Audio Engineering Program

Douglas College Community Music School provides training and a certificate of completion in audio engineering and music production. This program is specifically designed to equip the participant with the right attitudes and skills required to work professionally in the audio/music industry. The courses provide a step-by-step method developed by 40-year audio/music industry veteran, Greg Reid. The Audio Engineering program is in it’s 12th year…

Check out the Youtube video, “Dirty Money” , recorded by Douglas College students last year for an example of what we record during our program.

Audio Engineering 123

Students learn how to set-up and operate recording equipment. Instruction will focus on the components in the audio chain including microphones, cables and connectors, consoles, equalizers, compressors, amplifiers, speakers and more. Some of the concepts covered are: gain structure in audio systems; psycho-acoustics and the human ear; room acoustics and the principles of sound including, amplitude, frequency, harmonic content, wavelength, envelope, velocity and phase.
Throughout the course students gain hands-on experience through a thorough teaching of methods that can lead to a career as a music producer and/or audio engineer. They learn the basics of recording and engineering in a digital multi-track studio with industry standard recording equipment and techniques that include:  microphone selection and placement for instruments and voice; as well as signal routing and operation of analog and digital consoles, hardware processors and software plug-ins. Professional gear by Roland, Yamaha, Focusrite, Avalon, Millenia, Tannoy, Urie, Lexicon, Tascam, Genelec, AKG, Shure, Audio Technica, Alesis, TC Electronics, Digidesign, Sony, and other manufacturers will be used by students during the course.
Practical recording exercises with many instruments including drums, bass, guitars, keys, pianos and vocals, occur throughout the class and culminate in recording sessions with musicians/bands. Two songs will be recorded and mixed providing students with valuable experience. All students participate in the studio sessions and creation of the finished recordings.

Next session to start in May 2010
Thursday evenings
Time: 6:30-11:00
Instructor: Greg Reid
Fee: $1300
Registration by telephone call 604 527 5472
For course information call 604-464-6781

Audio Engineering 4

This is an intensive training course and the next step for students seeking Community Music School certification/qualification in audio engineering and music production. The training portion is 72 hours in length, consisting of recording studio and audio workstation time.
Band recording projects in the recording studio occur for the duration of the course. Hands on training with a large format AMR console, patch bay and digital recording systems is inititated in the control room. Students also individually create their own music on mac/logic workstations in our lab.
And, classes include instruction and projects using major software platforms: Sonar, Logic, and Soundforge. Every pupil will have a PC and/or Mac workstation at their disposal each night of the program. And students will be personally assisted and evaluated by their instructor throughout the course.

Session currently running Tuesdays, Jan-April 2010
Instructor: Greg Reid
Fee: $1400
Registration by telephone call 604 527 5472
For course information call 604-464-6781

Audio Engineering 5: Digital Audio Workstations

Hard disc computer-based recording with and without the use of a large format console continues to be investigated through a series of demonstrations by the instructor. The use of high-end mic pre-amplifiers is explored. Students will work on individual projects using PC platform and/or Mac workstations to complete multi-track assignments. Instructor feedback and analysis of each student's work will be provided throughout the course of study. Topics of study will include how to choose and design your own system, compatibility between platforms, transferring and transporting audio files effectively from studio to workstation, overdubbing and tracking, mixing, non-linear editing, automation, mastering and exporting files to CD.
72 hours of instruction, recording and lab time.

Next session to start September 2010
Time: 6:30-11:00
Instructor: Greg Reid
Fee: $1400
Prerequisite: Audio Engineering 4
Registration by telephone call 604 527 5472
For course information call 604-464-6781

Audio Engineering 6

This module features analog consoles, mutli-track reel to reel recording as well as ITB [in-the-box] mixing. Students will work with a 32 channel vintage AMEK Tac Scorpion console, Roland VS hard disc recording system, and a Sony MCI JH24 track recorder [2” analog multi-track] in an off-campus project studio.
Drum recording, editing, and analog re-recording techniques will be featured.
OTB [out-of-the box] techniques are investigated through hands-on use of console and recording equipment
During the course, students will learn the operation, set-up, maintenance and the efficient management of a vintage multi-track recorder as well as options for emulating and/or transferring it’s performance to the digital domain for convenience of mixing. 
Session recordings will be exported for mixing on Sonar and/or Mac workstations at Douglas College. Students will also be able to mix on their home workstations as well. 72 hours of instruction, recording and lab time.

Next session to start September 2010
Time: 6:30-11:00
Instructor: Greg Reid
Fee: $1400
Prerequisite: Audio Engineering 5
Registration by telephone call 604 527 5472
For course information call 604-464-6781

Audio Engineering 7

This is an internship program. Students must complete four projects to professional standards. Each student works unassisted in the studio as a producer/engineer with musicians of their choice. Sessions are conducted exclusively by the student working as an independent producer with all aspects of the session under the student’s control.

Audio6 students will meet periodically with their instructor and other interns during the course for workshops. And, instructor evaluation of each intern will be ongoing for the duration of Audio 7.

The fees include 12 blocks of studio time. Each block consists of four studio hours. The 12 blocks are broken down as follows:
Orientation with Instructor and other interns (1 block)
Solo Artist Project (1 block)
Duet Recording Project (2 blocks)
Trio Project * (3 blocks)
Band Recording Project * (4 blocks)
Spare (1 block)
*must involve recording drums

Session currently running Jan-Sept 2010
Additional 4 hr. blocks ($140) can be purchased upon request
Fee: $1,400
Prerequisite: Audio Engineering 6
Registration by telephone: call the CMS office: 604 527 5469
For course information call 604-464-6781

And please watch for future courses we hope to make available:
Audio Engineering 8 VS-Sonar…Roland certified training
Audio Engineering 9 Protools…Digidesign certified training
Audio Engineering 10 Live Sound and Location Recording