72C Producing Music With Logic Pro X

Class Description

Mixing and mastering multitrack recordings. EQ, compression, reverb, delays, tempo maps, Lo-Fi techniques, multi-band compression. Comparison and contrast of various styles of mixing including jazz, classical, country, rock, hip hop and electronica. Example exercises featuring professional recordings and mixes. Understanding and applying mixing concepts such as balance, dimension, and monitoring. Deliver final mixes that translate accurately to various speaker systems and listening environments.

Learning Objectives

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

• Analyze the dynamic spectrum of a multitrack recording
• Operate a digital and/or analog mixing board to mix a multitrack master to stereo
• Explain the mixing styles of the recording industry in the 20th century
• Evaluate a stereo mix by applying modern (post 1990) standards of commercial mixing
• Create a stereo mix from a multitrack master
• Create a digital audio tape or compact disc master of a stereo mix
• Discuss how different cultures and musical styles approach the art of mixing

Course Outline

1. Logic Pro Setup
2. Songwriting Workflows
3. Selecting Your Gear
4. First Project
5. Importing Media
6. MIDI Recording
7. Audio Recording
8. Navigating
9. Editing
10. Mixing
11. Final Projects

Foothill Legacy Course Outline

• Logic Pro Workflows
  • The arrange window
  • The transport window and controlling playback
  • Saving files and going mobile
• Recording with Logic Pro
  • Metronome settings
  • Multitrack recording
  • Amp design
  • Recording and comping overdubs
• MIDI and Virtual Instruments
  • Logic synth instruments
  • Logic emulator instruments
  • EX24 sampler
  • Hyper editor
  • Events list
• Editing anf Arranging
  • Basic audio editing techniques
  • Merging regions
  • Repairing and morphing sound with the sample editor
  • Audio fades
• Mixing
  • Setting up the mixer
  • Using EQ and compression
  • Signal flow with aux and send tracks
  • Channel strips for audio processing

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

• When taught on campus:
  • 30 Macintosh computers and MIDI keyboards, video projector and screen, 30 Logic Pro software installs.
• When taught via Foothill Global Access:
  • access to computer with email software and capabilities, email address, JavaScript-enabled internet browsing software

Methods of Evaluation

• Graded lab assignments in the operation of the Logic Pro sequencers
• Tests and problem solving activities using MIDI sequences
• Preparing advanced digital sequences to an industry standard from a set of specifications for application in a MIDI environment, and evaluated from those specifications
• A graded final project that demonstrates acquired skill in creating and mixing a master audio file and producing MP3 copies to an industry standard

Method of Instruction

• Lecture presentations and classroom discussion of the techniques for producing audio in Logic Pro
• In-class viewing of Logic Pro projects followed by instructor-guided interpretation and analysis
• Presentations of major music and post-production projects followed by in-class discussion and evaluation
• Demonstration of techniques for recording, editing, and mixing audio in Logic Pro

Lab Content

• MIDI
  • Implementation and drivers
  • Velocity and aftertouch
  • Multiple routing assignments
• Virtual Instruments
  • Layering
  • Volume matching
  • Panning
• Audio
  • Tempo matching via Logic time stretching
  • Elastic audio
• ReWire
  • ReWiring secondary applications via insert tracks and bus assignments
  • Plug-in applications using internal busses affecting external applications

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.