Intro to Studio Engineering

Intro to Studio Engineering introduces students to the full music production workflow—from pre-production to final mix. This hands-on course offers practical training in microphone use, signal flow, and studio equipment, with a focus on working within a professional recording environment. Students will also explore the science of sound and digital audio, gain experience with analog gear, and receive initial training on the SSL AWS 948 console.
By the end of the course, students will be ready to track vocals and instruments in a studio setting, and may pursue full certification for independent studio use.

Topics

• Record-Making Process
  • Map pre-production, tracking, editing, mixing, and mastering.
• Studio Etiquette and Roles
  • Practice communication, safety, and expectations for engineers, producers, and session players.
• Physics of Sound
  • Explore frequency, amplitude, phase, SPL, and room behavior.
• Digital Audio Principles
  • Explain sample rate, bit depth, file formats, and analog vs digital.
• Microphones and Placement
  • Compare dynamic, condenser, and ribbon mics and apply polar patterns and proximity effect.
• Signal Flow and Patchbay
  • Trace mic to DAW to monitors and work with normalled, half normalled, inserts, and sends.
• Outboard Processing
  • Use 1176, LA-2A, Pultec, and FX units for compression, EQ, and spatial effects.
• SSL AWS 948 Console Workflow
  • Route, process, and mix with channel dynamics, auxes, busses, and basic automation.

Goals

• Plan and run a multitrack session with at least 6 recorded tracks including vocals, drums or percussion, one acoustic instrument, and one amplified instrument.
• Build and patch a clean signal chain using mic, preamp, processor, and patchbay with proper gain staging and no audible clipping.
• Capture quality takes using correct mic choice and placement for each source with clear documentation on a track sheet.
• Mix 4 to 8 stems and a full multitrack using EQ, compression, reverb, and bussing to produce a balanced stereo mix.
• Export deliverables in WAV at 44.1 kHz, 24 bit and provide a labeled session folder ready for archival.
• Trace and troubleshoot routing on the SSL AWS 948 between console and DAW during tracking and mix.