The TRW Full Time Standard & Advanced Music Technology & Sound Engineering Courses (TRW Music Tech SE.) PROSPECTUS 2008 Standard course: page 3 Advanced Course: page 5 Fees: page 5 Start dates: page 5 Application form: page 7 Terms & conditions: page 10 TEL: +44 (020) 8968 8222 E-mail: recordingworks@btconnect.com Website: www.therecordingworkshop.co.uk Unit 10, Buspace Studios, Conlan Street, London, W10 5AP -Established since 1989- The Recording Workshop Limited T/A The Recording Workshop Registered in England No: 05798223 Registered Office: 119 The Hub, 300 Kensal Road, London W10 5BE VAT Reg No: 882285886 Page 1
The TRW Full Time Music Technology & Sound Engineering Course (TRW Music Tech SE.) This course is designed to prepare students to be able to work in the recording industry. Like our part time courses the emphasis is on practical work. There are 2 courses: the Standard course and the Advanced course. The Standard course lasts 9 months including holidays and covers all the essential skills required to operate a professional recording studio including plenty of practical time amounting to 16 or more hours (up to 40 if you want) per week. The extended Advanced course also lasts 9 months and covers extra material such as Live Sound Reinforcement i.e. PA mixing and Sound to Video work as well giving students a lot more experience and independent work which leads them on to running their own paid recording sessions. There is a maximum of 3 people per course for the Advanced course and 5 for the Standard course. The Standard course can be taken on its own or in conjunction with the Advanced course. See page 4 for fees. At the end of the course students will be assessed for the TRW Music Technology & Sound Engineering Diploma. This will be based not only on the quality of the work presented but also on the attitude of the students. The recording industry does not fit into the mould of other industries. The hours are erratic and can be very long, the general environment tends to be unorthodox and stress levels can get high. The ability to work in a team is essential. Motivation, drive, enthusiasm, flexibility and reliability are paramount. Page 2
The Standard course (3 parts) Part 1 (8 weeks): The Foundation course on Tuesdays 14:00 to 17:00. Practical periods: Wednesdays 11:00 to 17:00 + Thursdays or Fridays. 11:00 to 17:00 During part 1 some of the practical sessions consist of assisting in actual recording sessions with a tutor to gain a better understanding and experience of the requirements of a studio engineer. As this is also a working recording studio the times and days of the practical sessions may occasionally change at short notice just as they would do in any other professional recording studio therefore a certain amount of flexibility is necessary from the students. The Foundation Course (Tuesday afternoons) A comprehensive and concise grounding course covering all aspects of recording. Seminars are given on all necessary theory and all relevant information packs are provided. Additionally each person records his or her mix for each session onto a cassette available from the workshop. Students are asked to bring records/cds/mp3s of pre-recorded music to be analysed. Textbooks are available at a reduced price. SOME OF THE AREAS COVERED BY THE FIRST COURSE: Microphone techniques. Patching. M.I.D.I. Setting up recording studios Recording procedures. Production techniques Signal flow Multitrack recording. Mixing techniques. Equalisation techniques. Metering. Sampling techniques. Synthesizer programming. Reverberation,Digital delay Sequencing-CUBASE S.M.P.T.E. synchronisation. Compression, noise gates Digital vs Analog. Part 2 (16 weeks): Class sessions: Mondays: 11:00 to 17:00. Tuesdays: 11:00 to 13:30. Supervised practical periods: (minimum of 2 of the following): Tuesdays: 14:00 to 17:30. Thursdays: 11:00 to 14:00 or 14:00 to 17:30. Fridays: 11:00 to 14:00 or 14:00 to 17:30. Page 3
