Recording Studio Techniques - ELE00031C

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

The Recording Studio (whether professional, personal or mobile) is at the heart of modern music and audio capture and distribution. This module introduces you to the recording studio production environment and its underlying technologies in the development of a range of creative and engineering focused skills and techniques. You will learn how to operate equipment safely and professionally and will produce your own recording portfolio.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To introduce the students to the recording studio production environment and its underlying technologies such that it can be used in the development of a range of creative and engineering focused skills and techniques
  • To emphasise the importance of transferable audio engineering skills and the use of the studio as a creative engineering tool
  • To develop proficiency in the operation of a recording studio

Graduate skills aims:

  • To develop and encourage professional production values through technical competency and reflective learning
  • To encourage the effective management of the creative production process in terms of use of time, working with other personnel and problem solving

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Understand the recording studio environment, recording formats, and the associated signals and systems involved
  • Be able to use a software based Digital Audio Workstation environment together with a range of mixing and processing options for recording, editing and production work
  • Be able to select and use microphones appropriate for recording live and studio based scenarios
  • Be able to mix individual component audio tracks into a two track stereo master

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Be able to produce technical documentation to support their creative output
  • Have developed the ability to self ­reflect on their work
  • Be able to demonstrate their ability to work individually to complete a range of creative and technical studio based tasks

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Essay/coursework 50

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Essay/coursework 50

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme.  We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.

A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.  This can be found at https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The Department of Electronic Engineering aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme.  In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work.  Students are provided with their examination results within 20 working days of the end of any given examination period.  The Department will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline.  The Department would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback.  The Department will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum.  Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate.  Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date. 

Indicative reading

  • Sound recording practice’ edited by John Borwick for the Association of Professional Recording Services, 4th Edition, Oxford University Press 1996. ISBN 0 198 166087
  • Ballou, G,‘editor, ‘Handbook for sound engineers’, Focal Press, 2005, ISBN 0 240 807588 Bartlett, G, and Bartlett J,
  • ‘Practical Recording Techniques’, Focal Press, 2005. ISBN 0 240 80685 9
  • Francis Rumsey, and Tim McCormick ‘Sound & Recording – An Introduction’ 5th Edition, 2005, Focal Press. ISBN: 0 240 51996 5
  • Moylan, William, 'The Art of Recording' Focal Press, 2002. ISBN: 0 240 80483X