Advanced Audio Engineering
Course 1: Recording Arts Review

Welcome to the Advanced Audio Engineering and Music Production Production at Recording Connection! In the first course, you will be re-examining the basics of the recording arts. Reviewing the fundamentals will get you right on track and prepared for the new challenges ahead!

Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll review during the course:

The Digital Audio Workstation – The Heart Of Your Project Studio.
Your computer acts as a host for the sound card and software and provides processing power for audio editing. Software controls all related hardware components and provides a user interface to allow for recording, editing, and playback.

Signal Flow – From The Sound Source To Sound Monitors.
Covers the path an audio signal takes from source to output, including all the processing involved in generating audible sound from electronic impulses or recorded media.

Microphones – The Right Microphone For The Job.
Microphones come in various designs, each with its own unique sonic character. The three most common microphone designs are the moving coil dynamic, ribbon dynamic, and condenser types. Understanding proper microphone placement is therefore critical for capturing the sonic character or personality of a sound you’re trying to record or amplify.

The Patch Bay – The Right Connections.
The patch bay lies at the heart of any recording studio, responsible for routing audio signals to their desired destinations. Its main purpose is to ensure a steady signal flow and make sure that no extra patching is necessary for basic functioning. The engineer can adjust the signal flow significantly to carry out complex sound-editing tasks.

Signal Processing – The Basics Reviewed.
Covering the most commonly used effect types and their processes. There are three basic categories: Delay-based signal processing, dynamics, and harmonic and sonic repair processing.

Time Codes And Synchronization – Staying Synced.
An overview of the most common uses for time codes and their important role in the television and film industry. Using SMPTE time code is the industry standard for the synchronization of audio systems across a variety of media production platforms. No matter the application, SMPTE provides reliable precision timing for optimal performance and accurate operations.

Section Seven: MIDI – The World of Digital Information.
Here we have a rediscovery of MIDI function and use in modern and pre-modern music. MIDI has become an integral part of modern audio systems, allowing for synchronization and automation with ease. By understanding the basics of MIDI you’ll be able to orchestrate professional-sounding performances.