students look at a music recording on a laptop computer

Contact

Dr. Steven Kerrigan
Chair/Instructor
Phillips (Building 3), room 233
919-536-7200, ext. 8032
kerrigans@durhamtech.edu

Music Recording and Audio Engineering (Continuing Education)

Short Term

Are you interested in a career in music recording and engineering? Durham Tech has partnered with Playground Studios to offer training for students in music recording and audio engineering. Students will learn how to function in today’s professional audio production environment recording studios, venues, post production houses and/or film houses. Students will study sound, its properties and measurements, how you must hear as an engineer, and how to use audio equipment to best capture sound (particularly music) without harming it. You will learn from an industry experienced instructor where you will gain hands-on experience on professional-level equipment and consoles.

Playground Studios is located at 1500 East Club Blvd. Durham, NC

Requirements

  1. A laptop computer with minimum system requirements; Intel® Mac with Mac OS X 10.7 or later, or PC with Windows 7 or Windows 8; multicore processor; 4 GB RAM; 1024x768 display; broadband internet connection for installation; 3GB free disk space.
  2. A USB Midi Keyboard and (3) Student version of ProTools 12.
     

Required textbooks

These can be purchased online from major book vendors.

  • Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber, ISBN: 0-240-80625-5
  • The Business of Music, 10th Edition by M. William Krasilovsky, Jonathan Feinstein, John M. Gross, Sidney Shemel ISBN-10: 0823077233 or ISBN-13: 9780823077236
     

SEF-REC5 Advanced Audio Recording II

Advanced Audio Recording II includes in-person meetings at Playground Studios and interactive online lectures on course topics and skills. Students will also have the opportunity to qualify for a 20-hour externship with industry partners to gain additional skills and knowledge. Once enrolled, students will receive an email with information about how to log into the online classes prior to the first day of class. It is strongly recommended, but not required, that you take Introduction to Audio Recording I or an equivalent course before taking Advanced Audio Recording II. 

Related Careers

  • Record Producer
  • Recording Engineer
  • Assistant Engineer
  • Recording Studio Manager
  • Mastering Engineer
  • Mix Engineer
  • Production Music Writer (TV Music)
  • Arranger
  • Orchestrator
  • Copyist

SEF-IAR1 Introduction to Audio Recording I

Intro to Audio Recording is designed to teach students the fundamentals of audio engineering, for both studio and live application, and how to identify the application of special effects to an audio production. Students will focus on learning about digital audio, microphone types, signal flow, audio cables, and terminology, as well as an introduction to ProTools, which is a comprehensive approach to learning the fundamentals of advanced audio recording. Understanding the use of effects units will prepare any audio professional with the experience needed to make the most critical decisions during the mixing process. This course will introduce students to live and studio sound by giving them hands-on experience on equipment in a recording studio. All students are expected to take this course first, unless waived by the instructor. This course will meet online on Mondays and at Playground Studios on Wednesdays. Online classes on Mondays will consist of an interactive lecture on the scheduled topic. One Wednesdays, students will enter the studio for hands-on demonstrations of the skills and techniques discussed. Students will receive an email with all information to log into the class prior to the first day of class. 40 hours (20 online and 20 studio) $650
Section Number Dates Location Building Room Time Format
This course has already started or is not being offered this term.

SEF-REC5 Advanced Audio Recording II

Advanced Audio Recording II builds on the skills learned in Introd. to Audio Recording I and requires a basic knowledge of audio recording. This course is designed to teach students to build sessions, including multi-track recordings of live instruments, midi sequences, software synthesizers, samplers, and audio looping and continued use of ProTools. Students will learn how to critically analyze a recording session from both a technical and creative perspective. In the studio students will receive hands-on training in audio mixing by applying advanced editing and the use of signal process.
Section Number Dates Location Building Room Time Format
This course has already started or is not being offered this term.

Suggested Paths

Long Term

(More than 12 months)

University Transfer