MODULES in part 2 of the Standard course SAMPLING: Students bring in material on various formats to sample as well as keyboard or acoustic sounds from the studio. All the aspects of sampling, editing and programming the Akai sampler are then covered as well as using software samplers. Towards the end basic Cubase routines are used to sequence the samples to produce a complete piece of music. MULTI-TRACK RECORDING & MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES: Initially a sequenced piece is used to learn how to use all the aspects of the multitrack recorder and mixer for acoustic recording such as Lining Up, Levels, Routing, Bouncing Down, Dropping in and out. Then acoustic and electric guitars, Drums, Vocals etc...are added to cover Microphone placement, Advanced Effects and EQ use. CUBASE SX: A maximum of only 2 people per workstation consisting of a computer with a keyboard and a multitimbral sound module means plenty of hands-on practice. The course covers: Drum, Key, List, Logical editing, Arranging with Global functions, Cut & Pasting, Group track, Using Controllers, MIDI processor, IPS, MIDI mixing, the audio mixer, automation, using plug-ins, editing, channel assignment etc SYNTHESISER PROGRAMMING: Covers all aspects of Analog Synthesiser programming as well as Digital synthesis such as VCO, VCF, VCA, LFO etc... There are up to 6 synthesisers available for participants to work on. Each person will have use of a different machine at each session so that experience is gained on as many different types as possible. Students will be able to record their sounds on to tape or sample disks for their own use or bring their own synths. ADVANCED PRODUCTION: No matter what kind of music you work with the final mix is very often the biggest stumbling block. In this course we work with different styles of music and cover the details of integrating and balancing the sounds using all the facilities of the studio including programming effects, special use of processors, extensive EQing, depth and breadth perception, using MIDI for mixing and all the more generally creative aspects of mixing. DIGIDESIGN PROTOOLS: Covers all aspects of working with the industry standard hard disk multitrack recorder and editor: recording audio, editing, automated mixing, track assignment, plug ins etc... LOGIC PRO: Logic Audio is the sequencing program used by professionals which is becoming increasingly popular. This course covers all the aspects of using Logic: the Environment, Arrange page, Event list editor, Matrix editor, Hyper editor, audio recording, audio mixing, audio editing etc.. Part 3 (8 weeks): Final period to finish your projects. No more classes but access to the main studio as well as the individual workstations as well as necessary individual tuition. Final interview and assessment. Career advice. UK residents who successfully achieve the diploma will then be found placements in studios for work experience. Page 4
The Advanced full time course: Includes Reason, Multitrack tape recording, Mastering advanced hard and software sampling, advanced synthesis, guided market research, studio set up and planning, advanced studio wiring, reviewing topics that were felt to be unclear in the 1 st part independent live recording sessions extensive microphone technique work, video soundtracking Live PA mixing (Sound Reinforcement). The objective is to make you self-sufficient and build up you self confidence in a recording session and studio. The times will be Classes: Thursday and Friday 11:00 to 13:30. Practical: Monday all day (often till 9PM) and Tuesday 11:00 to 13:30. You will also often have the opportunity to use the facilities at evenings and weekends. Only 2-3 people per course. Fees: UK &EU nationals: Standard course on its own (9 months): 4000 inc. deposit 5,918 EUR Deposit: 1130 1,672 EUR. To reserve a place. Balance payment due by 8 days before session 1. (See terms and conditions on page 9). Standard course + Advanced course (2 years) inc. deposit: 7000. Deposit: 1500. Non UK & EU nationals: who need a student s visa or leave of entry as students need to pay the deposit to get a letter of acceptance, the remaining balance will be due 14 days before the course starts. (See terms & conditions on page 10). Standard course start dates: Tuesday 08/09/09: 14:00. Tuesday 03/11/09: 14:00. Tuesday 05/01/10: 14:00. Advanced course start dates: Thursday 24/09/09: 11:00. Page 5
