Technology and Recording

Curriculum Guide
Technology and Recording
Music Minors

The University of Indianapolis is unique to the Midwest in offering a baccalaureate degree with a concentration in these two areas. The cu-riculum is a concentration within the standard four-year liberal arts music degree. In other programs there is often an excessive concentration in the technological areas, at times to the exclusion of fundamental music courses; this is not the case at the University of Indianapolis.

Our college major requires that the student be well trained in all of the traditional areas of music: theory, history, and performance. The development of critical listening skills is also emphasized. It is on this foundation that the Music Technology and Recording degree is built. Our philosophy is that recording engineers with strong musical skills will be more effective than those whose knowledge is purely technical.

This balanced curriculum also extends to the nature of the courses themselves. We strive to provide an equal combination of theoretical and practical knowledge throughout the program. Students are given ample opportunity for hands-on experience to practice what they have learned. This culminates in the final year of the program with the option to intern in a major commercial recording facility.

It is understood that the Technology and Recording Concentration as a music major is generally pursued in lieu of a minor in another department. For those students whose primary focus of study is in another area, the Technology and Recording core courses may be pursued as a music minor.

Courses

Electronic Music I — An introduction to the individual components and their integration in a computer-based MIDI workstation. Students will acquire basic knowledge of synthesizer architecture and elementary sequencing techniques.

Electronic Music II—Continuation of Electronic Music I. A more in-depth study of sequencing techniques. Included will be a study of the various types of sound synthesis including analog, digital, and sampling-based instruments.

Audio Recording I—An introduction to the principles of analog recording. Students will learn components of the recording chain including basics of acoustics and sound, signal flow, microphone types and usage, and console and tape recorder operation.

Audio Recording II—Continuation of the study of components in the recording chain with focus on multitrack recording/mixing techniques and the use of outboard signal processing equipment. Introduction to the principles of recording in the digital domain. Students will learn the basic operation of hard disk-based recording and editing systems.

Studio Maintenance and Live Sound Support—An overview of the fundamental skills necessary for the troubleshooting of audio equipment. Basic techniques involved in sound reinforcement design and operation as well as the integration of field 2-track recording.

Senior Project—In their final year, all students will be required to oversee the entire production of a large-scale recording project. They will be responsible for all aspects of the recording from preproduction to mastering for the CD. Students will be required to submit their proposed projects for approval the semester preceding their enrollment in this course.