Academic Catalog

MTEC 70F: PRO TOOLS 310M-AVID CERTIFICATION

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2021
Units: 4
Hours: 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 82G.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Description

Advanced operation of Pro Tools in a professional music production environment. Audio recording, editing, MIDI, virtual instruments, final mix down, automation and mastering techniques. Integration of Pro Tools shortcuts and equipment configurations for increased efficiency in recording studio facility workflows. Hands-on experience with examples from major label recording artists, producers and mix engineers. Successful completion achieves Avid Pro Tools Expert Level Music Certification.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:
A. Configure and troubleshoot Pro Tools.
B. Control Pro Tools with tactile worksurfaces.
C. Apply advanced recording and audio import techniques.
D. Understand audio format file interchange standards.
E. Apply advanced music editing techniques.
F. Understand technology for music synchronization.
G. Apply advanced signal routing and mixing techniques.
H. Understand advanced automation concepts.

Course Content

A. Study and analysis of Pro Tools music production techniques.
1. Understand advanced music production workflows.
2. Audio acquisition techniques in professional recording studios.
3. Analog and digital signal processing with hardware and software.
4. Mixing techniques addressing music industry standards.
5. Export and manage digital audio file formats maintaining inter-operational cross-platform compatibility.
6. Understand and apply professional recording studio operations and techniques.
7. Digital audio editing techniques as applied to music production.

Lab Content

A. Track count
B. Elastic audio settings and rendering levels
C. Plug-in and bus considerations
D. Insert tracks and routing importing and exporting file types
E. Bit rate encoding
F. Bouncing audio to disk
G. Consolidating audio regions, etc.
H. Other items may include subjects such as number of plug-ins per insert track, bus assignments for efficient recording operation, and mastering compression settings

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

A. When taught on campus:
1. Classroom with 31 Avid Pro Tools systems.
2. 31 Apple Macintosh computers running appropriate operating system.
3. Projection system for video and multimedia content.
4. Loudspeaker system to accurately reproduce audio examples.
5. Pro Tools HD systems for advanced exercises.
B. When taught via Foothill Global Access:
1. On-going access to computer with email software and capabilities.
2. Email address.
3. JavaScript enabled internet browsing software.
4. Pro Tools software or equivalent Digital Audio Workstation.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Written assignments that analyze, compare and contrast Pro Tools editing techniques
Hands on demonstration of Pro Tools techniques including keyboard commands and hardware configurations
Tests on mixing, mastering, final delivery methods, theory and techniques as presented in the Pro Tools 3010M textbook
Final project delivering completed music production demonstrating understanding of class material and assignments

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture presentations that demonstrate advanced operations of Pro Tools in professional music production environments
Classroom discussions that address contemporary equipment configurations and workflows for increased efficiency in recording studio facilities
Group presentations followed by in-class discussion and evaluation

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Cook, Andrew. Pro Tools 310M. 2020.

Other written materials provided by the instructor and delivered online.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

A. Written critiques and analyses of audio production projects including albums, soundtracks, television, video games and internet multimedia.
B. Written summaries documenting technical and artistic elements for corresponding submitted assignments and audio projects.
C. Written proposals, session logs, learning outcomes and reflections supporting submitted musical works and final master recordings.

Discipline(s)

Commercial Music