct 10 and 12
Topics: Components and dimensions of a mix, recording, playback and overdubbing
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
Week 9 – Oct 17 and 19
Topics: Audio editing and rendering
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(Initial audio capture assignment due October 23rd)
Week 10 – Oct 24 and 26
Topics: Critique of initial audio capture
Facilitated in Classroom via peer-to-peer and instructor commentary
PART 3
Week 11 – Oct 31 and Nov 2
Topics: Audio editing, using plug-in effects
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
Week 12 – Nov 7 and 9
Topics: Metering for mixing, bussing
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(first draft mixes due Nov 13th)
Week 13 – Nov 14 and 16
Topics: Critique of first draft mixes
Facilitated in Classroom via peer-to-peer and instructor commentary
Fall Break – Nov 20-24
No Classes
Week 14 – Nov 28 and 30
Topics: Mixing tips and tricks, troubleshooting
Facilitated in Classroom via lecture/video/demonstration/powerpoint/audio recordings and Laboratory demonstration/practice
(final mix assignment due Dec 4th)
Week 15 – Dec 5 and 7
Topics: Critique of final mixes
Facilitated in Classroom via peer-to-peer and instructor commentary
Finals week – Dec 11-15
Final exam will be proctored at time scheduled by college
Grading:
Attendance/participation 10% of total grade
Quizzes 20% of total grade
Room/mic setup design 10% of total grade
Audio capture assignment 20% of total grade
Final mix assignment 25% of total grade
Final Exam 15% of total grade
Assignments and due dates
An important component of this course is the group recording and mixdown experience. You will team up with or be assigned a partner. The two of you will collaborate in the multitrack recording and processing of a stereo mix. The assignments below are dated so as to help keep this process on-track.
1. Band selection assignment due September 21st
You must have a band selected to participate in your recording process by Sept. 21st. They must be willing to take part in a pre-session interview and to be on-site for your recording session.
2. Room/mic setup design assignment due October 5th
Prior to hosting the recording session, the student groups must meet with the band they’ll record to create a plan for setup. The setup design is due on Oct. 5th.
3. Initial audio capture assignment due October 23rd
Once your band is recorded, the audio will be rendered with no mixing and will be presented to the class for observations, suggestions and positive critiques. This initial rendering of the captured audio tracks is due Oct. 23rd.
4. First draft mix assignment due November 13th
The first draft mix is due on Nov. 13th and will be presented to the class for observations, suggestions and positive critiques.
5. Final mix assignment due December 4th
The final mix is due on Dec. 4th and will be presented to the class for observations, suggestions and positive critiques.
6. Quizzes and Exams
Throughout the semester there will be occasional in-class quizzes. These quizzes will require written responses. These quizzes will ask questions about material presented in lecture, readings, videos and listening assignments. If a quiz is missed, it is the student's responsibility to take the quiz at the beginning of the next (and only the next) class meeting. Quizzes cannot be taken more than one class meeting after the quiz was originally given.
There will be a final exam for this subject.
Attendance and Participation
Attendance and participation are required. Excused absences include illness or emergencies communicated to the instructor before the absence. Beyond excused absences, students are permitted one unexcused absence without question or penalty. Always arrive to class on time. Frequent tardiness may negatively affect final course grade. If all or a portion of a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to make-up any missed work. Unless other arrangements are made, assignment deadlines remain regardless of attendance.