EDIC716 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Title: DESIGN A RECORDING STUDIO
Facilitator: Alexander Wallace
Course Overview:
Course Description: The aim of the course is to prepare students and complete the necessary
planning for a practical recording session for Unit Standard 12826. The online course will deliver
the theoretical elements of the Unit Standard covering the fundamental components and how
they are integrated to create a complete digital recording system. The online environment will
deliver a richer learning experience for students by providing access to the latest digital
resources and components which they can then adapt or incorporate into their individual
projects or design plans. The pre requisites for this Unit Standard have already been completed
by the students and how they apply this prior knowledge will contribute greatly towards the
final objectives.
The Students: The target group consists of twelve Year 12 secondary students who are
currently enrolled in a year long Music Technology course. The same group participated in an
online course earlier in the year so many are already familiar with the procedures and
environment. While most proved to be “Internet Savvy” and proficient when working in a
digital environment, some did not so this will be taken into consideration for this course design.
Course Objectives: Students will…………
Investigate and discuss components required for a digital recording studio.(PK)
Learn how to connect the required components of a digital recording system.(PK)
Gain understanding of how audio signal is converted from analogue to digital. (PK)
Review Analogue and Digital recording systems through discussions.(CI)
Complete three studio design plans using graphics to enhance.(DI)
Prepare a final tracking sheet for their practical recording assessment.(UC)
Online program outline: (will be made available to the students in some form)
Title: Design a Recording studio
Purpose: To gain knowledge about the relevant equipment, how it connects and the different
processes associated with setting up digital and analog recording studios. The assessments
include designing a plan for a small recording studio which will provide written evidence for unit
standard 12826 and contribute towards final report grades.
Objectives: at the end of the course students should be able to:
Log on to an online CMS/LMS
Set up and disassemble a small digital recording studio
Improve understanding of Analog to Digital audio conversion
Create a plan for a digital audio recording set up
Use software or Web 2.0 tools to complete assignments.
Upload files for assignments
Use online discussion forums to share knowledge of weekly topics.
Start and Finish Dates: The course will run over eight weeks.
Week 1 (1st - 6th Sep) course starts
Week 2 (7th - 13th Sep) Assignment 1 due 14th Sep
Week 3 (14th - 20th Sep) students on exam leave
Week 4 (21st - 27th Sep) Assignment 2 due 27th Sep students on exam leave
2 weeks holiday period (28th Sep – 11th Oct)
Week 5 (12th - 18th Oct) Assignment 3 due 23rd Oct extra week for catch ups
Week 6 (19th - 23rd Oct) Assignment 4 due 23rd Oct course ends
Requirements: Students will be required to:
Log on for weekly news and course updates
Follow weekly instructions and work through the relevant resources/tasks
Submit four assignments by the due date using assignment drop box
Add at least one comment every week to the discussion forums
Students are expected to Log on 2-3 times a week. School time will allow for this to happen
except for weeks 3 & 4 when students are on exam leave and will need to access the course
externally.
What students need:
Access to a computer and the internet at school and from home
An active/current email address
Basic Word Processing skills and knowledge of how to use Internet search engines
Assessment: There will be 2 assessment rubrics/guidelines for this online course
1. Will provide information on how students will be marked/assessed for the course
assignments due in weeks 2,4,5 & 6
2. How student participation in discussion forums will be assessed over the duration of the
course and contribute to their end of year report grades. (rubrics)
Logon instructions: To be emailed to students with username/password
WELCOME TO THE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY ONLINE COURSE: Design a recording studio
This is the course link http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/login/index.php
(Use the username and password provided in this email to login to the course site.)
Pedagogical Justification: I have used a blend of constructivist and cognitive learning theories
integrated with prior learning experiences and knowledge to create an authentic learning
experience (Jonassen1934. 35). This will promote the use of higher order thinking skills in a
collaborative environment while helping to align student’s tacit and explicit knowledge. (Inglis,
Ling, Joosten 2000)The concept is to encourage students to make connections, reflect, evaluate
and apply that knowledge to formative assessments ultimately improving learning outcomes.
