The School of Sound Recording in Manchester offers two completely different types of course. One will involve you in the study of recording for a complete year, and the other for just five days. Here we take a look at both.

One of the more common readers' enquiries that we receive reads basically: 'I know nothing about recording. Where and how can I learn?' Well, nowadays it is becoming increasingly difficult to get into studio work through the traditional 'tea-boy/tape-op/engineer' route, and one of the ways in which many prospective engineers and producers are seeking to broaden their studio experience before even setting foot in a commercial studio is through attending courses.

But a year-long course represents a great deal of commitment in terms of both time and money and it's not everyone who has the capabilities to match these requirements. In recognition of this, therefore, several institutions have set up shorter and cheaper courses. One college to run both types of course is the School of Sound Recording in Manchester.

A Year in the Studio

The one year Certificate Level course encompasses both lectures and practical exercises and the year is divided into five separate blocks, each lasting 8-10 weeks and each devoted to a specific area of study. By the end of the course students will have also engineered and produced two or more substantial pieces. Work is continually assessed by regular tests and a final project in the form of a recording session. The theoretical side is tested by means of exams, held after 10, 20 and 48 weeks. At the end of a successfully completed course the student receives a certificate.

As no previous experience is assumed, the course starts from basics and builds up to more complex work. First examined are the mathematical principles of sound, then the fundamentals of signal flow in the studio, the basics of multitrack recording and mono, stereo and quad.

Next the practicalities are examined, starting with a Revox B77, as an example of a 2-track recorder. Editing is also covered, and students perform their own editing exercises. After tape has been thoroughly covered, mixing is examined, using a 4-track set-up as an example. This in fact forms the main part of the first term's work and covers recording, playback and mixdown and is aimed at letting the student familiarise himself with all procedures involved in using a mixing desk. At the end of this section of the course another test will be set. Finally in this first term, sometime is set aside for the study of equalisation.

The second ten weeks begins by taking a look at the human ear and how it responds to sound. This then leads on to a study of microphones: different types, their use and the placement of mics. Again practical work is involved and experimentation encouraged. From there the course moves on to cover the patch bay and a selection of signal processors before the student takes an exam covering all his course so far.

Being such an extensive subject, acoustics is not covered in great detail, though it is not ignored. Neither is the matter of studio design. Each student writes a project on designing and running a studio on a restricted budget. Some time is also devoted to guest lectures and to finish the course each student must complete a personal project involving both engineering and production.

Five Days in the Studio

This short but intensive course aims to help students expand their knowledge of sound and the latest technology. Emphasis is firmly placed on practical demonstrations and exercises for the students, and the course is angled towards the home recordist.

Because of the very limited time involved, subjects have to be necessarily covered at breakneck speed. For example, the first day's lectures cover signal flows in the studio, the mixer, basic physics of sound, using drum machines, tape machines and editing. On the second day our student gets faced with subjects such as the composition of magnetic tape, multitrack recording, overdubbing and mixing and cassette multitrack units.

Microphones are examined on the third day: how they work, the different types, and their placing. Acoustics is also touched on. This leaves day four's lectures to look at effects units, soldering and budgeting for equipment. To the final day is allocated an 8-hour recording session with a typical band. This should hopefully concentrate the knowledge gained in the previous four days and put it to use in a practical situation where problems have to be solved on the spot.

And then...

To the practicing or potential home recordist, the benefits of the 5-day course are immediate. It provides a foundation from which to work, and like all courses of this type, is ideal for those getting their first taste of recording. The full year-long course naturally demands far more commitment and is aimed at those anticipating a career in recording or a related subject. The school itself does try to find placements for its students on completion of the course (though it is impossible to guarantee a placing) and is in constant contact with manufacturers, broadcast services, studios and the like.

The number of similar recording courses in the country is not great, but if you (together with a not insignificant number of our readers), feel that a course in recording would be beneficial, the School of Sound Recording is definitely one to check out.

Further details can be obtained from: School of Sound Recording, (Contact Details).