Audio Production with Paul Dell Aquila

Assigned Reading, Homework Schedule, and Class Agenda (PDF)

Semester Topics

General Audio Production Topics

Basic Properties of Sound

Sound Generation
The Perception of Sound
Graphic Representation of Sound
Amplitude
Dynamic Range
Timbre
Periodic and Aperiodic Sound Waves

Capturing Sound

Analog Recording
Digital Recording
Sample Rate
Bit Resolution
Filtering

Microphone Technology

Types of Microphones
Polar Patterns
Popular Studio Microphones

Signal Flow in the Studio

Mixing Console Basics
Gain Staging and Level Setting
Pre-amplification
Signal Levels, Impedances, and Balancing

Critical Listening Systems

The Listening Environment
Control Room Monitoring Components
Headphone System Components
Current Popular Consumer Playback Systems

The Recording Process

Multitrack Recording
Metronomes, Guide Tracks, and Cue Mixes
The Musical Production and Arrangement

Recording Individual Instruments

Recording Environment Acoustics
Microphone Placement for Various Instruments
Direct Inject Recording and Amplifier Simulators
Considering the Frequency Spectrum
Recording and Punching In

Signal Processing (Part One)

Basic Time-Based Effects: Delays and Reverbs
Frequency Effects: Equalization

Signal Processing (Part Two)

Dynamics Effects: Compression, Limiting, and Gating
Other Signal Processors:
Flanging, Phasing, and Chorusing
Pitch Transposers

MIDI in the Recording Studio

The Basics of MIDI Sequencing
Sampling and Sample Players
Printing Sequenced Parts

The Mixing Process

Preparing for the Mix
Changing the Listening Perspective
Reference Tracks
Ear Fatigue
The Stereo Mixdown

Studio Maintenance

Data Storage and Project Archiving
Updating Computer Software and System Components
Soldering Cables and Jacks

Pro Tools Recording System Topics

Pro Tools Preliminaries

Joining the Avid Audio Forum
Using Pro Tools 101 Official Courseware
Pro Tools Keyboard Shortcuts

Introduction to Pro Tools

The Story of Pro Tools
Pro Tools System Configurations
Hardware Systems
The Software Interface

Working with Pro Tools Sessions

Creating and Saving a Session
Configuring Session Parameters
Adding Various Track Types
Optimizing System Performance

Configuring Pro Tools for Audio Recording

Configuring Hardware for Recording
Configuring Tracks for Recording
The I/O Setup

Recording into a Pro Tools Session File

Making a Recording
Overdubbing Audio
Organizing the Recorded Files
The Clips List
Importing Audio into a Pro Tools Session
Importing Other Types of Session Data

Navigating the Pro Tools Session

Working in the Edit Window
Timeline and Tempo
Creating a Click Track
Selecting Items on Screen
Types of Selections
Working with Edit Selections
Adjusting the Session View
Memory Locations and Markers
DigiBase Browsers

Audio Editing with Pro Tools

Edit Tools and Edit Modes
Moving and Trimming Audio Clips
Creating Fades and Crossfades
Track Compositing (Comping)
Creating Audio Loops

Working with MIDI in Pro Tools

Preparing for MIDI Recording
Using Virtual Instrument Plugins
Recording the MIDI Data
Viewing and Editing MIDI Data
Quantizing MIDI Events

Mixing in Pro Tools

Pro Tools Mixer Terminology
Configuring the Mix Window
Sends, Returns, Buses, and Master Faders
Automation
Creating and Editing Automation Graphically
Working with Audio Plug-Ins

Completing the Session

Printing a Stereo Mix (Bouncing Techniques)
Post Production Mastering in Pro Tools
Burning an Audio CD
Backing up the Pro Tools Session Files