Whether they’re interested in recording jazz, rock or classical music, students at the Lamont School of Music have the advantage of learning the art of audio production in the Newman Center’s recording studio.
Students in the Bachelor of Music Audio Production concentration who are preparing for a career in music recording and performance work in the studio from their first year at Lamont. Several students in the program have prior experience recording with their own bands and all are musicians themselves.
“Musicians who wish to become recording engineers or music producers have an advantage over those without musical ability,” says Michael Schulze, a lecturer in Audio Production and Electronic Music. “The line between music performers and producers is becoming blurry,” he says, noting the contributions of George Martin and Quincy Jones.
Students first train in Schulze’s Introduction to Electronic Music course, learning the elements of sound synthesis and MIDI. They then embark on a two-year sequence of courses that cover stereo and multitrack recording, surround sound, mixing, mastering and sound for picture.
“By their senior year, they are managing the facility and working on an extensive senior project,” Schulze says.
Every practice and performance facility in the Newman Center is wired to the studio, allowing the students to gain hands-on experience recording live performances.
Mark Halberstadt, a commercial music major who graduated in the spring, plans to record classical music. Halberstadt came to Lamont from another music school.
“I am much happier at DU and I feel that I am learning more,” Halberstadt says.
The studio’s high-tech equipment includes a ProTools HD3 system, Digital Performer and Logic Pro software, a Genelec surround monitor system, an extensive microphone and preamp collection and a full complement of outboard gear. It also houses analog and digital synthesizers by Korg and Modcan and software synthesizers including MoogModular V, Reason, Native Instruments and Max/MSP.