Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Audio Recording 1 Syllabus

MUSC 3323-01

Course: MUSC 3323-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MUSC
CRN: 31956

Course Description

A survey of the skills and techniques commonly used to record live instruments and vocals, including studio signal flow, microphone selection and placement, use of outboard and software based effects processors, overdubbing, creating composite audio tracks, MIDI music production and mixing. (Fall - Even Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Required Text:

The Recording Engineer’s Handbook 4th or 5th Edition by Bobby Owsinski. Published by Cengage Learning Inc. Currently priced at $49.95

Required Materials(s):

A large USB memory stick or an external hard drive.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply reverb, delay and compression to recordings.
  • Gain experience as a recording engineer and music producer.
  • Gain experience in clip editing and production techniques.
  • Create their own professional recordings from start to finish.
  • Adequately mix recording sessions.

Course Requirements

Reading Assignments:

Each chapter in the Recording Engineers Handbook has a reading assignment that will help students become familiar with the information in that chapter. Additionally, each lesson in the Pro Tools 101 book has a list of Review/Discussion Questions that students need to answer as they read the lesson. Because test questions are derived directly from these assignments, it is important that students keep up on them and make sure to study them before a test. Each assignment is worth points that will be factored into your final grade.

Quizzes:

Some classes will begin with a short quiz based on the reading assignment questions.

Recording Days – These recording sessions are an opportunity to participate in a recording session during class.

The goal is to completely record a song during 1 class period. Songs could be chosen that can fit this timeframe. Each student will get to assume the role of either a Music Producer, Recording Engineer or a Studio Musician on a recording day.

Music producers

MP’s must choose the song to record and instruments to record. They will also lead out in the session and coach the other students to fulfill their roles. Music Producers should assign parts out in advance so their musicians can come to the recording session ready to record. 100 Points

Recording Engineers

RE’s will be in charge of creating a Pro Tools session for recording and operate it throughout the session.

100 Points

Studio Musicians

SM’s will come to the session ready to record their parts. They will also help setup and take down microphones/equipment. 25 Points x 4

Tests

There will be a Midterm test and Final test. Questions for this test will be derived from the reading assignments.

Final Recording Projects:

The Final Recording Project will allow students to record their own song in a creative way. This project has specific guidelines that will be given to the students later in the semester.

Plagiarism of any kind will result in the grade of an F for the entire course.

AssignmentsPointsPercentage Breakdown
Reading Assignments10010%
Quizzes505%
Recording Days – MP/RE20020%
Recording Days – SM10010%
Midterm Test15015%
Final Test10010%
Final Project20020%
Total1,000100%
Letter GradePercentage
A94% - 100%
A-90% - 94%
B+94% - 87%
B87% - 84%
B-84% - 80%
C+80% - 77%
C77% - 74%
C-74% - 70%
D+70% - 67%
D67% - 64%
D-64% - 61%
F61% - 0%

Course Outline

Week by Week Class Schedule: (subject to change)
August
  • 28 Syllabus/Equipment Tour/Recording
    Warmup
September
  • 2 No Class – Labor Day
  • 9 Microphone Placement Fundamen.
  • 16 Basic Stereo Techniques
  • 23 Miking Individual Instruments
  • 30 Recording Day 1
October
  • 2 Mix Day
  • 7 Midterm Review
  • 9 Midterm Test
  • 14 No Class – Fall Break
  • 21 Recording Day 2
  • 23 Mix Day
  • 28 Recording Day 3
  • 30 Mix Day
November
  • 4 Recording Day 4
  • 6 Mix Day
  • 11 Recording Day 5
  • 13 Mix Day
  • 18 AI Music Creation - Udio Final Recording Projects
  • 20 AI Music Creation - Udio
  • 25 THANKSGIVING BREAK
  • 27 THANKSGIVING BREAK
December
  • 2 Final Review
  • 4 Final Project Due
  • 9 Final Exam 11:00 – 12:50 Final Test

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work will only be accepted for half credit.

Attendance Policy

Students should attend every class. If they're not able to attend, they should communicate with the instructor in advance. 

Course Fees

None

Credit Hours

3 Credit Hours

In Class Lectures, Discussions, Reading and projects.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.