Syllabus for Music Production: Online Course
Fall 2010________________________________________________________
Professor: Nate Wildes
Email: nwildes@csusb.edu
Class Day/Time/Location: Online, Weekly, http://csusb-odl.com/moodle/
Phone: 909.537.5421
Recommended Text:
Pro-Tools LE Ignite
Pro Tools 101
Reason 4 Power
Reason 4 Ignite
Music Production
Essential Equipment
Here are some equipment considerations that will really make a difference in
your productions.
1. Software Program. If you do not have a professional-level audio sequencing
program, get one. Programs such as Reason, Logic, Pro Tools, SONAR, Digital
Performer, Nuendo, and Cubase provide comprehensive tools to create
professional-sounding music. For all exercises and tutorials in this course, I will
be using Propellerhead’s Reason 4.0
2. Microphone. Your mic is of great importance if you want to record vocals at a
professional level. There is a range of makes and models to choose from. Go to
the following Web site and check out the mic statistics:
http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200106.microphones.jtowne
.html
All microphones sound differently, and you will generally get what you pay for.
Let your budget be your guide.
3. Upgrade your monitors and listening environment. Last, but really the most
important, is your listening environment. All of the critical decisions you make
producing music are based on what you hear, so look into upgrading your
monitor speakers and adding sound treatment for your room.
Course Objectives
Students will gain an advanced understanding of the essential phases in
professional music production and establish a sound foundation of skill sets that
are universally desired in the audio engineering field. Each student will develop
their own original composition from start to finish, while receiving critiques,
technical support and expert advice along the way. Upon completion of the
course, students will have a thorough understanding of: Music theory, song form,
audio engineering software, studio hardware, constructing an instrumental,
integrating sampled audio, recording vocals, and equalization and mixing down a
finished track.
Grading
This is a 10 week course which consists of weekly class discussions, 4 listening
exercises, 4 tutorials, 4 individual production assignments, 1 group assignment, 4
critiques, 2 synchronous sessions, 2 assessments and 1 cumulative final project.
Grading will be based on how well the guidelines for each task are followed as
well as policy compliance. The grading breakdown is as follows:
Participation – 35%
Discussions, critiques, listening exercises and synchronous sessions
Assignments – 40%
Assessments, individual production requirements and group project
Final Project – 25%
Cumulative project
A+-A- B+-B- C+-C- D+-D-
100-90 89-80 79-70 69-60
Policies
All students are responsible for obtaining their own production equipment.
Upon the beginning of week#2 of this course, I will presume that everyone
has the essential equipment required for the course. All questions or
concerns regarding equipment should be addressed in week#1.
Weekly tasks are to be completed and submitted before 12 a.m. every
Friday. Individual production requirements can be submitted at any point
prior to the following Friday with a 15% grade reduction penalty.
Class discussions, synchronous sessions, critiques, assessments and
group work must be attended/completed on time. There will be no credit
issued for work submitted late.
Participation in the tutorials and listening exercises will be assessed within
the class discussions.
All work should be your original compositions. Plagiarism will only inhibit
you from gaining the necessary experience to advance as a producer. The
week#7 sampling exercise will be the only instance where you will use an
existing composition.
This course is cumulative, so participation and completion of each week’s
tasks are imperative to your overall success. If you are unable to complete
an assigned task, I highly recommend that you review the exercises
and/or tutorials prior to continuing into the next week.
Course Schedule__________________________________________________
Week1: Introduction
Course objectives/expectations
Syllabus & resource review
Student assessment/feedback
Information exchange
Week2: Software Interface/Hardware
Reason & Pro Tools
Tool functions
“Getting Started” tutorial
Week3: Fundamentals
Basic principles of music production
Music theory and common terminology
Listening exercise
Week4: Song Form
Synchronous session: DimDim
Analysis of song structure
Assessment
Week5: Drums & Bass
Guidelines for constructing drum loops and patterns
Tutorial
Assignment: Develop drum beat
Critique
Week6: Motif
Scales and motives
Listening Exercise
Assignment: Develop motif
Critique
Week7: Sampling
Tutorial
Assignment: Prepare, import, arrange sample
Critique
Week8: Instruments
Tutorial
Keyboard, horns, guitars
Group project: Integrate melodies into song
Critique
Week9: Vocals
Synchronous session: DimDim
Listening exercise
Assignment: Record vocal chorus
Assessment
Week10: Mixing
Equalization, compression, panning, effects
Tutorial
Listening Exercise
Final project due
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