The Department of Music's commercial music facilities consist of a state‐of‐the‐art control/mix room where students may learn hands‐on with contemporary recording equipment, as well as recording and lab spaces where students may practice technique and learn production workflows.
The control/mix room serves as the technical focal point of the Commercial Music, B.A. program and houses a recording console, outboard signal processing gear, multi‐channel playback through main and near field speakers, tie lines to various rooms in the facility to be able to record remotely, a video cue system to have line‐of‐sight to these remote rooms, and a multi‐camera video capture system to record classes for future playback and online course streaming.
Our remote rooms consist of acoustically‐treated spaces that enable live performances to be captured from the control room and/or remote workstations. These rooms are connected to the control/mix room via audio and video tie lines. Future enhancements to the facility may include the addition of a media lab with 12‐15 workstations which will allow students to work closely with production technology in a classroom environment.
Technology in our Commercial Music Facilities
Control/Mix Room
- Mixing console for students to learn audio recording and engineering techniques.
- Main and near field speakers create various choices of audio playback.
- Various analog and digital signal processors.
- A playback cart connected to ProTools recording system allows for remote control of tracking and playback system.
- This room can be used as a tracking room for certain instruments where acoustic isolation may not be necessary. An input panel allows for direct input of line or mic‐level sources.
Remote Rooms
- Remote rooms are connected to the control room via audio input panels so that musical performances can be captured remotely.
- Acoustically‐treated.
- Connected to a video cue system so that line‐of‐sight can be maintained from pre‐selected destinations.
- A display at the front of the room shows various user‐defined input sources (close up of faders, remote rooms, performance hall).
- Seating in the back of the room allows for an intimate huddle environment.
Instrumental Rehearsal Room
- Large, acoustically‐treated rehearsal room allows for live large ensemble instrumental and vocal performances to be recorded.
- Connected to the facility equipment racks via audio patch panels which lets signal flow be routed to the control room or an alternate space workstation.
- Connected to a video cue system so that sight lines between rooms may be maintained.
Crill Performance Hall
- The control booth in the performance hall is connected to the facility equipment racks via multimode fiber which allows live performances to be recorded.
- Existing audio console includes Dante connectivity to enables turn-key multi‐track recording out of the box.
- Connected to a video cue system so that sight lines between rooms may be maintained.
Green Room
- Used as one of three remote rooms used for additional recording flexibility.
- Connected to the facility equipment racks via audio patch panels which allows signal flow to be routed to the control room or an alternate space workstation.
- Connected to a video cue system so that sight lines between rooms may be maintained.
- Future plans for this room include a media lab with multiple workstations in a classroom environment.
Teaching Studios
- Two acoustically‐treated rooms function as extra remote rooms for additional recording flexibility.
- Connected to the facility equipment racks via audio patch panels which allows signal flow to be routed to the control room or an alternate space workstation.
- Connected to a video cue system so that sight lines between rooms may be maintained.