PARC Course Information and Registration Information:

This 8-week program is a series of seminars and “hands-on” workshops focusing on today’s studio recording techniques and procedures, terminology and equipment. Designed primarily for musicians, artists and sound engineers, PARC has also been popularwith audiophiles, DJs and just about anyone interested in sound production and recording.

This course is taught in Mirror Sound Studio’s 24 track Shoreline recording facility. First offered in 1984, a unique feature of PARC is the small class size (strategically limited to 6 students per class), giving each student maximum “Hands-On Training” potential. Using the equipment yourself and learning to make audio judgments with your own ears is the best experience you get when you’re a beginner.

Vital to understanding the academics of sound is our new text book: David Miles Hubers' Modern Recording Techniques, 6th Edition and is available at the studio. Students are encouraged to record a demo during class (outside band members or groups are welcome during these sessions. What better way to focus on sound technology than by working on you own music? A certificate is awarded to each student upon completion of the course.

 Practical Audio Recording Course Description

Week One: Introductions, Sound and Hearing, Studio Acoustics, Monitoring
Read: Chapters 1,2, 3, 14
Focus: Frequency response, dynamic range, audio metering, terminology, equal loudness contours, phase coherency. Speaker Design, Far Field vs. Near Field Monitors, Headphones, Discuss Student Projects, Control Room Equipment Survey

Week Two: Microphones: Design and Application, Microphone Technique
Read: Chapter 4
Focus: Dynamic vs. condenser microphone design, polar patterns, mic placement, balanced vs. unbalanced, proximity effect, Student Mic-shootout 

Week Three: Signal Processors Part 1: Equalizers
Read: Chapter 12 (pp 439-451)
Focus: various types of filters, pink-noise/real-time analysis, the patch bay, feedback suppression

Week Four: Signal Processors Part 2: Compressors, Limiters, Expanders (Gates), Dessers
Read: Chapter 12 (pp 455-485)
Focus: compression parameters, applications, stereo limiting, Start Student Projects

Week Five: MID-TERM Quiz, Digital Effects Top Digital Audio Workstations
Read: Chapter 11, 12  (pp 469-483)
Focus: chorusing, echo, doubling, flanging, glossary, digi plug-ins, reverb, midi-based effects editors, Pro Tools LE 6.7, Sonar 4, Samplitude 8, & Student Projects 

Week Six: MIDI Basics, MID-TERM Quiz
Read: Chapter 7
Focus: Midi Controllers, Midi Voice Modules, Sequencers, Sonar 4, Reason 3.0 & Student Projects

Week Seven: Week Eight: The Mixing Console
Read: Chapter 11
Focus: Busses, Aux Sends, Direct Outputs, Insert Points, Master Module, Digital vrs Analog summing & Student Projects

Week Eight: Studio Session Procedures, Ideal Home Studio Scenario, Judging Sound Quality, Mastering, FINAL EXAM & Student Projects Wrap-up
Read: Chapter 14 &19 and Review all course materials for exam
Focus: tracking, overdubbing and mixing procedures, editing using  a Digital Audio Workstation (Magix’s Samplitude 8 PC/XP)

Students interested in additional training, please inquire about The Advanced Course or tutoring on specific subjects, Note: Student are entitled to Special Educational Discount Pricing on Samplitude/RME Products.
 

Time: 1 evening per week for 8 weeks from 7-10pm Note:  Allow for a possible 1-week recess during your class
Text Book: David Hubers' Modern Recording Techniques (6th edition) $45.
Tuition: $575  (payment plan available) Call now to secure your reservation for the next course, $200 deposit required. Checks, cash or money orders accepted.Sorry, no makeup's or tuition refunds for missed classes.

The Parc Advanced Course (offered 2 times/year) is a intensive hands-on training class that gives you maximum time on the equipment. Students can bring projects/bands/artists to class and work on demos in conjunction with the other students.  Parc Advanced assumes the student knows the basics of EQ, Compressors, Microphones, Signal Flow, and Digital Recording. So if you have graduated Parc I and want more experience this is the class for you. Midi enthusiasts are especially welcome as we explore virtual instruments, Reason 2.5, Sonar, Jammer 5, Pro Tools, Samplitude 8 and much more!