Field Recording

Modality: Remote-Asynchronous

Time: N/A 

No prior experience in audio production, music composition, music performance, or audio field recording is required for students enrolling in this course, but students with experience in these fields are also welcome and will be assigned material appropriate to their level of experience. Students in this course will learn the field recording techniques necessary for capturing audio on location for use in digital radio productions, podcasts, music compositions, and other audio productions. These skills will be learned in the broader context of the cultural history of radio and other audio mass media, the relationship between the history of field recording and audio technology and broader cultural shifts in the U.S., and issues related to professional and cultural ethics and decolonialist fieldwork practices. This course will generally operate asynchronously, but all students are expected to meet individually online with the instructor at various points in the quarter. Over the first two weeks of the course, students will engage in asynchronous course introductions, technical instruction, online discussions, and individual online meetings with the instructor. For the week of 7/6-7/10, students will work on their own introductory project in the field and on location. The week of 7/13-7/17 will be focused on online instructor and peer feedback on these introductory projects as well as the development and sharing of plans for the primary project of the quarter, which will consist of a podcast, a digital radio segment, or a music composition/audio production. The rest of the session (7/20-7/31) will consist of students completing their projects in the field, on location, and in their chosen audio workstation setting and online feedback on their progress from their peers and the course instructor.