Activities: The structures of the activities were constructed with Blooms Taxonomy in mind
drawing on prior learning experiences for the knowledge and comprehension components
while using the collaborative and enquiry aspects of the course to help implement the
application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation process which will then applied to the formative
assessments. I have tried to link prior learning experiences to the activities as well by using
scaffolding techniques with familiar sequences and instructional methods.
Interaction: I have decided to make the discussion forums (the only collaborative part of the
course design as each student must complete work individually to meet the course
requirements) compulsory to help foster student interaction and to also highlight the fact that
this element of the course will play a crucial part in their learning process. Their final grades on
this element will contribute to their end of year reports. From previous experiences I have
found that some students tend to lurk in the background completing only the tasks or
assignments for course requirement and grade purposes only. Using the strategy of having a
valid grade/reward at the end may encourage those students to engage in the collaborative
aspects of the course more freely and frequently which will hopefully improve the learning
experience and outcomes for the majority.
NZ Curriculum Achievement Objectives covered in this unit include:
DI: Developing Practical Knowledge in the Arts
Developing Ideas in the Arts
Communicating and Interpreting in the Arts
Essential skills covered in this unit include:
Social and Co-operative, Problem-solving, Information.
Scope and sequence of teaching activities and timeline: Initial Design process
WEEK MODULE W.A.L.T.s TASK PEDAGOGY
Course 1)Log on and enrolment 1)Review research text, Prior
31 Aug – 6 Sep
Introduction 2)Exploring course links and resources on Knowledge
Week 1
& content and layout History of recording and (scaffolding)
Historical 3) Trailing discussion recording software
Background forums 2)Add a comment to
on each discussion forum
topic linked to research CI / PK
Designing a 1)Learn about the new 1)Read research and Prior
7 Sep – 13 Sep
plan for a components discuss A/D converters Knowledge
Week 2
small digital 2) connecting the new in the discussion forum Creating
recording components 2)Design and upload a Analyzing
studio 3)Researching A/D small recording studio Synthesis
conversion using software, WP or
Web 2.0 tools PK / DI
COURSE MAP
Investigate 1)Advantages of analog 1)Read materials links Analysis
14 Sep – 20 Sep
Analog and Recording components 2)Investigate examples Evaluation
Week 3
digital 2)Advantages of digital of analog and digital
recording recording components components, videos
components 3)Discuss advantages,
and systems disadvantages in forums
CI
Designing a 1)How to connect an 1)Read research Prior
21 Sep – 27 Sep
plan for an integrated analog and materials and links Knowledge
Week 4
integrated digital recording system 2)Discuss plans (scaffolding)
analog and 2)sharing ideas and 2)Design and upload an Evaluation
digital concepts through integrated (analog and
recording collaboration digital) recording system
studio PK / DI /CI
School
Holidays
28 Sep – 11 Oct
Designing a 1)Learn how to connect 1)Read materials Prior
12 Oct – 18 Oct
plan for a components for a digital 2) Review cables ppt Knowledge
Week 5
digital live recording (optical) 3) Create plan using Creating
recording 2)Trialing the Web 2.0 Webspiration Web 2.0 Analyzing
system Tool for the assignment Tool. (trialed in previous Synthesis
unit)
PK / DI
Complete 1)Structuring a process 1)Complete the project Knowledge
19 Oct – 23 Oct
Tracking for a digital recording sheet template (this will Analyzing
sheet for a 2)Planning for a live be used in a practical Synthesis
Week 6
live digital recording assessment/authentic Application
recording task) Evaluation
2) Complete Evaluation PK / DI /CI
Sample content: Week 2 (7th - 13th sep)
You are already familiar with most of the components required to assemble a small
digital recording system from Unit 12823. The new component that most of you may
not know much about is the interface that coverts Analog signal to digital
samples. (A/D converters) These can be computer cards or USB external devices.
Your Tasks this week are:
1) Review the components of a small recording studio by using the information links and
videos below.
2) Learn about the process of A/D conversion and sample rates.
3)Assignment 1 due date 13th sep: Design a small digital recording studio plan like the
example given. Upload your finished plan in the assignment drop box. 4) Add comment to the
A/D converter forum. Which do you prefer to use for your setup plan, USB external or internal
PCI/AGP card?
