Rock Production Course

Module 1: Intro to Production

Tutor Ian Button, guitarist in Death in Vegas

Visit ToeRag Studios as part of this course.

Overview	You may be able to play your instrument, but can you record a demo CD that’s going to grab the attention of an A&R man or get you a vital gig? It’s all in the production…The good news is that you don’t have to spend thousands on hiring a recording studio. You can record, arrange and produce killer songs using a desktop studio set-up, provided you know your way around the software. We show you how to reproduce classic studio production techniques and we’ll take you to see a Grammy -nominated vintage recording studio so you can see where they originate from. Your tutor has recorded with likes of Iggy Pop, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller and toured all over the world.
Set up	We will teach the principles of rock music production using a studio/workstation setup, including signal flow and connections, soundcard options etc. We will show you how to record to get the most out of what you have while using the latest technology to really capture a sound that represents your band.
Recording sessions	Record and edit instruments and vocals using a mixture of hardware and the virtual studio environment, including microphone techniques for various instruments e.g. guitars and bass, as well as virtual instruments, percussion and drums. Plus microphones & techniques for vocals, style and delivery, double-tracking and harmonies, backing vocals etc.
Trip to Toerag Studios	Recording workshop at the Grammy award-winning studio where the White Stripes recorded Elephant. You will be introduced to vintage recording equipment and instruments and have the opportunity to try out vintage mics/amps/instruments and meet producer Liam Watson.
Song arranging	Time will be spent analysing your favourite tunes and other demos from pop to punk to experimental, looking at composition and production techniques, including intros and endings, choruses, bridges, hooks, riffs, arrangement tricks, extra bars and beats, surprise breakdowns, discord and repetition, feedback, chaos etc.
Software	Live drum programming to create real rock sounds. Includes BFD software and other rock sound libraries. We teach on the latest version of Cubase SX3. Explore the virtual instruments in the computer (e.g. Battery, Akoustik & Elektrik Piano, B4, Halion String Player, Virtual Guitarist, Pro 53).
Sampling	An introduction to software sampling. Learn to import audio samples into your work. Create your own loops in Cubase, using timestretching and audio warping, and work with Recycle to transform the raw samples and create .rex files to use with a software sampler.
Effects	Add effects such as reverb, distortion, flange and delay to the mix using plug-ins and effects units. Amp simulators e.g. Guitar Rig; the theory of gating, compression, and limiting.
The art of mixing	A very important part of the process that is often overlooked. This is taught in our state of the art mixing studio. You will gain first hand experience of mixing techniques from our professional producers and learn how to achieve a high quality master recording.
Burn your tunes	We will look at compiling the best demo, how to use CD mastering software, creating MP3s, what a demo should look like to achieve best results and what to include in the package to labels, publishers, press etc.
The business	An introduction into how the music industry works looking at the major players and who should be targeted, the importance of managers, lawyers and other team members, the role of gigging - both where and when, promotion - when to do it, image and how you want band to be interpreted, self-management and copyright. We also look at other avenues such as production/library music, TV work etc.