11
Audio Production StudioAudio Production Studio Orientation Orientation
Christina FosterChristina Foster
Benjamin MarteBenjamin Marte
Paul McManusPaul McManus
22
Initial Analysis Summary Initial Analysis Summary
More than 175 institutions offer audio production More than 175 institutions offer audio production courses nationwidecourses nationwide
Learners:Learners: need operational and creative skills for entry-need operational and creative skills for entry-
level employmentlevel employment receive operational instruction once from receive operational instruction once from
instructor-led training, then rely on their notesinstructor-led training, then rely on their notes are having difficulties with operational are having difficulties with operational
proceduresprocedures
33
Educational Context Educational Context
Audio production courses combine science with art, Audio production courses combine science with art, through classroom instruction and studio instructionthrough classroom instruction and studio instruction
Audio production courses allow learners to:Audio production courses allow learners to: learn basic studio operational skillslearn basic studio operational skills develop creative skills through practice, develop creative skills through practice,
patience, and instructor feedback patience, and instructor feedback demonstrate their learning through creative demonstrate their learning through creative
audio project assignmentsaudio project assignments
44
Data Sources and MethodsData Sources and Methods
Typical audio production course: San Diego City Typical audio production course: San Diego City College Radio-Television-Communications (RTVC)-College Radio-Television-Communications (RTVC)-107 Broadcast Audio107 Broadcast Audio
Data was collected from five sources by:Data was collected from five sources by: Survey of twenty-three RTVC-107 students Survey of twenty-three RTVC-107 students Interview of RTVC Department ChairInterview of RTVC Department Chair InterviewInterview of RTVC-107 Instructorof RTVC-107 Instructor InterviewInterview of RTVC-107 Instructional assistant/audio tutorof RTVC-107 Instructional assistant/audio tutor Interview ofInterview of professional audio engineer (PAE) with 25+ professional audio engineer (PAE) with 25+
years experienceyears experience
55
Findings Findings
Learners have difficulty with these procedures:Learners have difficulty with these procedures:
Using the microphoneUsing the microphone 22% 22%
Playing CD’s using Auto-Cue 30%Playing CD’s using Auto-Cue 30%
Recording a CDRecording a CD 35% 35%
Level calibrationLevel calibration 65% 65%
No instructional product for studio orientation is No instructional product for studio orientation is available, necessitating instructor-led trainingavailable, necessitating instructor-led training
66
Extended Description of Extended Description of Learner/Users Learner/Users
Learners share many qualities:Learners share many qualities: No prior audio production experienceNo prior audio production experience Diverse and multiculturalDiverse and multicultural Typically under age 30Typically under age 30 Seek entry-level industry employmentSeek entry-level industry employment Most (78%) have access to computers that Most (78%) have access to computers that
connect to the internetconnect to the internet Desire to improve their audio production skillsDesire to improve their audio production skills
77
Revised Learner/ User GoalsRevised Learner/ User Goals
Learners want to:Learners want to:
Obtain entry-level jobs in the radio or Obtain entry-level jobs in the radio or recording industriesrecording industries
Understand audio studio equipmentUnderstand audio studio equipment Understand audio signal flow and routingUnderstand audio signal flow and routing Acquire basic studio operational skillsAcquire basic studio operational skills Develop their own creative audio production Develop their own creative audio production
skillsskills
88
Revised Instructional GoalsRevised Instructional Goals
LWBAT:LWBAT:
Identify and describe the operation of typical Identify and describe the operation of typical studio equipmentstudio equipment
Produce an original radio commercial to sell a Produce an original radio commercial to sell a product or service product or service
Define audio signal flow and describe routing Define audio signal flow and describe routing path options found in a typical studiopath options found in a typical studio
Produce a radio demonstration CD that includes Produce a radio demonstration CD that includes back-announced music selections, commercials, back-announced music selections, commercials, and station identificationand station identification
99
Learning System/ EnvironmentLearning System/ Environment
1010
Computer based training plus a print-based Computer based training plus a print-based reference workbook:reference workbook:
