Music 404 : Recording Studio Techniques (reg. #033485)

Wednesdays, 3:30-6:50, B33 Baird Hall

Instructor: Tom Stoll, tmstoll @at@ buffalo .dot. edu

Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:30-3:30, or by appointment

Class Website: http://courses.corpora-sonorus.com/index.php

Attendance and Grading:

Attendance is mandatory at all class sections. There will be 1 or 2 times that we meet out of class to use a recording studio, as well as a few concerts that are highly recommended. The class grade will be 50% attendance/participation and 50% projects/assignments. There will be three shorter projects, and one large final project. You are encouraged to participate on-line in discussions that may develop, and by sharing some of your past or current work.

Academic/Artistic Integrity:

Throughout the year, we will be listening to and discussing various pieces of music that use electronic techniques. We will also listen to your own work. I am mainly interesting in talking about technique.  I ask that you refrain from criticizing work solely on the basis of an artistic judgment. At no time should you make any derogatory personal comments about an artist.  I also ask that you consider the content of any music you are presenting. You may not find the material offensive, but others might.  Perhaps consider whether or not your piece is something you would be proud to play for your grandmother. You must do your own work. You may team up with a partner to complete most assignments so long as both contribute to the assignment.

In a course dealing with electronic music the use of borrowed musical material (usually by means of sampling) is an important topic. We will discuss the use of samples and borrowed material in class, but here are a few simple guidelines:
-Is the material copyrighted?  If it is released on a commercial recording, it most likely is. If it is released as part of a sample library, it is copyrighted, but might possibly be used freely (it’s covered by a different type of copyright).  If it is covered by copyright, you must have permission from the owner of the copyright (not necessarily the author/composer!).
-How much material are you sampling and how will you process it?  If you sample an entire chorus from a James Brown song, you definitely need permission.  If you are sampling a single drum hit and then processing it seven different ways, probably no one will be able to tell—unless you tell them.
-Finally, are you releasing your piece of music and trying to make some money off of it?  For most—if not all—of you, the answer is ‘no’.  You are generally free to make use of any sampled material, because you are using it for educational purposes—plus, who’s ever going to know?  For the purposes of this class, I don’t want you just cutting and pasting a few samples together and calling it your own.  The issue will be clearer after our class discussion.

Lab Rules:

1. No eating or drinking. Food and drinks should under no circumstances be close enough to any equipment to spill on them.

2. The $75 fee enables you and only you to access B33.  Do not lend you card to anyone.  Do not bring guests into the lab unless you have permission from the instructor.

3. All equipment must stay in the lab. We can tell who last used the lab, so if anything disappears, the last people in the room are responsible.

4. Bring headphones to plug into the MBox.  You may use the large speakers and mixer if you are the only one in the room, or if you want to hear your mix on speakers as you are finishing up a project.

5. Leave any personal gear at your own risk.  If you leave headphones, they should stay put, but that is not guaranteed.  Later in the semester, you might want to bring in a keyboard or an amp.  They are probably OK left overnight, but the instructor or the school takes no responsibility for your personal gear.

Questions & Evaluations:

If you have any general questions about the course, about any of the pieces I play in class, about electronic music in general, etc., feel free to ask.