60A Producing in the Home Studio

Class Description

Design, set up and operation of an audio/video recording studio in a small environment. Space considerations, electrical requirements and acoustic treatment options. Computer requirements including processor speed, memory requirements, data storage devices and monitor selection/placement. MIDI keyboard types and compatibility, mixer selection and setup, cable selection and care, microphone design, and USB/firewire interface options. Software programs and compatibility issues. How to produce recordings from start to finish in a home studio.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Design an acoustic environment in an alternative space.
• Create a recording/production system using computer-based software and hardware.
• Integrate MIDI keyboards and sound modules into the production system.
• Integrate non-digital equipment such as microphones and transducers into a digital production system.

Course Outline

1. Signal Path
2. DAWs and Music Production
3. Intro to Recording
4. Mic Preamps
5. Song Writing
6. EQ and Frequency
7. Mixing
8. Music Production
9. Collaboration
10. Digital Distribution
11. Final Project
12. Extra Credit Independent Studies

Foothill Legacy Course Outline

• Basic principles of studio design and construction.
  • Acoustic treatments.
  • Voltage and wiring considerations.
• Audio hardware design and selection.
  • Analog vs. digital mixers.
  • Cables, microphones and peripheral accessories.
  • USB and Firewire audio interfaces.
  • MIDI keyboards and interfaces.
• Computer design and selection.
  • Bus speed and track count.
  • Cables, microphones and peripheral accessories
  • USB and Firewire audio interfaces.
• Software selection and use.
  • Audio based production software.
  • MIDI based production software.
  • Audio/video based production software.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

A. When taught on campus:

• 30 Macintosh computers.
• 30 MIDI keyboards and MIDI interfaces.
• 30 Avid M-Box USB audio interfaces.
• 30 Pro Tools software installs.
• Video projector and screen.

B. When taught via Foothill Global Access:

• On-going access to computer with Email software and capabilities.
• Email address.
• Java-script enabled internet browsing software.

Methods of Evaluation

• Evaluated studio designs.
• Weekly quizzes and skills checks.
• Written evaluations of software and hardware combinations.
• Graded recording assignments in various formats.
• Midterm and Final Exams.

Method of Instruction

• Written assignments that analyze, compare and contrast different audio recording and editing techniques.
• Designing and assembling a multitrack recording for mastering.
• Producing audio projects that include edits to the basic tracks, as well as appropriate plug-ins, such as compression.

Lab Content

Lab content in online music technology courses includes:

• Lab assignments and experimentation with variances in areas such as formatting media bit rate, sample rate, and media size.
• Assignments in number of plug ins per insert track.
• Bus assignments for efficient recording operation.
• Mastering compression settings.

Required Reading, Writing and Outside of Class Assignments

• LinkedIn Learning
  • Available free through public libraries
• Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software.
• No other equipment or software required.
• No required textbook.
• Read the specification sheet for an audio software program and provide a written interpretation in layman's language.
• Write a tutorial on setting up various aspects of a home studio, such as the MIDI keyboard wiring matrix.