Introduction to Sound Recording and Mixing (MSR2141.01)

Senem Pirler

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of sound recording/music production techniques and using the medium of sound as a creative form. Students will be introduced to recording techniques through lectures, hands-on exercises, and critical listening sessions. We will cover basic sound acoustics, spot and stereo microphone techniques, field recording techniques, signal flow, audio processing, and creative and unconventional music recording techniques. We will analyze productions by various artists including but not limited to the Beatles, Motown artists, Betty Davis, Radiohead, Prince, Fever Ray, Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding, and Janelle Monáe. We will focus on learning how to work with the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) in post-production and editing as a creative tool. This course will also introduce the basic fundamentals of mixing techniques.

In the Lab portion of this course (which will be run in the last two hours of the course), we will focus on applying the recording techniques that we learn in the main class via recording sessions at the recording studio of Jennings. Students will learn how to run recording sessions, invite their musical collaborations/ensembles, and learn how to work in a collaborative environment. The Lab section of this class will run as in-person sessions and it will involve hands-on work with recording equipment.

Students who have previously taken “Introduction to Recording” will not be permitted to take this class.


Learning Outcomes:
The main objectives of the course are:
- To develop critical listening skills.
- To learn fundamental studio and field recording practices and basic mixing skills.
- To study basic acoustics and microphone techniques.
- To practice a variety of commonly used production techniques utilized in popular recordings.
- To create pieces that utilize recording techniques as creative applications.


Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
W 2:10PM - 5:50PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Course Frequency: Once a year

Categories: 2000 , All courses , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , Sound Design and Recording
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