University of Reddit : Making Music With A Digital Audio Workstation

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Making Music With A Digital Audio Workstation

A Reddit University class for songwriters and musicians aiming to utilize a digital audio workstation (DAW) as a composition tool. This is not a class on how to be an audio engineer, how to use any specific DAW, or about songwriting/ composition itself. The goal is to turn the technology from an impediment to a tool in the creative process. The class will be platform agnostic to avoid teaching method by rote, but will instead focus on why you want to do things certain ways. Students will learn to create demos, or even final versions of their compositions using a combination of real instruments, hardware and software synths and loops.

The class will be conducted via video and written materials, followed by discussion on a message board. The first class will be in December. There will be 6 sessions, some will last 1 week, others will last two weeks. I will attempt to organize discussions via Google Hangout or Skype.

Participants should have one or more ideas for songs to work on and be willing to share their progress with other participants for feedback.

Lectures

no lectures added

Prerequisites

It is presumed that participants know how to write a song and are not afraid of computers. I am presuming that participants already know what they need to know to write their music as far as playing an instrument, music theory and song structure is concerned.

Also I will not be giving step by step instructions as to how to go to a menu and click on something. Songwriting is a skill, not a set of instructions you follow and I will approach using a computer to write music with this in mind.

I am most experienced working with Pro Tools and Logic on Mac, but I'm happy to work with anyone using any DAW. I think that they are all just different tools that do the same thing.

Syllabus

A draft of the syllabus is available here I final version with a schedule will be posted soon. If you have any feedback on the syllabus and what

The class will stat Thursday September 13th, a final syllabus and a location for the class page will be posted before then.

Additional information

Teacher qualifications

I have an associate's degree in recording engineering from Full Sail and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from The New School. I've worked as an engineer for more then ten years doing everything form recording music, to work on films, to doing public radio and radio commercials. For most of my carear I lived in new York City where I worked as a freelance engineer, operated a small studio as well as taught lessons to musicians in their home studios.

Latest Update

Delaying the start of class. (2012-09-12 05:59:01)

"I've been overwhelmed by the response to this class, it means a lot to me that so many people are interested. Unfortunately I am also overwhelmed with work and school right now, so I am going to have to delay this class until early December when I can give it the attention it deserves.. I apologize and I hope everyone will still be intrested then. Thanks, Josh"

Roster

1. JesseJaymz