60A Producing in the Home Studio Syllabus

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• Contact Bruce Tambling
• You are invited to contact me with questions and to attend live office hours

Course 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

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

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this class.

Coarse Modules

1. Signal Path
2. DAWs and Music Production
3. Intro to Recording
4. Mic Preamps
5. Songwriting
6. EQ and Frequency
7. Mixing
8. Music Production
9. Collaboration
10. Digital Distribution
11. Final Project

Required Textbook

There are no required textbooks in this class. We will recommend additional reading material in the course modules.

Required Subscriptions

1. pureMix Pro Subscription
   • Free coupon provided by in Canvas
2. LinkedIn Learning
   • Free for students

Required Hardware

Computer

1. Although iOS and Android mobile devices are getting more powerful all the time, Music Technology students need a computer to do a lot of this work
   • Either a Mac or Windows computer is fine
2. As much RAM as you can afford
3. As much internal storage as you can afford
4. Processor speeds are not as important

Additional Storage

• Dedicated Media Drive is recommended

Required Software

1. Any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
   • Including Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Cubase, Digital Performer, Reaper, GarageBand, Audacity etc.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Your contributions to this class are a vital ingredient for all of us. The exchange of information and sharing of the creative process contribute to a rich learning experience often greater than any textbook could provide. Music Technology Classes involve the creation of digital media content. Students will retain full ownership of all their works and copyrights. Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author, or those deriving their rights through the author, can rightfully claim copyright. In other words, you hold the copyright once you've written it.

Diverse Range of Students

We acknowledge the diversity of the students in all of our Music Tech courses. Many of you join our classes ranging in age and with different backgrounds, experience levels, and skill sets. In teaching so many diverse students, one of our challenges as professors is to provide a personalized experience for all of our students so that you may get the most out of each course and walk away with skills and knowledge that you feel will benefit you for the future. That being said, given the diversity of your backgrounds, it is possible that at certain points, the courses may not be moving at the pace that you would like, whether that be too fast or too slow. If you feel the course is moving too fast and falling behind, please message me as soon as possible so we can help you get caught up and point you in the right direction for resources and materials to help you. If you feel the course is moving too slowly, we would also like you to contact us ASAP and let us know. We have many supplementary materials, including hundreds of articles, videos, and exercises, so you can learn at your preferred pace and get the most out of each course.

Welcome to Class!

We are all in this class because we are moved and inspired by the magnificent magic of music and sound. We are fascinated with Music Technology and the rapidly evolving tools and techniques used in the creative process. Learning the art and science of music production also requires focused work and self-discipline. You should plan on dedicating time each week to study and explore. Your instructors are here to help - so we can all learn and grow together.