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Syllabus
MUM2600L

 

 Course Title:

MUM 2600L – Sound Recording 1 Lab

       Number:

548862 (North)

     Schedule:

MW 3:25 PM – 4:15 PM, room 2140 (North)

Term:

2009-2

Credits:

3

 

Instructor Information

·               Eduardo J. Calle, EdD, DHEL, Two-time Latin Grammy nominee and Associate Professor Senior of Music Business and Production Technology

·               Office: Kendall 8213-2, Wolfson TBA

·               Telephone: 305-237-0593

·               E-mail: ecalle@mdc.edu, edcalle@mac.com  

·               Website: http://www.professorcalle.com

·               Angel: https://angel.mdc.edu

 

Office Hours

 

Day

In

Out

Room (Kendall)

Monday

7:30 AM

10:00 AM

8213-2

Tuesday

7:30 AM

8:15 AM

8213-2

 

9:50 AM

11:05 AM

8213-2

Wednesday

7:30 AM

11:00 AM

8213-2

Thursday

7:30 AM

8:15 AM

8213-2

 

9:50 AM

11:05 AM

8213-2

Note. All office hours are held at the Kendall Campus in room 8213-2. For rapid service, you may always reach the professor via e-mail. Additionally, the professor is usually available immediately before or after class in the respective classrooms.

 

Co-Requisite

All MUM2600L students must be enrolled in MUM2600 (reference number 548861). Students who are not enrolled in both courses will be dropped from the course at the end of the second meeting.



MUM2600L Course Description
An introduction to techniques, practices and procedures in making eight-track recordings. The student will gain experience with acoustical balancing, editing and over-dubbing in a wide variety of sound situations. Co-requisite: MUM 2600L. (3 hr. lecture).

MUM2600L

Sound Recording 1 Lab 1 credit

Participation in MUM 2600L offers students directed “hands on” experience coinciding with lectures in MUM 2600. Co-requisite: MUM 2600. Special fee. (2 hr. lab)

 

MUM 2600L Course Competencies

Competency 1: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a basic understanding of the recording process by:

·      Correctly preparing a digital audio workstation (DAW) for recording based on the session requirements.

·      Correctly identifying monaural and stereophonic sources when creating tracks and choosing microphones or inputs.

·      Creating and recording a click track.

·      Creating a tempo map.

·      Creating session markers.

·      Recording sound.

·      Sub-mixing various audio tracks onto a single mono or stereo track.

·      Importing a variety of files into a DAW session.

·      Creating a rough mix of the session.

·      Bouncing the recording to a disc in a variety of digital audio file formats including AIFF, .wav, and MP3.

·      Converting a variety of audio files into different formats using Apple iTunes software.

Competency 2: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a basic understanding of various responsibilities associated with an assistant engineer by:

·      Appropriately setting up and striking microphone stands for use when recording a variety of instruments and performers.

·      Appropriately setting up and striking available microphones.

·      Appropriately wrapping and unwrapping cables commonly used in a recording studio.

·      Appropriately placing and striking chairs, rugs, sound panels, music stands, stand lights, and other commonly used studio equipment used when recording various instruments and performers.

·      Appropriately setting up and striking headphone amplifiers and headphones.

·      Generating a log of all equipment used during a recording session.

·      Verifying that all equipment used during a recording session is accounted for and secured.

 

Competency 3: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a basic understanding of commonly used studio microphones and their typical applications by:

·      Choosing, setting up, and acceptably placing microphones used during a recording session.

·      Recording sound using microphones placed in close, distant, accent, X/Y, M/S, and Decca Tree configurations.

·      Identifying and correctly using microphones described solely by manufacturer and model number.

 

Competency 4: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a basic understanding of audio signal routing by:

·      Manipulating audio signals via a virtual or physical audio patchbay.

·      Using sends and busses to guide audio signals as instructed or required.

·      Correctly assigning monaural and stereo inputs and outputs.

 

Competency 5: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a basic understanding of audio signal processing by:

·      Adjusting input and output levels, and the amount of signal processing in order to produce the instructed or desired results.

 

Competency 6: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a basic understanding of sound recording techniques by:

·      Recording various monaural and stereophonic acoustic sources using microphones.

·      Recording various monaural and stereophonic acoustic sources using direct injection.

·      Overdubbing acoustic sources onto an existing session.

·      Detailing the input assignments for a specified recording session.

·      Detailing the output assignments for a specified recording session.

·      Editing a recorded performance.

           

General Education Outcomes

Students who successfully complete MUM2600 will demonstrate skills in accordance with the college-wide general learning outcomes. The general learning outcomes suggest that as graduates of Miami Dade College, students will able to:

 

·      Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

o   MUM2600L students communicate verbally and in written form.

 

·      Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.

o   MUM2600L students use spreadsheets to calculate costs related to studio construction and design.

