Copyright (c) 2022 - Colorado Recording School 

Recording 101 Course



After CRS.org Recording 101 course, you will have a fundamental understanding of Audio Production for Music or Voice Recording. You will understand what technical aspects are required to start, manage and take a project to completion. You will understand what tools go into a project and how to use them effectively. Specifically concepts like DAW's/ ProTools, audio signal flow, cable types, EQ, Compression and more.

30 hrs of instruction.  One set of classes each quarter. Sept. thru Nov. * Dec. thru Feb. * March thru May - 12 consecutive Saturdays from 9:00 am to Noon.

Regular classes (30 hrs) at our most affordable rate and only have a maximum of 4 people in the class!  Only $1199 for 12 weeks - 12 classes!

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of COMPUTER & AUDIO BASICS assessment with 100 score OR successful completion of CRS.org Audio & Computer Foundations Course. 

1. Take our pre-requisite AUDIO & COMPUTER FOUNDATIONS assessment. It’s free!
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE ASSESSMENT

2. Did you get a 110 or better score on the COMPUTER & AUDIO BASICS test?
 
SIGN UP NOW FOR THE RECORDING 101 CLASS COURSE - COMING SOON

***********************

Other Instructional Options:
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION (30 hrs): The most access to gear and the instructor. Two 3 hr hour sessions weekly for 6 weeks. Instruction time that works best for the student & instructor will be scheduled upon purchase. Once the schedule is agreed upon, that schedule will be the weekly time slot for the 6 weeks of instruction. Only $1799 for 6 weeks - 12 classes!

PRE-REQUISITE: 110 or better score on the above Foundations test. 

CLICK HERE SIGN UP FOR PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

IN TANDEM WITH A BUDDY (30 hrs): Do the course with a friend to have a shared experience plus save $300 each! Two 3 hour sessions weekly for 6 weeks. Instruction time that works best for the students & instructor will be scheduled upon purchase. Once the schedule is agreed upon, that schedule will be the weekly time slot for the 6 weeks of instruction. Only $1499 each for 6 weeks - 12 classes!

PRE-REQUISITE: 110 or better score on the above Foundations test. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP YOU AND YOUR BUDDY FOR TANDEM INSTRUCTION

*************************

Course Hardware Requirements
Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) are central to music production, whether you are an artist or engineer. In this course we will be using Pro Tools. Because Pro Tools is the industry standard DAW, this is the DAW we will be using. You may also use Logic Pro but with the understanding that we will not tailor the course to Logic Pro specifically unless you do our Individual Study or 2 Person Buddies program.

COMPUTER: Apple Macbook, microphone, cable, headphones & Mac compatible audio interface.
Current Minimum Specs for many DAWs are as follows:
256GB Hard Drive or SSD
16GB RAM
Mac OS High Sierra or Above.
The following specs and hardware are recommended for Pro Tools: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/Compatibility/Pro-Tools-System-Requirements
Help with hardware can be obtained by calling Sweetwater (800) 222-4700 - Ext 1398. Ask for David Hess.
Recommended Textbook: Modern Recording Techniques
ISBN: 978-024082157
https://www.amazon.com/Recording-Techniques-Engineering-Society-Presents/dp/0240821572

*********************************
101 COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1 * Tuesday * Session 1

Introductions. Covering the Stages of Music Production.
Planning, Recording, Editing, Mixing and Mastering.
The differrent jobs of engineer and producer and how they have merged with the digital revolution.

Week 1 * Tuesday * Session 2

The Fundamentals of Sound
How Humans hear
Fletcher Munson Curve

Week 1 * Saturday * Session 1

Cable Wrapping and Cable Types
Microphone Types
Phantom Power
Overview of audio interfaces - front and back. 

Week 1 * Saturday * Session 2

Phase vs Polarity
Frequency Response
Polar Patterns
Setting Up A Microphone
Using a Mic Stand
The rest of this time will be dedicated to setting up a microphone, routing it, and getting signal into the students interface.

Week 2 * Tuesday * Session 1

Introduction to Pro Tools and Navigation
Creating and Following an I/O
Tracks

Week 2 * Tuesday * Session 2

Review Signal Routing
Gain Stages
Disk Allocation
The rest of this time will be dedicated to setting up a microphone, routing it, and getting signal into ProTools.

Week 2 * Saturday * Session 1

Introduction to Patch Bays
Using a Patch Bay
Using Outboard Gear - external preamps

Week 2 * Saturday * Session 2

Microphone & polar pattern choices
Using a Ribbon Microphone
Using a Tube Condenser

The rest of this time will be dedicated to setting up, operating, and comparing, dynamic, condenser, ribbon, and tube microphones.

Week 3 * Tuesday * Session 1

Headphone levels and talkback
Working with Rap Vocals
Rap/Hip Hop Workflows

This hour will be dedicated to gaining practical experience with a Hip Hop/Rap Client.

Week 3 * Tuesday * Session 2

Working with Pop Vocals
Organizing Takes

This hour will be dedicated to gaining practical experience with a Pop Client.

The Student Project for 101 will begin after this class. The student’s project will be designed around working with content recorded during either the Rap/Hip Hop or Pop recordings. At this point the session will be transferred from the studio computer to student’s computers.

Week 3 * Saturday * Session 1

Multiple takes and Vocal Comping. Basics of editing - slip and shuffle. Editing using transients. Editing using the grid. Students will use the remaining hour to complete editing their projects on their computers.

Week 3 * Saturday * Session 2

Introduction to plug ins in the vocal chain
De-Essing
EQ
Compression & Dynamics Processing

Week 4 * Tuesday * Session 1

Delay
Reverb
Specialites - phase, flange, chorus, distortion

The extra time will be dedicated to student project work incorporating the above materials.

Week 4 * Tuesday * Session 2

Intro to tuning vocals using Autotune and Melodyne or other standard tuning software.
Material Recorded in previous sessions will be used to Tune Vocals. 
The extra time will be dedicated to student project work incorporating the above materials.

Week 4 * Saturday * Session 1

Setting Up a Click
Multitracking with multiple microphones
Mic-ing an acoustic guitar
Using a DI
Aligning phase - DI & Mics
Click bleed & closed back headphones

Week 4 * Saturday * Session 2

This time will be dedicated to experimenting with recording Classical and Acoustic Guitars and examining their different tonalities.

Any extra time will be dedicated to student project work.

Week 5 * Tuesday * Session 1

Introduction to electric guitars and electric guitar amplifiers
Humbuckers vs Single Coils
Tube amps versus solid state
Recording electric guitar amplifiers
Mic Choices and mic positioning
Using a cabinet simulator.
Software amp simulators

Week 5 * Tuesday * Session 2

This time will be dedicated to experimenting with recording electric guitars and examining their different tonalities.

Week 5 * Saturday * Session 1

Setting up and utilizing Stereo Mic Techniques and reasons for a stereo pair.

Week 5 * Saturday * Session 2

This time will be dedicated to student project work.

Week 6 * Tuesday * Session 1

This time will be dedicated to students learning how to route & mic up a basic Drum kit (kick, snare, overheads) and get tones. 

Week 6 * Tuesday * Session 2

Drum Recording continued. Work will continue with the goal to capture a basic drum recording.

Any extra time will be dedicated to student project work

Week 6 * Saturday * Session 1

Drum Recording Review
Advanced Routing & Outboard Gear - compression & noise gates. 
Any extra time will be dedicated to student project work and questions for instructor.

Week 6 * Saturday * Session 2

Time will be used to listen to progress and Student Projects with class critques. Recording 101 end of class test. Filling out course feedback questionaire. Overview of Recording 102.