A.R.T.I. recognizes that most individuals
are visual learners. We also know that a student, given the opportunity to
hear/see information at least 5 times will retain that information over 80%
more than a student who hears/see that information only once. This is how
A.R.T.I. knew that in developing our program that 6 students per class was
the magic number. For example, a new skill set is introduced to a class in
the following manner: The instructor introduces the skill as a broad concept
(1), the instructor demonstrates the skill (2) each individual student
duplicates the skill learned (x6 students), the instructor reviews the skill
(10). Students have now heard/seen and practiced the new skill a minimum of
10 times! With this type of learning, skills are developed quickly, retained
longer and allow the student to develop psychomotor abilities, which enable
the student to concentrate on technique rather than procedures. The program
was developed using proven psychological principals as well as Bloom's Taxonomy of
Curricula. Sounds pretty thick, huh? But as you will see below, the program
is also just plain fun!
Intro to Audio A101
Can you hear me?
Most people use
sound everyday for communication, entertainment, and a bunch of other stuff
they’re not even aware of. Before students are introduced to all the cool studio
toys to perfect their sound, we feel it is necessary to understand what sound
is. Physics! Physics? Yes, physics, but don’t let that scare you away. We’re not
trying to turn you into the next Sir Isaac Newton, we just want to try to
understand why Sir Isaac always sounded better when he sang in the bathroom.
Ever wonder why you hear the sound of a bat hitting a baseball way after you see
it happen? Or why your voice echoes…echoes…echoes…when
you yell your name from the edge of a cliff (like we do that everyday)? Or why
the sound of a car changes when it passes you on the highway? We will answer all
of these questions and more with easy to understand lessons, analogies, examples
and demonstrations (pictures too!).
OK, but now what?
“You know what all
those knobs do? All of them?” We hear this question a lot (usually accompanied
by a look of wondrous befuddlement), and with good reason. An adequately
equipped studio can look like the cockpit of a 747 to someone who’s never worked
in a studio before (and even to some who have). Well, we may not be able to fly
a 747, but we can teach you all the knobs and buttons in the studio (and use
them to make things sound good too). Just think of how impressed your friends
and family will be! (note: after successfully completing our program you
still probably won’t be able to fly a 747.)
Module highlights:
- Physics of Sound
- Microphone theory and
listening lab
- Basic console
- Signal flow and routing
- The patchbay
- Preparing for the session
- Preparing for the mixdown
- Live recording session
Intermediate Audio A201
Oh, so now you want to learn more?
OK, in the first level we learned a bit about sound. That
was pretty cool. And we sure covered a lot of those buttons, not so bad, huh?
Now we’re feeling pretty smart, but the fact is there’s a long way to go. This
is where we pick up in the second level. Yeah you know why your voice bounces
around and echoes when you yell your name in a big canyon, but most of us don’t
happen to have a canyon nearby. Here we show you how to recreate these types of
effects and many more with processors in the studio. We will also be getting
more in depth with the gear we learned in the first level and start learning how
to use it to begin making great sounding music. EQ’s, dynamics processors,
reverbs, delays. Here we start to really get under the hood and learn
to sculpt our
mixes into something that won’t send all the neighborhood dogs scurrying away.
Module highlights:
- EQ theory
- Advanced microphones
- Digital Audio
- Dynamics processors
- Inline and split monitor
console designs
- Mixing techniques
- Live recording session
Tracking and Mixing A301
Shut up already, lets make some music!
Alright, fair enough. You’ve learned the concepts and the
theories, you’ve performed the steps countless times. Now your ready to start
really making music. Well, that’s all we do in the entire third level. Every
class is fully dedicated to recording and mixing. This is the real “learn
by doing” stage. Students will work with a variety of live bands and performers
during real recording sessions. Then we will roll up our sleeves and dig into
the mix. The goal of these classes is very project based. Full recording
sessions and completed mixes when we’re done. It’s more like going to work in
the studio than going to school.
Module highlights:
- Work with live bands from
many diverse genres
- Learn to troubleshoot on
the spot
- Advanced micing techniques
- Advanced mixing techniques
- Provide the performers
with a quality monitor mix
- See entire projects
through from beginning to end
Introduction to MIDI 401
“Umm…I’d like to know how to
make beats that will blow the trunk off my car”
Why would you want to do that? Who knows, who cares, let’s
do it anyway. Enter the world of electronic music. In this level we explore the
wonders of MIDI, sequencing, sampling, looping and pretty much anything that may
do harm to your colon. The kids just love it. Darned kids… oh, wait, that’s you!
Never mind.
Module highlights:
- MIDI History
- MIDI Theory
- Sampling with Akai MPC
- Sequencing
- Creating and editing loops
- Sytnhesis
- Learn Propellerheads
Reason
Digital Audio A1100
Isn’t this the 21st Century?
Well by now you’ve gained a lot of the skills, and starting
gaining experience as well, but something’s missing. Where are all the
computers? While a good percentage of the music and audio industry is computer
based, we feel it is important to really understand the hardware that has been
making the music we’ve been listening to for decades. That’s why the first 3
levels have focused on analog mixing consoles, outboard effects processors and
even tape machines. But now that you have all that under your belt it’s time to
start seeing how all of that technology has progressed into the computer-based
world of modern digital production. In this level we start exploring computers
and their use in modern music. Pro Tools has long been one of the leaders of the
modern computer based industry. We will introduce students to recording, mixing
and editing in the Pro Tools environment, including exploring plug-ins and
non-destructive editing.
Module highlights:
- Basic Mac and PC theory
- Digital Audio theory
- Pro Tools hardware
- Mixing in Pro Tools
- Editing in Pro Tools
- Mixing and editing
techniques
Digital Audio
A1200
 More, give me MORE!
Seems there’s no end to what can be done with modern
technology, and the modern studio is no exception. In this level we delve deeper
into the world of computer based audio production. Classes include a variety of
recording sessions, integrating Pro Tools with mixers and other external
devices, and more advanced mixing techniques., including mix automation (you
know, those real cool shots you see where the faders are moving all by
themselves…oooh, freaky). At this point the students have a firm understanding
of many studio techniques, and now it’s time to really apply them. There is a
lot of focus on critical listening where we dissect professional commercial
mixes and try to apply similar techniques.
Module highlights:
- Mix Automation
- Advanced editing
- Integrating the DAW with
other gear
- Advanced mixing techniques
- Advanced use of plug-ins
- DAW Control Surfaces
Digital Audio
A1300
Everything audio, including the kitchen sync
Alright, we’re done playing around here. Well actually,
that’s not true. We’re in a studio after all, we’re always playing around. And
now we’re going to play around with some cool new stuff. Like BLOWING THINGS UP!
Well, not literally, our insurance doesn’t cover that. But we will begin
exploring the world of audio for film and television, and you know they’re
always blowing things up in the movies, so we get to create the sounds for that.
This level introduces the students to film post which includes creating and
editing sound effects, foley recording, dialing editing, surround sound and
synchronization.
Module highlights:
- Audio for video
- Sound Effects
- Dialog editing
- Foley
- Synchronization
- Surround Sound
Advanced Digital
Audio A1400
 Logically speaking, here’s Apple Logic
Alright, we’re done playing around…no wait, that’s how I
started the last one, hmmm…well I can’t think of anything creative, so let’s get
straight to the facts. Apple Logic. A.R.T.I. is an Apple Pro Training Center.
All staff instructors are certified Logic Trainers. That means students will be
trained in Logic, not only the A.R.T.I. way, but also in the Apple way. 2 for
the price of one. Students will be taken through Logic recording, editing,
mixing, sequencing, the Environment and more. In this level students are
introduced to mastering. Mastering is the final technical process in album
creation where the songs are put in the final order, eq’ed to sound similar,
level balanced and the final master is created. This is what makes your album
sound all nice and shiny and professional.
Module highlights:
- Certified Apple Logic
Trainers
- MIDI sequencing
- MIDI editing
- Audio recording and mixing
- Audio editing
- Album Mastering
Advanced Post Production A3100
Lights…Camera…SOUND!
Time to make movies! Whether in a movie theater or at home,
everybody likes movies. How often have you heard “Let’s watch a movie”, or “Did
you see that new movie?” But when was the last time you heard “Let’s listen to
some movies tonight”, or “I just heard a great movie”? Most people don’t realize
how much sound contributes to a movie, or how much work goes into creating the
sound for a movie, but you will after completing the Advanced Post Production
course. Set in a THX PM3 Certified Mix Theater (you know, the big THX logo with
that really cool sound you hear at the beginning of some movies), students will
create and mix all the sounds for 2 short films.
Now, this may not seem all that exciting at first, but one
of the coolest things is when you can sit back and say “Hear those footsteps, or
that big explosion? I made that!” And that’s just the beginning. You’ll provide
the voice for a character in a movie (you be the star!). You’ll learn techniques
to create all those crazy swooshes, booms, splats and all those other crazy
sound effects heard in movies these days. And then comes the Final Mix. Sit
behind a digital SSL Post Production console and make this whole fantasy world
come to life. Explosions that plaster you against the back wall, spaceships
WHOOSHING over your head and all around you, driving soundtracks and more.
Make movies come to life. It’s really fun. Really.
Module highlights:
- Learn the SSL Axiom
Digital Console
- Advanced Surround Sound
- ADR
- Foley
- Sound Design
- Advanced Editing
Techniques
- Pre Mixing
- Final Mix
PRACTICE TIME!
OK, so you are going to learn alot, but will
you have any time to yourself to practice in any of our 14 control rooms?
ARE YOU KIDDING???
At A.R.T.I., your already unique education
includes a required 80 hours of lab time. Now that's a formidable amount of time
in its own right, but GET THIS...
ONLY at A.R.T.I. do you have the option of
booking as many private lab hours as your heart desires, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST!
We'd love to have you in our studios all the time. After all, in audio
engineering, PRACTICE MAKES BETTER!
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