Computer workstation in production studioComputer workstation in production studio Secure delivery system, like BlackboardSecure delivery system, like Blackboard Sequenced modular bidirectional instruction Sequenced modular bidirectional instruction Text sized for older and multicultural learners Text sized for older and multicultural learners Learning assessed through self-tests following Learning assessed through self-tests following
each moduleeach module
Learning System/ EnvironmentLearning System/ Environment
1111
Rationale for Learning SystemRationale for Learning System
Accessible directly at point of need, the Accessible directly at point of need, the production studio, by all students even those production studio, by all students even those without computerswithout computersReference workbook is usable anytime and Reference workbook is usable anytime and anywhere anywhere Single and multiple user supportSingle and multiple user supportLearner controls pace and reviews anytimeLearner controls pace and reviews anytime
1212
Rationale for Learning SystemRationale for Learning System
Makes studio instruction consistent, Makes studio instruction consistent, regardless of who instructs the courseregardless of who instructs the course
Allows students who are absent not to Allows students who are absent not to miss studio instructionmiss studio instruction
Provides more time for the instructor to Provides more time for the instructor to help students with the creative aspects of help students with the creative aspects of audio productionaudio production
1313
Constraints, LearnersConstraints, Learners
No prior audio production skillsNo prior audio production skills
Studio instruction given only onceStudio instruction given only once
Lack access to Internet (22%)Lack access to Internet (22%)
Average or below note taking skills (74%)Average or below note taking skills (74%)
1414
Enablers, LearnersEnablers, Learners
Highly motivated to learnHighly motivated to learn
Self-paced structureSelf-paced structure
Access to Internet (78%)Access to Internet (78%)
Make audio production easier to learnMake audio production easier to learn
1515
Constraints Constraints Delivery System/ Environment Delivery System/ Environment
Reference WorkbookReference Workbook
Printing and binding costsPrinting and binding costsEasy to damageEasy to damageCostly to updateCostly to updateOccupies too much space Occupies too much space Learner motivationLearner motivation
1616
Constraints Constraints Delivery System/ Environment Delivery System/ Environment
Computer-Based TrainingComputer-Based Training
Complicated to useComplicated to use
ExpensiveExpensive
Computer accessibilityComputer accessibility
1717
Enablers Enablers Delivery System/ EnvironmentDelivery System/ Environment
Reference WorkbookReference Workbook
VisualVisual
PortablePortable
Easy to useEasy to use
Practice feedbackPractice feedback
1818
Enablers Enablers Delivery System/ EnvironmentDelivery System/ Environment
Computer-Based Training Computer-Based Training
Inexpensive to produceInexpensive to produceEasy to produceEasy to produceInexpensive to update Inexpensive to update Easy to updateEasy to updateVisualVisual
1919
ObjectivesObjectives Designer Benjamin Marte Designer Benjamin Marte
LWBAT record a 20-second voice soundtrack LWBAT record a 20-second voice soundtrack within a volume range of 80 to 100 percent within a volume range of 80 to 100 percent on the VU meter using the following:on the VU meter using the following: a prepared script a prepared script audio recorder audio recorder active microphone active microphone sound mixer consolesound mixer console
2020
ObjectivesObjectives Designer Benjamin Marte Designer Benjamin Marte
LWBAT add an eight-second segment music LWBAT add an eight-second segment music soundtrack to the beginning of a 20-second soundtrack to the beginning of a 20-second voice soundtrack using the following:voice soundtrack using the following: multi-track CD player multi-track CD player sound mixer consolesound mixer console audio recorderaudio recorder
2121
ObjectivesObjectives Designer Christina Foster Designer Christina Foster
LWBAT will create a 30 minute radio show LWBAT will create a 30 minute radio show that includes:that includes: CommercialsCommercials Station identificationStation identification Back-announced music selections Back-announced music selections
2222
ObjectivesObjectives Designer Paul McManus Designer Paul McManus
LWBAT describe the audio signal path in a LWBAT describe the audio signal path in a typical audio studio, and solve basic signal typical audio studio, and solve basic signal routing problems for the following equipment:routing problems for the following equipment: microphonesmicrophones monitor speakersmonitor speakers CD playersCD players CD recordersCD recorders other recordersother recorders