Multitrack Studio Techniques I
Fall 2014
| Instructor: Michael Stucker email: mstucker@indiana.edu office: M254 (Inside M257) office phone: 856-4897 office hours: Mon and Fri 1:30-2:15 |
Class Meeting time: Wednesday 6pm-10pm Open Studio Time: Wednesday 4-6pm Class meeting location: MC405 or MC438 Section number: 27946 Pre-requisites: A201 |
Grading:
Practical Tests = 40%
Group Session = 30%
Tutorial Videos = 20%
Attendance/participation = 10%
***in order to receive a passing grade for this course ALL assignments must be turned in by Friday, May 2 by 12:00 noon (EST)
Important note about assignments: Written assignments will be turned in through Oncourse. These must be in PDF form and turned in by the due date. Connection problems are not an excuse for assingments being turned in late, plan ahead and do not wait until the last minute. Assignments not named correctly or in the correct format (PDF for written) will be counted late until corrected. Video projects must be uploaded to YouTube and a link emailed to the instructor by the due date. A full resolution video must also be turned in to instructor by due date. A folder has been set up at IUBox for this, all files must be uploaded prior to the due date.
Adobe Acrobat is available free through IUware. If you are not comfortable creating and editing PDF documents there is free training available through Lynda.com just search for Acrobat. Training for Adobe Premiere video editing software is also available there and the software is also free from IUware if you choose that for editing your videos. Each student is responsible for building the proficiency in these tools needed to finish the course assignments.
Course Objectives:
-build student facility in use of MC405 recording studio
-prepare students for first recording session
-promote discussion and experimentation through creation of tutorial videos
| Week | Wednesday Date |
Team "Red" Red-1: Kim, Aris, Nate-dog, Andrew Red-2: Nico, Cole, Alec, Avery |
Team "Blue" Blue-1: Luqman, Gerry, Kainan, Victor Blue-2: Michael, Isaac, Cody, Nate F. |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 15 | Class overview, listening | ||
| 2 | Jan 22 | 6pm-7pm: 405 class for team "Red" 7pm-8pm: discuss individual videos, topics and methods for "Blue" |
Individual Video topic due Assignment details |
|
| 3 | Jan 29 | 6pm-7pm: 405 class for Team "Blue" 7pm-8pm: discuss individual videos, topics and methods for "Red" 8pm-10pm: 405 Practical Practice for Team "Red" |
Individual Video topic due Assignment details |
|
| 4 | Feb 5 | 6pm-8pm: 405 Practical Test for Team "Red" 8pm-10pm: 405 Practical Practice for Team "Blue" |
405 Recording Exercise |
Individual Video outline due |
| 5 | Feb 12 | 6pm-7pm: Overdub class for Team "Red" 7pm-8pm: Open studio time 8pm-10pm: 405 Practical Test for Team "Blue" |
405 Recording Exercise | |
| 6 | Feb 19 | 6pm-7pm: Overdub class for Team "Blue" |
Individual Video outline due | Individual Video |
| 7 | Feb 26 | 6pm-8pm: Overdub Practical Test for Team "Red" 8pm-10pm: Overdub Practical Practice for Team "Blue" |
||
| 8 | Mar 5 | 6pm-7pm: Session Prep for both teams 7pm-8pm: Team Red individual videos (all students there) 8pm-10pm: Overdub Practical Test for Team "Blue" |
Individual video | |
| 9 | Mar 12 | Demo Session | Team Video outline due | Team Video outline due |
| 10 | Mar 19 | Spring Break | ||
| 11 | Mar 26 | Demo Session | "Red-1" session prep due | |
| 12 | April 2 | "Red-1" Group Session | "Red-1" Group Session "Red-2" session prep due |
|
| 13 | April 9 | "Red-2" Group Session | "Red-2" Group Session | "Blue-1" session prep due |
| 14 | April 16 | "Blue-1" Group Session | "Blue-1" Group Session "Blue-2" session prep due |
|
| 15 | April 23 | "Blue-2" Group Session | "Blue-2" Group Session | |
| 16 | April 30 | Play Team videos and Session mixes | Session mixes from each student and Team videos | |
Projects
Individual Video: (5-10 minutes)
-Comparison of different mic positions for a particular instrument with same microphone
-Comparison of different microphones
in same position on same instrument
-Comparison of
"real world" EQ or compressor and "plug-in" equivalent
-other comparisons if approved by instructor
Team Video: (10-15 minutes)
Each team will create a "tutorial" style video on recording a particular instrument.
Group Session: Each group will find a band to record. The band must include Vocals, drums, bass, and guitar. Additional instruments are acceptable but too many more will add more complexity to the session than is approriate for this first recording session. Group members are not allowed to play on their own session but other members of the class may be part of the session. Audio crew is a good place to find bands to record. Sessions will be planned ahead of time and the Session Prep form must be used.
Practical Tests
There will be two practical tests administered during the semester. There will be no written tests.
405 Practical Test: You will be given 10 minutes to plug in a microphone and get signal to Pro Tools and back to monitor through the console. You must be monitoring the output of Pro Tools. A Pro Tools session will be set up with 24 tracks all set with consecutive Input and Output assignments. the only things you will be allowed to change in Pro Tools are Rec ready or monitoring switches. This will be graded using the following rubric. WARNING! many students fail this! Make sure to practice using the 405 Recording Exercise.
Overdub Practical Test: You will be given 10 minutes to get a microphone into Pro Tools, get a sound for the instrument, set up a headphone mix and make changes directed by the artist, record a short overdub, play back the recording, and punch in a small bit. You will be graded both on technical competency and communication skills using this rubric. Practice this by doing the PT Record Assignment.