A vivid 30-minute documentary on the songwriting and recording process, listening practices over time, and the impact of consumer media formats on listening.
Category Archives: Recording and the Producer
Mastering Notes
A couple before/after videos with helpful commentary:
Dynamics notes
Owsinski’s steps for setting a compressor, summarized:
- Start with slow attack and fast release (i.e., slow to act, quick to leave it alone).
- Lower the threshold until you see the compressor turning on and off.
- Make attack faster until note attacks sound dull (then back up a bit).
- Make the release longer to pump in tempo (ie.., release by the next note).
- Adjust ratio as needed.
- Check against the original (bypass).
- Check against the full mix.
Loudness war overview: Continue reading
Delay-based Effects Examples
Presentation Dates and Topics
| Wednesday |
3/8/2017 |
Early Recording and Brill Building (p. 1–9) |
Jonathan |
| Wednesday |
3/22/2017 |
Phil Spector (p. 9–16) |
Leon |
| Friday |
3/24/2017 |
Brian Wilson (pp. 16–21) | Sean |
| Monday |
3/27/2017 |
Motown (pp. 21–26) |
Jesse |
| Wednesday |
3/29/2017 |
George Martin (pp. 26–35) |
Allison |
| Monday |
4/3/2017 |
Frank Zappa (pp. 35–43) |
Benjamin |
| Wednesday |
4/5/2017 |
Pink Floyd and Tony Visconti (pp. 43–52) |
Benjamin |
| Monday |
4/10/2017 |
Bill Laswell (pp. 62–70) |
Elizabeth |
| Wednesday |
4/12/2017 |
Trent Reznor (pp. 70–79) |
Brandy |
| Monday |
4/17/2017 |
Brian Eno (p. 52–62) |
Elizabeth |
| Wednesday |
4/19/2017 |
Disco and Quincy Jones (p. 79–89) |
Sean |
| Friday |
4/21/2017 |
Hip Hop (pp. 90–97) |
Leon |
| Monday |
4/24/2017 |
Conny Plank and Electronica (pp. 89–90 and 97–103) |
Brandy |
| Wednesday |
4/26/2017 |
Remix (pp. 103–109) |
Allison |
Sound Basics Exploration Software
- Download the software here: SoundBasics1.21.mxf
- Download and install the Max software (Mac or Windows) here. It’s free just to open files without saving changes or making new files.
- Then use Max to open the SoundBasics program.
FAQ for All My Courses
Where can I find __________?
- Syllabus: http://howdy.tamu.edu
- Faculty curriculum vitae (cv): http://howdy.tamu.edu
- Study guide: http://ecampus.tamu.edu/
- Online tests: http://ecampus.tamu.edu/
- Some class materials (especially those with large file sizes or needs for restricted access): http://ecampus.tamu.edu/
- Supplementary electronic materials: http://morrismusic.org — look for your course under the Teaching menu.
In general:
- Howdy (http://howdy.tamu.edu) stores all syllabi and faculty curricula vitae (cv) to comply with Texas state law.
- eCampus (http://ecampus.tamu.edu/) stores any materials that are sensitive because of academic integrity (e.g., tests, study guides), federal privacy law (e.g., grades), or intellectual property laws requiring limited distribution, as well as files needing other kinds of special handling (e.g., large file downloads).
- This website will store most other materials not described above.
Where can I get help with __________?
- For help with this website or any problems specific to this class only, e-mail your instructor.
- For help with any facilities inside the College of Liberal Arts: click here
- For help with eCampus, contact Instructional Technology Services: click here
- For help with Howdy or TAMU internet connectivity, contact Help Desk Central: click here
What do you do at TAMU / What kind of music do you compose?
As a professor at TAMU, my job is to create new research and creative work, present it in internationally prominent venues to raise TAMU’s profile, and—since TAMU is a Tier One Research University—to bring students in on the intellectual frontiers I explore, as much as possible. (This course is taught with the assumption that this is why you are here.) Here is some of my work toward this goal.
What music do you find inspiring?
This is not because this course is about this music, and it’s not my goal to get you to like this music too. I just get asked about this occasionally. It’s a playlist, so skip around as you like.