MUIN 1561 - Recording Workshop
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42817,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Bryan Helsel
Email: bhelsel@ysu.edu
Course Description
1561. Recording Workshop. Introduction to the music recording process and the recording studio. An overview of music recording grounded in history and the principles of acoustics. An exploration of analog and digital technology involved in music recording. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reading |
Online article readings will be posted in Blackboard, and they are linked in the syllabus.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8/24 | Getting to know each other. Getting to know the syllabus. Getting to know the studio and lab.. Exploration of sound. | Be prepared to share something cool about you, and your goals for this class and for recording in general. I’d like to know your talents, passions, prior knowledge of music tech, and what drew you to choose this major. | |
| Wed | 8/26 | Science of sound and introduction to ProTools. Gainstaging and record yourself counting to ten | Bring your notebook and be ready to get used to keyboard shortcuts and working quickly to make edits. | |
| Mon | 8/31 | Navigation in ProTools, placement of markers, different tools and editing modes, crossfades and fades in mono editing environments. | If not completed in class Wednesday, have the recording of yourself counting to ten completed and ready to engage in some editing. | |
| Wed | 9/2 | Crossfades, editing in stereo. Demonstrate how minor project #1 can apply to musical settings. Set up and begin work on stereo editing project. How to bounce audio and upload to blackboard. Create rubric for grading project. | ||
| Mon | 9/7 | Labor Day, no class | ||
| Wed | 9/9 | Read handout (Home Recording Basics) linked on blackboard | Lecture class: What is digital audio verse analog audio? Explanation of sample and bit rates, definitions, uses, media, and how to benefit from both. | Due: Minor Project #1 |
| Mon | 9/14 | • Present Minor Project # 1 Demonstrate Stereo editing project in ProTools Using Logic to catch up to what we know in ProTools. Understanding its tools, editing procedures and layout. Demonstrate stereo editing project in Logic. | ||
| Wed | 9/16 | More fundamentals of Logic, including: Time to explore loops and software instrument sounds. Design rubric for stereo editing project. Peer review time on stereo editing project. | ||
| Mon | 9/21 | Read weblink on EQ | Answer questions on stereo editing project. Introduction to EQ (equalization) | Due: Stereo editing project |
| Wed | 9/23 | Present Stereo editing project Working with automation in ProTools and Logic, including how you can automate parameters of EQ | ||
| Mon | 9/28 | Reminder of writing assignment due Wednesday. How to compile soundscape for upcoming project due Wednesday. How to mix in a compelling way, leaving room for frequencies across the stereo field. | ||
| Wed | 9/30 | Read weblink on reverb | Reminder about article summary. Working with reverb. Using aux sends and bus routing. Other ways to create compelling sounds for soundscape due next class. Additional uses for bussing (mix bus) Folders and organizational structure | Due: Article summary # 1 |
| Mon | 10/5 | Design rubric for Soundscape project. Present article summary projects. Presentations will be brief summaries allowing some time for Q&A from the class. Working with loops in Logic and BandLab | Due: Soundscape Project | |
| Wed | 10/7 | Present Soundscape project With any remaining time, demonstrate the EQ project | ||
| Mon | 10/12 | Science of microphones and some experimentation with microphones. | ||
| Wed | 10/14 | Read weblink on compression | First, we’ll record some audio that we can use for compression demonstration. Then, go over reading, and put it to practical use as we work with the recording we made. Review EQ for project due Monday. | |
| Mon | 10/19 | Design rubric for EQ project. Explanation of loop project. How to create loops out of things that weren’t already loops. Basic loop design using Ableton. | Due: EQ project | |
| Wed | 10/21 | Present EQ projects With any additional time, demonstrate the loop project. | ||
| Mon | 10/26 | Catch up if behind, spend class time working on loop project so that its content is ready for discussions about mixing. Peer review time on loop project | Create a BandLab account | |
| Wed | 10/28 | Read weblink on mixing | Different ways to approach mixing for music. | |
| Mon | 11/2 | Design rubric for loop project. How to record live on-location in stereo for concerts, recitals, etc. | Loop project due | |
| Wed | 11/4 | Present loop project. Practice setting up using YSU equipment for on-location recording. Think about which of the options you’d like to use for your on-location project for mixdown. There will be several loaded to blackboard by this point in time. | Due: Article summary #2 | |
| Mon | 11/9 | Present Article summary briefly in a confident, compelling way, allowing for Q&A to follow. Demonstration of procedures for efficiently mixing down on-location projects. We will use both ProTools and Logic | ||
| Wed | 11/11 | No class – Veterans Day | ||
| Mon | 11/16 | Read handout on The Human Ear, linked on Blackboard | Lecture lesson: The human ear and its impact on mixing music. | |
| Wed | 11/18 | Design rubric for on-location project. Download the stems that you’ll use for your mix project and begin to set up that mix. | Due: on-location project | |
| Mon | 11/23 | What to do with the drums? Gate, compression, and other ways to get the drums to shine in the mix. | ||
| Wed | 11/25 | Thanksgiving break, no class | ||
| Mon | 11/30 | Design rubric for large mix project Go over take home final Make plans for continuing education, questions about topics we did not cover, and how they’ll be addressed in the curriculum to follow. With remaining time, peer review on mix before turning it in. | Due: Large-scale mix | |
| Wed | 12/2 | Present mix project Reminder of final and procedures for turning it in. | ||
| Wed | 12/9 | Turn in Take Home Final by this date | Due: Take Home Final |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.