Week 2- Getting into the zone! - Posted on 2015-01-23 by David Keller

Class Day #2 (Tues.)

This week was amazing, and my learning curve is right now so swift and steep, I am up to my eyes with excitement!

This week was basic electronics on paper, but I must say that the curriculum's actual place in my learning was at about 10%, so it seems.  While an easy chapter, my biggest takeaway (via a YouTube video my mentor found, describing AC vs. DC power) was that Thomas Edison used to electricute Elephants and other animals in public to make a spectical of Tesla, his competitor at the time. What a shame, and what a loss of respect for such an amazing inventor.

My main challenges, however, regarded differentiating voltage vs. current (voltage being like temperature, it is a means of measuring current, or "weather"), as well as the place analog components play in modern recording.  My favorite side-topics talked about, as I always come prepared to have them, were regarding studio etiquette, studio setup for recording someone's session, and how to network with other audio engineers/producers.  Regarding the last topic, It literally pays not to be cliche and talk monotonous gear-talk or setup-talk.  Just be cool!

Much of our hands-on time involved talking about a compilation track and its' parts, as well as setting up a mic (we used a Neuman U87i mic) and headphones for vocal recording.  I learned how to cut, copy and paste sets of waveforms to combine the best version of a song possible.  My mentor, in fact, recorded me four takes of his band's song and allowed me to practice assembling a compilation track myself!

Like I said, my learning curve is what seems like a million-and-one topics collectively and is so very steep and progressive right now that I am ecstatic!  I just want to keep pouring it on!

Lab #2 (Thurs.)

Ah, lab.  The ever-increasingly enjoyable free-form portion of the course, where my mentor believes in allowing the student to just roam the studio with his heart's desire and record or be recorded and have everything at his disposal.  Always within reach, Andy believes in allowing creative constructive exploration in his studio!  I'm not complaining one bit!  Only thing is, until I learn Pro Tools and equipment and such, I will be a lame duck.. Or so I thought.  Amazingly enough, Andy and I set things up hand in hand and I learned bass mics, snare mics, overhead mics, checking levels, running XLR cables to mics, and running tracks.  Andy is awesome at getting up quickly and showing you something hands on.  He proceeded to do so with every topic we would cover, as it came up.  

So, In conclusion, I am excited to say that I am EXCITED to stay!  Also, on top of everything else, I am currently signed up for my second sit-in on Sunday 1/25, for another ACTUAL recording session, (of which you will see photos of the first below with The Love Sprockets)!

I look forward to you joining my journey, as it looks to be long, curvy and fun as all heck!