+ Recording and Mixing: Course Summary

Experienced instructors guide students through all of the fundamental principles of audio, digitizing sound, ProTools recording software, and the basics of microphones. These fundamentals help raise your studio skill level to new heights. Students are then given a chance to apply their knowledge of recording during several actual recording sessions.

Instructors guide students through every step of the recording process while sharing tips and tricks. Professional studio musicians are brought in as the subject of class.

MIW student sessions start simply with recording vocalists through several different microphones. Comparative and critical listening will tie the fundamentals to real recording experience. Student sessions then advance to recording overdubs for actual song sessions with guitarists, bassists, pianists, and more.

MIW hires cool bands to come in and record with students in classes. Students participate in every aspect of the recording session including session management, equipment set up, basic tracks, dialing up sounds, overdubbing vocals and other instruments.

Students will learn mixing aesthetics and techniques from instructors with years of mixing experience. Students move on to mixing full band projects. Students will work toward professional techniques with automation and mix processors. Students will be able to use spectral effects (EQ) and all dynamic processors: compressors, limiters, de-essers, and gates.

Instructors help students add special effects to their mixes. Time-based effects will include reverb, delay, and adding modulation.

MIDI is an integral part of most modern studio music. Students spend time making electronic tracks using MIDI with Pro Tools and Reason.

Recording and mixing students receive 1 on 1 studio time with MIW instructors. This gives students the opportunity to work on their own tracks or advanced questions.

+ Live Sound and Stage: Course Summary

Anyone involved in putting together a live performance for a band, church, school, or other function should learn this skill set.

The Live Sound and Stage Production course covers the creative and technical aspects of live sound reinforcement and stage lighting. Students learn how to set up, maintain, and operate sound and lighting systems for live performances.

We explore sound reinforcement concepts and terminology in a way that is easy to understand.

Students participate in every aspect of the live performance including equipment and instrument set up, troubleshooting, getting sounds up, ringing out monitors, sound checking, feedback control, mixing the live performance, and tearing down the instruments and equipment.

Students will get to work with real bands on a real stage with a real sound system – it doesn’t get any better than that!