 

·      Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.

o   MUM2600L students propose designs for a project studio based on their needs and resources.

 

·      Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.

o   MUM2600L students locate, evaluate, and apply information pertaining to the recording industry from a variety of sources and in a variety of ways.

 

·      Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.

o   MUM2600L students record a variety of musical styles from around the globe.

 

·      Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.

o   MUM2600L students explore strategies directly related to fulfilling their personal, civic, and social responsibilities by focusing on enrichment and profitability, service-oriented business practices, and the social impact of the music business.

 

·      Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.

o   MUM 2600L students address ethical business practices related to copyright, employment, and music production.

 

·      Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.

o   MUM2600L students use an array of computer applications related to music production.

 

·      Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.

o   MUM2600L students will tackle a variety of music production issues using creative approaches developed throughout the course.

o   Alternatively, since one person’s art is another person’s garbage, determinations regarding aesthetics will be made by MUM2600 students and represent their own personal opinions. Students will define acceptable levels of pitch congruence and rhythmic placement.

 

·      Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.

o   MUM2600L students will study the impact of high sound pressure levels on hearing, the disposal of computer equipment, and review a variety of music business activities that use energy and the related impact on the environment.

 

The Miami Dade College learning outcomes are available online at: http://www.mdc.edu/learningoutcomes/outcomes.aspx

 

Suggested Texts

 

Huber, D. M., & Runstein, R. E. (2005). Modern Recording Techniques (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elsevier. ISBN: 0240806255.

 

Supplies

·      Students are required to purchase a USB flash drive of size 2 Gigabytes or larger and bring it to each class meeting. Students are responsible for saving any and all materials used throughout the course. Save it to your drives or risk loosing your work.

·      Students are expected to have access to a computer and the Internet.

Resources

·      www.mdc.edu

·      www.drcalle.com

·      https://mycourses.mdc.edu (Angel learning portal)

·      http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=54&itemid=22942 (Pro Tools manual)

·      www.copyright.gov

·      www.irs.gov

·      www.ascap.com

·      www.bmi.com

·      www.harryfox.com

·      www.soundexchange.com

 

Course Requirements

·      Tentative schedule of assignments (all assignments will be posted on Angel at the discretion of the professor)

o   Week 2: The Pro Tools interface

o   Week 4: Session setup

o   Week 6: Recording setup

o   Week 8: Microphone applications

o   Week 10: Inputs and outputs

o   Week 12: The patchbay and outboard gear

o   Week 13 – 16: Movie recordings

 

·      Calendar

o   Weeks 1 - 4: Course competencies 1

o   Weeks 5 – 6: Course competencies 2

o   Weeks 7 – 8: Course competencies 3

o   Weeks 9 – 10: Course competencies 4

o   Weeks 11 – 13: Course competencies 5

o   Weeks 14 – 16: Course competencies 6

 

·      The MDC academic calendar is available at: http://www.mdc.edu/main/academics/academic_calendar.asp

 

Course Evaluation/Grading Policy/Assessment Methods/Schedule

Course grading scale:

A: 90 – 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: 59 or lower

 

Tests: All tests will be issued and graded via Angel.

 

Class participation. All students will participate in every aspect of each project including setting up and striking all gear. A daily grade of A or F will be issued for participation. If you are a “prima donna” or feel that performing manual tasks is not to your liking, make an instant commitment to performing the work required or drop the class immediately.

 

Assignments: All assignments will be issued and graded via Angel.


Grading policy: Scores for each test or assignments will be calculated by dividing the number of points earned by the number of possible points. The percentage grades for each test and assignment will be totaled and computed into a final a grade in accordance with the course grading scale.

 

Course/Departmental Policies

·      Attendance is mandatory. Any student who misses eight (8) class meetings will be purged from the roll.

·      Lateness is discouraged. Please be on time.

·      Class participation is encouraged.

·      Missed assignments can only be made up in cases involving excused absences.

·      Illness/emergencies should be reported to the professor via E-mail.

·      Students are expected to observe the academic honesty policies detailed in the MDC publication outlining student rights and responsibilities. This document is available at

http://www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf

·      Students with special needs should contact the instructor or the appropriate college department.

·      In case of emergency, the class will exercise college-mandated emergency procedures.

·      If you are sick, please see a doctor. Due to concerns about the H1N1 virus making its way around the planet, students are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizers and wear protective masks when sneezing or dealing with a continuous runny nose.

 

Available Support Services

·               The North Campus Midi/Sound Recording lab is located in room 2140. See posted schedule.

·               The Kendall MIDI lab is located in room 8111.

·               The Kendall computer courtyard is located in building 3.

·               The Kendall music lab is located in room M-335.

·               Disability Services – please contact student services.

·               ACCESS Department - students who experience learning difficulties or have disabilities                are urged to visit an ACCESS advisor to determine if eligible for any special services