Diploma in Sound Technology
Module: Sound Engineering 3A
Module Code: SE 310
STUDY GUIDE
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
,Table of Contents
List of Tables ........................................................................................................................iv
List of Figures ....................................................................................................................... v
Module Information .............................................................................................................. vii
STUDY UNIT 1: STUDIO EQUIPMENT DESIGN ............................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Microphones ................................................................................................................ 1
1.3 Mixing consoles ........................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Loudspeakers .............................................................................................................. 5
Case Study: Vintage: Shure SM57 & SM58 .................................................................. 5
STUDY UNIT 2: PRE-PRODUCTION & IMPLEMENTATION ............................................. 7
2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 7
2.2 Pre-production ............................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Implementation .......................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Practical exercise ....................................................................................................... 10
Case Study: Why Pre-production Is So Important (And Fun)....................................... 10
STUDY UNIT 3: RECORDING & TRACKING ................................................................... 12
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 12
3.2 Recording sessions ................................................................................................... 12
3.3 Tracking Sessions...................................................................................................... 12
3.4 The production sequence........................................................................................... 13
Case Study: Recordings of an Orchestra .................................................................... 16
STUDY UNIT 4: ADVANCED MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES .......................................... 18
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 18
4.2 Stereo microphone techniques .................................................................................. 18
4.3 Comparing the techniques ......................................................................................... 22
Case Study: Stereo microphone technique: Drum kit application ................................ 23
STUDY UNIT 5: ADVANCED MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES PRACTICAL ..................... 24
5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 24
5.2 Practically applying the stereo microphone techniques .............................................. 24
5.3 Coincident pair (XY and MS) ..................................................................................... 25
5.4 Near-coincident pair .................................................................................................. 25
5.8 Spaced pair................................................................................................................ 25
5.6 Baffled-Omni pair....................................................................................................... 25
5.7 Analysis and comparison ........................................................................................... 26
Case Study: Recording on a budget and in no time at all ............................................ 28
STUDY UNIT 6: ADVANCED RECORDING SESSION PROCEDURES .......................... 29
i
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
, 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 29
6.2 Pre-production ........................................................................................................... 29
6.3 The recording session overview ................................................................................ 29
6.4 Microphone positioning .............................................................................................. 30
6.5 Multiple takes ............................................................................................................ 30
6.6 Critical- and analytical listening .................................................................................. 30
6.7 Minor editing tasks..................................................................................................... 30
6.8 Minor balancing tasks ................................................................................................ 31
6.9 Finalizing the process ................................................................................................ 31
Case Study: Pioneer recording procedures ................................................................. 31
STUDY UNIT 7: ADVANCED RECORDING TECHNIQUES............................................. 32
7.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 32
7.2 Planning the recording ............................................................................................... 32
7.3 Use meters correctly .................................................................................................. 32
7.4 Reduce recording levels ............................................................................................ 35
7.5 Level setting during mixdown..................................................................................... 36
Case Study: VU meters versus digital peak meters ..................................................... 37
STUDY UNIT 8: ADVANCED RECORDING TECHNIQUES PRACTICAL ........................ 38
8.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 38
8.2 Alternative microphone placements ........................................................................... 38
8.3 Monitoring level meters.............................................................................................. 41
8.4 Alternative microphones and alternative sound sources. ........................................... 41
8.5 Table of findings ........................................................................................................ 42
Case Study: Amplifier modulation software and hardware .......................................... 43
STUDY UNIT 9: ADVANCED PROCESSING ................................................................... 45
9.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 45
9.2 Overview ................................................................................................................... 45
9.3 Equalizers (EQ) ......................................................................................................... 45
9.4 Compressors ............................................................................................................. 50
9.5 Limiter ....................................................................................................................... 51
9.6 Noise gate/expander ................................................................................................. 52
9.7 Delay ......................................................................................................................... 52
9.8 Reverberation ............................................................................................................ 53
Case Study: Definition in drum sound ......................................................................... 54
STUDY UNIT 10: SOUND LEVELS .................................................................................. 55
10.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 55
10.2 Definitions ............................................................................................................. 55
ii
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
, 10.3 Sound Pressure Level (SPL) ................................................................................... 55
10.4 Signal level .............................................................................................................. 57
10.5 dB conversions ........................................................................................................ 58
Case Study: Sound level versus sound quality ............................................................ 60
References ...................................................................................................................... 61
iii
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
