Gray Spark Audio Engineering Academy
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SOUND
Definition and understanding of Sound; Waves and Oscillation
Frequency, Amplitude and Wavelength and how it relates to Audio
Understanding Phases and Polarity Evolution of Sound
Understanding Harmonics and Overtone and how it relates to the music
Frequency Bandwidth and Octave Ranges
Decibels and Metering
Noise, Distortion and Basic Electronics
MICROPHONE, SPEAKERS & SIGNAL PROCESSING
Dynamic Microphone
Condenser Microphones
Electreset and Ribbon Microphone
Directionality and Polar Patterns
Practical 1
Dynamic Speaker Functionality
Full Range, Mid, Tweeter and Subwoofer
Speaker Design, Crossover and Monitor Configuration
Understanding all Speaker Specs
Build your Own Speaker
PROTOOLS
Introduction to Pro Tools
History of Avid
Types of Protools System
Basic Recording
Signal Flow, i/o, playback, preferences, buffer size
Hardware Software Configuration
Editing/ Time Quantization
Beat Detective, TCE, Types of Grids, Manual editing, Elastic Audio
Balancing
RECORDING & TECHNIQUES
Understanding Freq Spectrum
Listening exercise
Signal flow Studio A
Patching, Routing
Pro Tools Configuration in Recording
Microphones (application)
Preamps
Setting up Pro tools
Recording Techniques (Mono and Stereo)
Understanding Characteristics of mic
Record - vox, gtr, gtramp, piano, percussion
Multi Miking for drum rec
What is Timbre and Timber of an instrument
Rec in context of song
Assignment Make a cover song with rec elements
Role of a Recording Engineer
Assignment Live Band Recording
How to record Overdubs
MIXING AND MASTERING
Ear Training
Creating a Balance, key factors that determine the driving force of a Mix
Understanding Width, Depth, and Height of a Mix
Understanding Frequency Range on Instruments
Taking a correct brief for a Mix
Philosophy of Mixing and different approaches
Developing a Focal Point in your Mix
Working with Low End
Practical 1: Build your Balance
Deconstruct Mix 1
Deconstruct Mix 2
Different approaches to Mixing
Intro to Mastering
MUSIC PRODUCTION
Intro to Ableton
History of Ableton
Looping
Special Features of Ableton
Creative Audio Sequencing
Wrapping and Sampling
Max for Live
Advanced MIDI
Synthesis
Music Appreciation Session
Deconstruction of Music
Implementation of everything to structure a composition
Programming Percussion / Rhythm
Creating a song from scratch (practical + assignment)
Creative use of Effects
ACOUSTICS & AUDIO ELECTRONICS
Absorption, Reflection and Transmission
Boundary Reflections and Room Node
Golden Ratios
Construction Materials
Practical 1: Design your Room
REW
Understanding Waterfalls, RT60 and FR
Intro to Audio Electronics
Intro to Audio Electronics 2
Practical 2: Build an Amplifier
FILM SOUND
Intro to Location Sound 1
Intro to Location Sound 2
Understanding Edits and Tracklaying
Surround Setups and Art of Panning
Practical 1: Location Recording
Intro to Sound Design
Foley
Mixing in Surround 1
Mixing in Surround 2
Practical 2: Film Appreciation and Sound Design Breakdown
LIVE SOUND
Setting Up for Live Sound
Know your Console
Monitor Mixes
Mixing at FOH
Speakers, Amplifiers and Signal Processors
Problem Solving
Expanders, Noise Gates Applications and Settings
Planning your processing and Mix
MUSIC THEORY
Basics of tonality
Chord building and voice leading
Introduction to modes
Cadences and progressions
Building melodies
Harmonic treatment of melodies