This course encompasses both postproduction&mastering techniques and the audio technologies that make them possible. From EQ, compression, chorus, reverb to more complex FX (flanger, phaser, vocoder) and from basic analog to digital audio technology, the course aims to give a broad of view of the grounds of recording industry within the recording studio scope. Special emphasis is given to applied state-of-the-art digital audio technologies as well as hands-on-hands specific postproduction techniques.
To take this course it is desirable to have an engineering background, to have taken some courses in Physics (Acoustics) and Electronics at the undergraduate level, and also to be familiar with basic signal analysis. Attendance to the Music Recording and Mixing subject (1st term), previous experience in the recording field and/or formal music knowledge is also very worthy.
General: Postproduction and mastering basic skills; Ability to understand and use state-of-the art recording technology; Ability to take criteria-based decisions; Ability to communicate in English; Ability to work in a team; Ability to work in an interdisciplinary field;
Specific: Ability to link up technological and technical uses; Identificaction of ground concepts in any state-of-the-art applied audio technology; Developement of musical and aesthetic criteria regarding music postproduction and mastering; Practical experience in a studio session;
The course takes place in the 2nd term of the year and it is organized depending on schedule in two types of sessions, once per week (Thursday from 17:00 to 20:00)
The distribution between lectures and hands-on exercices throughout the course will balance both theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. The course will also include a final recording&mixing project.
Homework: each week, all students are expected to review the lecture material (usually consisting on a set of papers or lecture notes) and to work on a set of proposed exercises. Students are also expected to work on their project.
Project: for the project, groups of students (recommended 3-4 students per group) are expected to propose and develop a project related to audio recording & mixing technologies and thecniques. Each student is expected to work on the project during the term and present the results at the end of the course.
Final exam: the student will be asked to discuss some of the topics of the course at a final exam.
Evaluation: the evaluation of the course is based on the following items: