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