Location: The studio is situated in a new purpose built building in north Kensington near the north end of Ladbroke Grove about 15 minutes walk from Ladbroke Grove tube station. The building is a converted bus depot already holding many music projects. It is ideally situated in the middle of this trendy & buzzing music business area of London which includes many record companies, distributors and studios. The studio is on the ground floor with street access and contains a sound proofed control room and 2 soundproofed live rooms. Easily accessible by car from central London or outside. Transport: Underground: Ladbroke Grove & Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City line). London Overground: Kensal Rise. Buses: Nos. 23, 70 (Kensal Road), 52, 295, 302, 316 (Ladbroke Grove) and 18 (Harrow Road). Eligible for student oyster cards.(30% discount on TFL transport). The Recording Workshop is a very personal set up, not an impersonal institution. We treat everyone as human beings with respect and responsibility. The approach is down to earth and practical with a finger on the pulse of what is happening in the real world of music and technology. Page 6
TRW FULL TIME MUSIC TECHNOLOGY & SOUND ENGINEERING COURSE application/registration form Name: Evening TEL: Daytime TEL: Mobile: Address: Post Code: E-MAIL: Date of Birth: Nationality: Occupation: START DAY OF THE WEEK: TUESDAY TIME: 14:00 TO 17:00 (session 1) STARTING DATE: / / 200. WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY? INCLUDING VOCALS & D.J.: WHAT STYLE OF MUSIC ARE YOU INTERESTED IN? (IE. CLASSICAL, POP, ROCK, DANCE, SOUL, FOLK, WORLD MUSIC, ETC...): HAVE YOU HAD PREVIOUS RECORDING EXPERIENCE? IF SO PLEASE DESCRIBE: WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM DOING THIS COURSE?: Please indicate below if you have any medical conditions or disabilities that require special attention: Page 7
Next of Kin in UK: (optional for UK residents) Name: (MR/MS) Address: Town: Postcode: Email address: Home Tel: Daytime Tel: Mobile Tel: Nationality: Your details in your country of origin (overseas students only): Address: Town: County: Postcode: Country: Email address: Home Tel: Mobile Tel: Next of Kin in country of origin: Name: (MR/MS) Address: Town: Postcode: Email address: Home Tel: Daytime Tel: Mobile Tel: Nationality: Occupation: Relationship with applicant: Page 8
PAYMENT Please mark with a X the method of payment you wish to use: Please Note: ( ) Full payment enclosed ( ) Deposit enclosed (not refundable). Balance due 8 days before session 1. Make cheques or postal orders payable to: TRW. Cash and all credit cards (2% surcharge) and debit cards (no charge) welcome. PLACES CAN ONLY BE RESERVED ON RECEIPT OF DEPOSIT OR THE FULL FEE. Any enquiries please call José on +44(0)20-8968 8222 and leave a message if the answerphone is on. ( ) please insert a X if you do not wish to be included in the mailing list. Page 9
PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND SIGN WHERE INDICATED. Terms and Conditions 1. All course places can only be reserved on receipt of deposit or full payment. 2. The deposit is absolutely non-refundable or transferable unless no places are available. 3. There is no refund for lateness or absence from any or all of the sessions after session 1. 4. There is no refund for dropping out of the course after 28 days before session 1. If notified before the fees paid will be refunded minus the deposit. 5. The total payment has to be made in full by 8 days for UK & EU nationals or 14 days for non UK & EU nationals before session 1 otherwise students will be removed from the course and lose their deposit. 6. The recording workshop reserves the right to refuse admission without explanation. 7. Students are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke in the studio. 8. If for any reason a student enrols late so as to start a course at session 2 such as there being a spare place the full fee will be due at least 2 days before session 2. No refund will be allowable for dropping out or any absence after session 2. 9. Students are not allowed to touch any controls other than those specifically instructed by the course tutor. 10. Mobile phones to be switched off during lessons. 11. Any lateness or absence is to be notified as soon as possible preferably by text. 12. Any absence due to illness lasting more than 3 days needs to be certified by a doctor. 13. Students who miss 3 or more classes without an explanation will no longer be eligible to have work experience arranged for them. 14. Students who miss 3 or more classes from any one module will not be eligible for the appropriate certificate unless they can show that they have made up for what they have missed. 15. Students need to have all 8 certificates in order to get the diploma and be eligible for work experience. 16. Work experience is only available for UK and EU nationals. I have read, understand and agree to the "Terms and Conditions" stated above. Date: signature:.. Page 10