Timetables

1
Timetables

• Remember you need to know which group you are in
  (for level 2 NOT for this module)
• Where there is more than one timetable they will
  be for different weeks (room change or tutorial
  etc)
• Best to check with each module tutor
• Tutorials and practicals

2
Feed back from semester one

• Too much copying from websites.
• Be aware of the University rules on plagiarism
• www.staffs.ac.uk/dh5/
• Evidence of background research
• Read (and understand) several sources of
  information (www and print) make your own notes.
• Poor referencing
• Use Harvard system of referencing
• (author date) method with full reference in the
  references section

3
Feed back from semester one

• Technical detail - justification - data must be
  explained
• Content driven - not a story - not an opinion
• I think this desk is good - why? Justify?
• Writing style
• third person - dont write a story
• imagine it as a technical/business report
• Use introductions/conclusions/observations
• Use diagrams

4

• Studio Techniques CE00144-2
• Module tutors
• Dave Hickman
• Mark Thorley
• Lecture Mondays 11-1 F14

5
Studio Techniques

• Follows on from studio technology
• Studio Techniques
• Lectures (Mondays 11-1 F14)
• Recording sessions
• Mixing sessions (digital analogue)
• Demos on mic techniques and digital mixers
• Dividing up recording process into three areas
• Preproduction
• Production
• Postproduction

6
Scenario

• Your task is to produce two mixes (analogue and
  digital) of one song by a band
• You will be allocated a band of level one
  musicians
• You will be working in a team of 4
• Working to a tight schedule
• Approximate real world scenario
• Band as a customer

7
Three distinct tasks

• Task one (pre-production)
• Formulate a pre-production plan
• assignment 1
• Task two (production)
• Produce a multi track recording of one song
• Assignment 2
• Task three (post production)
• Produce a digital and analogue mix
• Assignment 3

8
Schedule

• See information pack
• For complete schedule of events
• Team members and team number
• Musicians and song title
• Assignments and hand in dates
• Rota is quite complex. PLEASE ensure you have
  read and understood.

9
Pre-production planning

• Involved in evaluating music to be recorded
• Decide how you are going to record it
• What equipment you will need to use
• How you will utilise that equipment
• Any personnel issues (eg session musicians)
• Work out the budgeting (not relevant here)
• Implications on cost, quality of project, whether
  it reaches its potential etc.

10
Purpose of the session

• Why are you recording - for what purpose?
• Decide what you are trying to achieve - dont
  guess or go aimlessly through it
• Evaluate the song/musicians
• How many members
• How many instruments
• Melody/solo instruments
• Band leader/ego/problems
• Song style/genre/original
• Try to sit in on a rehearsal/practise

11
Know the studio equipment and techniques

• Make sure you/musicians are aware of capability
  of studio you will work in
• great variations in acoustics/equipment
• Some equipment may give you constraints
• Plan your session
• Need to know how you are going to do it and why
  (and when)
• Allow for unexpected (Murphies law)

12
Know the studio equipment and techniques

• Know your strengths and limitations
• Want to make best use of your skills and
  knowledge
• Brush up on any gaps in yours/teams knowledge
• Spend time working on skills
• Practical and theoretical
• Relate to Studio Technology and other modules

13
Details/planning

• Make a project sheet/plan detailing personnel and
  equipment assignments
• Real world on one sheet - this module requires
  more technical detail
• Compile a track/input/mic list
• Which instrument on which track
• Recording order
• Which mic/mic technique for each instrument
• Decisions on recording media
• No of tracks
• Sampling freq/bit depth

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• Make sure studio is ready (day before?)
• Disk recorder
• Patch leads
• Tidy up !
• Normalise desk - label channel strips
• Mic stands/cables - check settings
• Etc etc
• Try to have everything ready before session
  starts
• Make sure musicians/you know who brings what
• Communicate this to all parties involved

17
summary

• Time is money
• plan the quickest and most economical
• Time is limited with this module
• Method you will use - technical issues
• what will you use?
• how will you use it?
• who records together? Rhythm section etc.
• You can see where you are getting behind
• You save your energy for unplanned problems

18
Assessment

• Your preproduction work will be assessed or
  judged in when you
• Hand in your plan (10/03/05)
• Start your recording session
• Group based so you have one plan to work to
• Agreed to by all group members
• Crucial to success of session and 25 of marks

19
Jobs to do

• Read through information pack
• Be familiar with where you must be and when
• Understand assignments
• Communicate with group you are in
• Discuss and focus on your strengths and
  weaknesses
• Discuss how you may divide up responsibilities
• Focus on technical skills you need to improve on
• Contact band you will be recording
• Start pre-production plan