Unit 35:

Unit code: QCF level: Credit value:

Music Studio Production

D/601/1309 5 15

︎ Unit aim The unit’s aim is to enable learners to produce recordings to professional standards by developing their practical and theoretical skills. ︎ Unit abstract To achieve professional standards in both recording and production, learners need a firm grasp of the theories underpinning. In this unit learners will consolidate practical knowledge of studio equipment and processes with theoretical skills covering a number of aspects of audio recording and production. The unit is concerned with the application of the theoretical knowledge required to achieve professional standards of practice. An understanding of sound theory and digital audio concepts will allow learners to make informed decisions during the recording and production processes. These skills are transferable to a number of areas, such as live sound, audio post-production and sound design, and can lead to employment such as recording studio engineer, sound engineer for live venues, studio assistant, sound engineer for post-audio in the media industry and audio consultant. Much of the delivery should be made to small groups of learners in the studio environment. Learners should be encouraged to experiment with and explore the concepts and techniques that are presented to them within the context of their creative resources. The production process can be broken down into simpler blocks and then reassembled, as learners become familiar with these. Creative and technical aspects of the process should be integrated so that activities are always rewarding. Thorough analysis of existing examples of excellence, both musical and technical, is to be encouraged and seminar work could be geared towards this. ︎ Learning outcomes On successful completion of this unit a learner will:

1. 1 Be able to use the components of the modern recording studio 2. 2 Understand sound theory and digital audio concepts 3. 3 Be able to record instruments and voices within the technical and creative

boundaries of the product 4.

4 Be able to mix a recording to a professional technical and creative standard. BH029654 – Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals specification in Music – Issue 2 – October 2011 © Pearson Education Limited 2011

UNIT 35: MUSIC STUDIO PRODUCTION

Unit content 1. 1 Be able to use the components of the modern recording studio

Signal sources and destinations: acoustic sources; electronic sources eg digital audio workstation (DAW), hard disk recorder; stereo sources; monitor sources; tape returns Routing and patching: channel/mix paths; busses; grouping; auxiliary busses; patchbays; normalling; latency; latency compensation Foldback: headphones; amplifiers; foldback sends; foldback mixes; communication

2. 2 Understand sound theory and digital audio concepts Sound theory: room acoustics; phase; sound treatment; stereo; direct and indirect sound; reverberation; diffusion; absorption Digital audio concepts: sampling rate; bit depth; word clock; AD/DA conversion; native and digital signal processing (DSP) processing; data compression algorithms eg lossy, lossless; MIDI standard Gain staging: level standard; fader setting; gain settings; meters; unity; headroom; difference between analogue and digital domain eg clipping, headroom, dynamic range

3. 3 Be able to record instruments and voices within the technical and creative boundaries of the product Microphone choice: characteristics eg types, polar patterns, frequency response, instrumental characteristics, tonal quality, matched pairs Microphone placement: stereo techniques eg M/S, spaced pair, coincidental, Decca tree; distance; on/off axis; ambience eg direct/indirect sound, spill, room sound; proximity effect, phase Interfacing: preamplifiers; direct injection; line mixers; impedance matching; phase

4. 4 Be able to mix a recording to a professional technical and creative standard Editing techniques: editing tools; correction eg timing, pitch Registral placement: the frequency spectrum; equalisation; separation; masking Achieving depth and width: level; balance; dry/wet balance; early reflections; reverberation; ambience; panning; delay; mix planning Dynamic processing: outboard eg expander, gates, limiter, compression; compression techniques eg serial, parallel, two-stage; side chain Mastering: standards eg media, editing, enhancement, labelling, storage, archiving, mastering for different media; file compression eg lossless

BH029654 – Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals specification in Music – Issue 2 – October 2011 © Pearson Education Limited 2011

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria UNIT 35: MUSIC STUDIO PRODUCTION

Learning outcomes On successful completion of this unit a learner will:

Assessment criteria for pass The learner can:

LO1Be able to use the components of the modern recording studio

1. 1.1 match signal sources and destinations within the recording studio environment

2. 1.2 define appropriate gain staging 3. 1.3 select correct routing and patching

techniques within the modern recording studio

LO2Understand sound theory and digital audio concepts

2.1 justify microphone placement relating to sound theory 2.3 evaluate correct gain staging in the modern studio

LO3Be able to record instruments and voices within the technical and creative boundaries of the product

1. 3.1 follow technical and artistic guidelines to inform appropriate microphone choice

2. 3.2 follow technical and artistic guidelines to inform appropriate microphone placement

3. 3.3 carry out correct interfacing of various sources in the modern studio

LO4Be able to mix a recording to a professional technical and creative standard.

1. 4.1 edit material accurately 2. 4.2 produce appropriate registral

placement using equalisation at the mixing stage of a recording

3. 4.3 create appropriate depth and width at the mixing stage of a recording

4. 4.4 use dynamic processors at the mixing stage of a recording

5. 4.5 present a mastered recording adhering to industry standards.