Year of study: One semester, autumn
Final assessment: Assessment from course instructor
Language of instruction: Norwegian/English
Course description
The course focuses on various strategies for capturing the sound of the student's main instrument so that the sound source and microphone usage strategy are tailored for use in a live situation on a PA system. The course consists of practical tests, discussions on sound aesthetics, and development of individually tailored practical solutions for each performer.
Course coordinator: Jazz, Improvised Music and Traditional Nordic Folk Music Department
Learning objectives
Upon completion of the course, it is expected that the student:
- Has an understanding of how various instruments can be reproduced in a PA system in the best possible way, and the implications this has for microphone usage, monitor usage, and performance
- Has knowledge of individual solutions for miking their main instrument based on their own musical expression and playing style
- Can use a PA system in realistic performance situations
Overview
The course focuses on how the sound from the instrument is represented in a PA system, and how local conditions on stage such as monitors, PA sound feedback, local acoustics, and the sound of other musicians affect and create challenges for this representation. Microphone usage in a live situation differs significantly from a recording situation, and recording of sound will not be addressed in this course.
In the course, the student group will conduct practical experiments focusing on the aesthetic issues that a PA situation offers. Relevant topics will include the use of EQ, reverb, dynamic processing tools, panning, and other PA-specific techniques and processing tools.
Various strategies for expanding the tonal palette of instruments using contact microphones and local processing will be discussed. How local processing works in a PA situation, and the opportunities and challenges such processing opens up for will be addressed.
Structure
The course is organized as 90 minutes lectures per week for one semester.
Course requirements
- Participation in the scheduled lessons is compulsory. Absence of more than 20% will normally lead to failure of the course.
- The student shall present a musical performance on the PA system and do an oral presentation where choices related to PA usage are justified and discussed. Duration of musical performance and oral presentation: total of 15 minutes.
Final assessment
All course requirements must be approved prior to obtaining a final assessment.
Students are assessed in correspondence to the learning outcomes of the course. The final assessment will be given as a mark of “passed”/”failed” for each individual student, which shall be determined on the basis of her or his level demonstrated through the course work.
New assessment
Students failing the course will have to apply to re-follow the course for a new assessment. Students may only re-follow the course if there are available places.