Recording WorkshopLearn the Art of Recording

Studio Classes

Prep Classes – RECW students get in the studio on the very first day of classes. The properties of sound and how we hear it are topics for this first day, along with tracking and mixing demos. Prep classes extend through the first week, getting students ready for recording console operation. Signal flow is a huge emphasis in this preparation. This assures that RECW students can quickly adapt to a wide variety of recording systems throughout their careers. Pushing for a deeper understanding is also our approach in training students on microphone usage and signal processing. Knowing how to do something is not enough. Knowing why something needs to be done is essential to the RECW learning experience.

Recording Sessions – The second week of the CORE Program brings the excitement of tracking and overdub sessions. These studio classes are held in the evenings, letting students spend daytime hours getting in one more round of preparation before the bands show up. Under RECW instructor guidance, even these first sessions have students doing all the operational tasks. Microphone setup, headphone setup, level setting, signal processing, control room mixing, cue system mixing… if a cable needs to be pulled or a fader pushed, students are doing it. But it's not just about gear. Recording is also very much about people and relationships. We make this a careful part of the learning experience. Bands with only a few players are typically scheduled for the first round of sessions. People management is a responsibility we gradually put on shoulders of students as they get more capable and confident in their equipment operation. And one last crucial element to successful session work is information management. Students are tasked with maintaining good session documentation. What mics were used? Who played what instrument? Is all the gear accounted for at the end of the night? These are only a few of the key questions that need to be asked and answered as part of good studio practices.

Mixing Sessions – For these studio classes, we break each 6 person team into 3 person sub-teams. Students can choose to mix collaboratively, individually, or a combination of both. The goal is for students to develop their own best approach towards mixing. RECW instructors coach students through this process, helping them find a balance between free-form experimentation and a more calculated approach. Even though some may philosophize that there is no "right or wrong" in artistic endeavors, the reality is that most of the time this philosophy doesn't really ring true. Mixing is a learned skill. And it is rare that you would want to create a mix that breaks all the rules. Students choose the material they wish to mix, with the recording sessions they worked on being a prime choice. There is also a large collection of "greatest hits" multi-track material for students to consider. This resource lets RECW students create a mix portfolio that includes diverse music genres.

Student Project Sessions – In addition to recording regional artists, each team has tracking and overdub time to record bands formed from within the student body. These projects also give student songwriters a chance to shine, but doing cover material is OK too. Performing in students bands is not required, but students are encouraged to do so. Participation is not so much about demonstrating tremendous playing skills, as it is about getting studio experience from the artist's perspective.

Editing/Processing Projects – Editing is the main skill developed by students through a series of lab projects. The speed and accuracy of a digital workstation can easily beat the ancient ways of tape and razor blades. But editing is not the only skill set honed in the lab. Several signal processing plug-ins can be more deeply practiced by students in the lab environment.

Mastering Projects – The final step in getting mixed tracks ready to share with others is mastering. A collection of songs packaged together needs to sound cohesive. And sonic limitations of a distribution method often requires compensation to deliver the best listening experience. RECW students have a series of lab projects that exercise the specialized skills involved in the mastering stage.

Sound-for-Picture Projects – These studio classes let students gain production experience in an important area outside of pure music. Narration, dialogue replacement, sound FX and foley work are all involved in this series of projects. The skill set learned can be applied in a variety of career paths. Film, television, advertising, corporate presentation… all share a common root to this CORE Program experience.

Soldering Class – This is a small, but practical portion of the CORE curriculum. Safe and proper handling of a soldering iron is taught, along with how to inspect for a failed audio cable and reliably attach a new connector. Give an engineer a cable and he'll record for a day, but teach him how to make one and he'll be wired for life.

Critiques and Skill Tests – During the last week of the CORE Program, students take part in several studio classes that provide performance scores. But these classes are not just for the purpose of evaluation, they also serve an important learning function. In mix critique classes, students play their mixes for constructive feedback from our senior staff. And in the lab and control rooms, students demonstrate their hands-on skills. Having these performance expectations is crucial in creating a focused learning environment.