View All Students
Miguel Davila
Date of Session: 6-19-2013B
Time in: 12:00pm
Time out: 1:00pm
Lesson#6 and 7
Dates and Time outside of lesson time: N/A
My mentor and I combined lessons 6 and 7; we covered a lot of information relating to the console. In lesson 6 I learned about functions, signal flow, basic routing, and mixing amplifiers. I learned that the input strip contains all the inputs and outputs. I learned that an insert access point sends the strip’s audio signal to an external device, whereas an aux send routes and mixes signals from one or more strips to various effects sends and monitor/headphone cue sends. I learned the console allows engineers to control volume, tone, blending, spatial positioning, and signal routing. The blending aspect is known as the mix. I learned that a modern multitrack recording session has three stages known as recording, overdubbing, and mixdown. In addition I learned that the first recorded tracks are called basic, rhythm and bed tracks; they’re usually made up of drums, bass, guitar, sometimes keys, and serve as the foundation. Once a project is completed, it may be sent to a mastering engineer for fine tuning adjustments. I learned that the four bus systems found on most consoles are solo, group, stereo, and aux send buses.
In lesson 7 I learned that amplifiers can be made to amplify, equalize, combine, distribute, isolate, or match signal impedances. I learned the difference between DC and AC current, and between noise and saturation. I learned noise originates from within the microphone whereas saturation results from a large input signal that clips because DC power isn’t enough to produce output signal. I learned that an EQ amplifier controls tone through a resistor/capacitor network. I learned about summing and distribution amps. A summing amp is called an Active Combing Amplifier and has two functions: combines inputs into a single output and providing isolation between inputs & outputs. An example of a distribution amp is a headphone amp. I became more familiar with the Alesis console and amps used in the control room, but I was not introduced to any new equipment.
I really like the pace of the program. I missed the date for lesson 6 but was able to double it up with lesson 7 thanks to the flexibility of my mentor. I’m finding commuting to be a challenge and have decided on some changes I hope will help me be on time. My mentor Joe told me he will get me started using ProTools in the next lesson, so I am really looking forward to that. I’m also excited to receive my own Mbox and ProTools since I have just completed lesson 7, but it will be 3 weeks before it arrives. I’m really looking forward to what comes next.
