Week 12: Test 3 & Final Project Groups

I have posted all of the presentations & worksheets that you will need to prepare for Test 3. You should read Alten Ch.8 (Signal Processing), and review these while completing the various worksheets.  Together these will prepare you for the test, which will be scantron-style, multiple-choice (like the previous ones).

There will also be a few ‘extra credit’ questions, which will consist of matching music examples that we have listened to in class to identify various recording styles & techniques.

Remember to be working on determining your ‘Final Project’ group… I have posted the current status on the ‘Projects’ page.  We will finalize this in class on Tuesday, as well as briefly review the recording procedures in B25.  You should have the handouts relating to equipment operation for reference.

Have a great weekend!

- JK

Week 11: Signal Processors

This week will be venturing into the world of ’signal processors’…spectrum, time, amplitude, and noise.  You should be reading Alten Chapter 8 “Signal Processors” to get familiar with this material too.

We will discuss details of the Final Project Assignment in class this week.  See the ‘Projects’ page for more info.

On Tuesday, I will have a ’sign up’ sheet for you to use to indicate who will be in your group.  Each group should ideally have 3 persons as the ‘production team’, and these may only be students from either of my two sections.  It is OK to have other persons involved as ‘musicians/talent’.  If you are doing the ‘presentation’ option, then all group members must be from either of my two sections.

Following class on Tuesday, your production team should sign-up for a recording session time slot in B25 AFTER Test 3 (Nov. 10).  We will spend some time in class going over B25 recording equipment operation, however you should review pp. 135 -175 in the 1380 Workbook to get more help with this.

See you in class!

- JK

Week 10: Temples of Sound & The Beatles!

This week we will continue our theme of ‘Production History’ with a discussion of the ‘early’ creative recording studios of popular music.  We will also focus on one particularly historic recording… Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles.

See you in class!

- JK

Week 9: More Les Paul… and the ‘Temples of Sound’

This week we will continue learning about the production of music in the 1940’s – 70’s, both through the eyes of the extraordinary Les Paul & others, and by reviewing select studios (aka Temples of Sound), technologies, & recordings of that time period.

Related reading (all in your AET1380 Workbook)…

Magnetic Recording History  pp. 72 – 75

Short History of Multitrack Recording  pp. 76 – 81

History of Record Production  pp. 82 – 85

The Engineers Who Changed Recording  pp. 86 – 91

See you in class!

- JK

Week 8: Fall Break!

I will be remaining in NYC @ the 127th AES Convention this week, so I hope that you have a fun fall break!

Remember that your Mix Tutorial will be due in class on Tuesday Oct. 20.  We will continue with the Les Paul video, and review the basics of magnetic tape recording.

See you then!

- JK

Week 7: Signal Flow, Consoles… & Test 2!

On Tuesday, we will continue our look at audio consoles (Alten Ch. 5), as well as do some review of microphones (Alten Ch. 4).

Remember that Test 2 is coming up on Thursday October 8, and will cover material since Test 1.  Your worksheets are a good way of preparing for this.  Bring them to class on Tuesday, and we can discuss any questions that you may have then.

Be sure to review the ‘tips’ on the ‘Projects’ page beforehand, and take the tape machine & console operation handouts to your Mix Tutorial session, along with several blank CD-R’s.  You should only request assistance from the studio ‘help desk’ personnel if you get ’stumped’, or if items that you need (like tape machine cleaning supplies) are missing.

Have fun, and see you on Tuesday,

JK

Week 6: Mix Tutorial & Microphones

This week we will prepare for the group project called ‘Mix Tutorial’. I will have some handouts that further explain the operation of the basic recording equipment in B25.  We will use some class time to get familiar with these too.

We will spend some time also learning about the operation of:

Microphones – Tuesday (read Alten Chapter 4)

Consoles – Thursday (read Alten Chapter 5).

See you in class!

JK

Week 5: Observation #1 etc

You should be prepared to turn in your Observation #1 Form on Tuesday.  A reminder that this is the ONLY Observation that does not require a formal report.  We will discuss the expectation for the remaining three Observation reports, and review Test 1 at the beginning of class.

You should be reading ‘Loudspeakers & Monitoring’ (Alten Ch.3) in preparation for our discussion this week.

I have extended the deadline for turning in the ‘Extra Credit Listening’ assignment, as some of you had difficulty accessing the audio @ tinfoil.com.  Turn those in on Tuesday also.

See you in class!

JK

Week 4: Test #1 on Thu 9/17

I have posted all current ppt’s and worksheets on the ‘Presentations’ page. You should review these & your class notes, along with the relevant readings from Alten and the 1380 Workbook in order to prepare for the Test.

The test will be multiple-choice, with several listening examples from our class discussions. You will answer questions via Scantron forms, so please bring a #2 pencil to fill this out.

Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck!

JK

Week 4: Extra Credit Listening

As I mentioned in class, your Extra Credit Listening Assignment is due on Tuesday.  Some readings in the 1380 Workbook may be helpful when doing this assignment, and in preparing  for the test.  They are:

“The Birth of Recording” pp. 41 – 48

“The Phonograph, The Telegraph, And Beyond” pp. 49 – 56

“The Keys to Understanding the Future – Phonograph v Gramophone” pp. 57 – 60

“Recording Without Microphones etc.” pp. 61 – 64

Here are the Extra Credit assignment details:

1. Go to http://www.tinfoil.com/

2. Select a ‘Cylinder of the Month’ (from the archives) & listen carefully to it (but not too loudly!)

3. In a 1-page (double-spaced, 12 pt Arial, printed) report, describe instrumentation, possible equipment used, and sound quality issues in the recording. Use terminology that we have discussed in class or from the various hand-outs, and of course, indicate which recording(s) that you are referring to.

4.  Use your imagination, and have fun with this!

5.  For extra fun, compare two or more similar recordings, and describe differences.