Element 1
1.1 Description identifies and explains components and functions of multi-track formats.
A small digital recording system will consist of a combination of the following
devices:
An input device. (Microphone, electronic keyboards, drum machines etc)
A preamplifier (mixer, USB external soundcard, built in instrument preamp)
An Analogue to digital (A/D) converter. (USB soundcard, PCI/AGP optical card)
Software for sampling audio, storage, editing and mixing (Audacity, Pro Logic)
Monitors (Quality Speakers or Headphones)
(Remember from unit 12823 condenser mics will require a DI box or Phantom
Power)
Here is an example of a small digital recording set up:
Preamp:
A preamplifier boosts low level signal devices so that their output level can be matched to
the operating level of mixer or A/D converter/interface to achieve optimum signal to noise
ratio. Some A/D converters have built in mic/line preamps. Some digital mixers have A/D
converters built in internal.
A/D converters: (Analogue to digital converters)
An A/D converter digitizes analogue signals. The A/D converter does this by sampling the
analogue sound taking snapshots of the analogue signal at a rate set by your sampling
software. The higher the sample rate the higher the quality of conversion.
USB Dac with built in Mic preamp, No reason for a mixer now!
CD quality has a maximum sample rate of 44100 Hz / 44.1kHz and a bit depth of
16 bit. This means there are 44100 snap shots per second and up to 65536 possible
levels of loudness. DVD sample rate is 48000 Hz + and bit depth 24bit + so the
quality is higher
Software:
The software allows the converted analogue signal to be replayed in digital file
format off the hard drive for editing, mixing, adding effects (Plugins) and mastering
purposes. The software also gives you a graphical representation of the wave form
in an “arrangement window” for scrubbing and editing. You can change the sample
rate for your project in the software so remember to choose 44.1 kHz and 16 bit for
your project template before you start recording. The following picture shows a
digitized analogue signal in Cubase arrangement window.
Analog to digital converters Forum
Design Plan for a Small digital recording studio setup Assignment
Week 4
Snapshot of Webspiration Virtual Studio activity
This activity (Task 3) asks students to demonstrate signal flow and connections for the equipment
required for their practical assessment in this virtual environment ….
Management page with individual student files:
Discussion Forum Assessment Rubrics:
AGW716 Discussion Forum Marking Guide:
There is a discussion forum for every week. Your contributions/participation will be assessed
and will go towards your end of year report grades for effort and homework. There are 6
discussion groups over the course duration. They will be assessed on Quality and Quantity.
Week 1: Recording Software Week 2: Analog to digital Week 3: Analog vs. Digital
converters Recording systems
Week 4: The Ultimate Week 5: Questions about KHS Week 6: Course evaluation
Recording System studio discussion
D C B A
Quality Student shared Student shared Student shared a Student shared
no ideas or one idea or one few ideas, many ideas,
examples of example of a examples of examples, and
components in component in the components in made excellent
the discussion discussion forums the discussion contributions to
forums forums the discussion
forums
D C B A
Quantity Did not Added one Added one Added more than
contribute to comment to the comment to the one comment to
the discussion discussion forums discussion forums the discussion
forums for every week forums for every
week
AGW716 Marking Guide for assignments 1,2,3 & 4 :
NA=0 points Not Achieved Achieved Achieved
A=1 M=2 E=3 Achieved 1 with Merit with
0 2 Excellence
3
Product & Assignment is Assignment is Assignment is Assignment is
Content unorganized accurate accurate thorough and
and shows displaying the displaying the accurate
little effort. correct correct displaying the
Assignment is components components correct
not accurate. but with and shows components
limited thoughtful Assignment
information. ideas and goes above
information. and beyond
3 what was
expected
Creativity Assignment Assignment Assignment Assignment is
lacks reflects reflects high extremely
originality and planning but a level of unique,
planning. minimal thought and creative, and
degree of originality. reflects deep
originality. knowledge of
subject.
3
Resources Student did Student made Student made Student made
not use any some use of good use of excellent use
resources that the resources the resources of the
were provided provided to provided to resources
to enhance enhance plan enhance plan provided to
plan enhance plan
3
Max Total
9
There are 4 assignments, each has a maximum total of 9 points. The overall course = 36. Course Grades as follows:
0-8 points = D 9-18 points = C 19- 27points = B 28-36 points = A
COURSE OVERVIEW FOR STUDENTS