Audio Workshops

FMSA Audio Workshops

 

Listed below are the core, skill-building workshops recommended for all 2nd year FMSA students. This list contains a brief description, recommended group size and duration. Instructors may request workshops, as time and scheduling permits. 

 

1. FMSA-Reserved Microphones – (max 6, 20 min)

  • Practical/theoretical overview of microphone types
  • Care and safety, proper handling
  • Applications – choosing the best microphone for your project

2. FMSA-Reserved Wireless Microphones – (max. 6, 30 min)

  • Practical hands-on use
  • Connections and cabling
  • Setting/selecting frequencies
  • Microphone placement
  • Troubleshooting

3. FMSA-Reserved Audio Recorders – (max. 6, 30 min)

  • Demonstrated overview
  • Choosing an appropriate recorder for your project
  • Settings and formats
  • Connections
  • Gain staging
  • Care and safety, proper handling
  • Troubleshooting, tips on operation

4. Recording Studio Operation – Required to Book D-1320

  • Booking and access
  • How to set up for tracking
  • Monitoring and calibration
  • Mic placement
  • Gain staging
  • Recording formats
  • Overdubbing, headphone mixes

** Please email Studio Technician Matt Stephanson for more information, or to request a workshop.

Advanced audio workshops

These workshops are more in depth and require a solid, working knowledge of production and post-production tools and techniques. **Recommended for study in FMSA sound courses.** 

1. Sound Design

  • Libraries and sourced audio
  • Cultural and spacial considerations
  • Recording backgrounds / ambience
  • Synthesis 
  • Layering, combining 
  • Spacialization
  • Temporal effects
  • Creature voices

2. Foley

  • Fun with dirt
  • Fun with food
  • Mic placement
  • Looping
  • Clothing pass
  • Mix and export

3. Mixing for film

  • Setting up the session (track layout)
  • Aligning with deliverables
  • Monitoring and calibration
  • Building busses for stems
  • Levelling dialog, matching EQ, space
  • Automation of levels and FX
  • Achieving requested output levels
  • Export and delivery

4. Mixing for music or installation

  • DAW selection
  • Session setup
  • Project/audience considerations
  • Monitoring and calibration
  • Parallel vs in-line mixing
  • Analog mix and stemming
  • Mono, stereo, 7.1

5. FMSA-Reserved Audio Mixers – (max 3, 20 min)

  • Use overview – should I use a mixer for my project?
  • Connections
  • Gain staging
  • Monitoring
  • Foldback and Boom-op 
  • Care and safety
  • Troubleshooting, tips on operation

4. Location Sound

  • Putting it all together – sound and camera working together on set
  • Hands-on task to shoot in various spots on campus
  • Set etiquette/crew roles in the Sound Dept.
  • Multitrack recording – 3 or more mic types
  • Slate and sync in production
  • Review footage in following class, compare audible differences between different mic choices and techniques FMSA 329 (90 min)