Module: Sound Engineering 3A
Module Code: SE 310
STUDY GUIDE
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
,Table of Contents
List of Tables ........................................................................................................................iv
List of Figures ....................................................................................................................... v
Module Information .............................................................................................................. vii
STUDY UNIT 1: STUDIO EQUIPMENT DESIGN ............................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Microphones ................................................................................................................ 1
1.3 Mixing consoles ........................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Loudspeakers .............................................................................................................. 5
Case Study: Vintage: Shure SM57 & SM58 .................................................................. 5
STUDY UNIT 2: PRE-PRODUCTION & IMPLEMENTATION ............................................. 7
2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 7
2.2 Pre-production ............................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Implementation .......................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Practical exercise ....................................................................................................... 10
Case Study: Why Pre-production Is So Important (And Fun)....................................... 10
STUDY UNIT 3: RECORDING & TRACKING ................................................................... 12
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 12
3.2 Recording sessions ................................................................................................... 12
3.3 Tracking Sessions...................................................................................................... 12
3.4 The production sequence........................................................................................... 13
Case Study: Recordings of an Orchestra .................................................................... 16
STUDY UNIT 4: ADVANCED MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES .......................................... 18
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 18
4.2 Stereo microphone techniques .................................................................................. 18
4.3 Comparing the techniques ......................................................................................... 22
Case Study: Stereo microphone technique: Drum kit application ................................ 23
STUDY UNIT 5: ADVANCED MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES PRACTICAL ..................... 24
5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 24
5.2 Practically applying the stereo microphone techniques .............................................. 24
5.3 Coincident pair (XY and MS) ..................................................................................... 25
5.4 Near-coincident pair .................................................................................................. 25
5.8 Spaced pair................................................................................................................ 25
5.6 Baffled-Omni pair....................................................................................................... 25
5.7 Analysis and comparison ........................................................................................... 26
Case Study: Recording on a budget and in no time at all ............................................ 28
STUDY UNIT 6: ADVANCED RECORDING SESSION PROCEDURES .......................... 29
i
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
, 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 29
6.2 Pre-production ........................................................................................................... 29
6.3 The recording session overview ................................................................................ 29
6.4 Microphone positioning .............................................................................................. 30
6.5 Multiple takes ............................................................................................................ 30
6.6 Critical- and analytical listening .................................................................................. 30
6.7 Minor editing tasks..................................................................................................... 30
6.8 Minor balancing tasks ................................................................................................ 31
6.9 Finalizing the process ................................................................................................ 31
Case Study: Pioneer recording procedures ................................................................. 31
STUDY UNIT 7: ADVANCED RECORDING TECHNIQUES............................................. 32
7.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 32
7.2 Planning the recording ............................................................................................... 32
7.3 Use meters correctly .................................................................................................. 32
7.4 Reduce recording levels ............................................................................................ 35
7.5 Level setting during mixdown..................................................................................... 36
Case Study: VU meters versus digital peak meters ..................................................... 37
STUDY UNIT 8: ADVANCED RECORDING TECHNIQUES PRACTICAL ........................ 38
8.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 38
8.2 Alternative microphone placements ........................................................................... 38
8.3 Monitoring level meters.............................................................................................. 41
8.4 Alternative microphones and alternative sound sources. ........................................... 41
8.5 Table of findings ........................................................................................................ 42
Case Study: Amplifier modulation software and hardware .......................................... 43
STUDY UNIT 9: ADVANCED PROCESSING ................................................................... 45
9.1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 45
9.2 Overview ................................................................................................................... 45
9.3 Equalizers (EQ) ......................................................................................................... 45
9.4 Compressors ............................................................................................................. 50
9.5 Limiter ....................................................................................................................... 51
9.6 Noise gate/expander ................................................................................................. 52
9.7 Delay ......................................................................................................................... 52
9.8 Reverberation ............................................................................................................ 53
Case Study: Definition in drum sound ......................................................................... 54
STUDY UNIT 10: SOUND LEVELS .................................................................................. 55
10.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 55
10.2 Definitions ............................................................................................................. 55
ii
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
, 10.3 Sound Pressure Level (SPL) ................................................................................... 55
10.4 Signal level .............................................................................................................. 57
10.5 dB conversions ........................................................................................................ 58
Case Study: Sound level versus sound quality ............................................................ 60
References ...................................................................................................................... 61
iii
Sound Engineering A – Study Guide
