Recording Technology Course Offerings
Recording Technology has been a course elective at Bowling Green State University since 1980. In 1990, the College of Musical Arts instituted a minor in Recording Technology. The requirements for the minor are Recording Techniques, Advanced Recording Techniques, Music Technology I, II and III and Musical Acoustics. Students also take interdisciplinary electives directly related to the recording industry, including courses in circuit design, business, marketing, computers and others. During their course of study, Recording Technology minors have opportunities to participate in internships at national-professional recording studios, giving them real-world experience in the recording industry. Advanced students also frequently work in the College’s Recording Services area, gaining practical skills by recording and post-producing CMA concert events.
Recording Techniques is an entry-level recording course covering the basics of sound propagation, acoustics, miking techniques, signal processing, digital editing, console automation, MIDI and basic recording terminology. In addition to small hands-on projects, the class participates in a group multi-track session with live musicians. Each student then creates a stereo mix of the session as a final semester project.
Advanced Recording Techniques is an upper-level course where students have more opportunities to directly use the recording studio. Students are divided into small groups and assigned hands-on recording and production projects, including “on location” two-track recording, digital editing, a radio commercial, a multi-track session and a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack (voice-overs, sound effects and music) to a movie clip. The course emphasizes “real-world” experiences, preparing students for possible careers in recording and commercial music.