Music Production Using Pro Tools

ONLINE
February 8–May 9, 2021

This course will focus on recording and producing music with Pro Tools, the industry-standard professional music production software. Participants will record audio with microphones, MIDI from the electronic keyboard, and make extensive use of software instruments. This course is designed for the elementary and secondary music educator interested in making professional sounding recordings of his/her ensembles and integrating music production into the music curriculum. Basic computer literacy is required for this course.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain how digital audio works.

• Setup a new Pro Tools recording system.

• Navigate and use the three primary modes (slip, shuffle and grid) and three primary tools (trim, selection and grabber) to edit audio/MIDI recordings in Pro Tools.

• Automate volume, panning and effect parameters.

• Effectively use EQ, compression, delay and reverb plug-ins.

• Describe and implement multiple stereo recording techniques.

• Create a rough mix using track grouping, submixing and a master fader.

• Use audio-suite effects to fix pitch mistakes.

• Effectively select and record with microphones.

• Record and edit MIDI in conjunction with software instruments.

• Utilize existing loops and create new sampled loops to generate interesting musical material.

• Develop a budget for recording equipment.

Instructor: Michael Fein

Michael Fein earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in jazz saxophone performance from Rowan University. He released his debut jazz album, Four Flights Up, in April 2005 (available on iTunes). Fein has presented numerous sessions at music and technology conferences including the 2005 National Education Computing Conference and the 2009 and 2010 TI:ME National Conferences. He was awarded the TI:ME Teacher of the Year in 2007. In 2010, Fein co-authored Making Music with GarageBand and Mixcraft, a music production curriculum text, and recently authored Teaching Music Improvisation with Technology, published in February 2017. Fein currently teaches graduate music technology courses at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and music technology electives and jazz ensemble at Haverford High School in Haverford Township, PA.