Studio Classes

Former PARC Students:Jake Pickaerd, John Dippel, Erin Hunnewell, Clarence Zellner, Bill Cady, Paul Souyoultzis, Carrie Donaldson, Dave Close, Matt Paul, Brian Dina, Ron Stubbs, Trevor Michael, Margret Fukuda, Medwyn Blazer, John Jacobus, Sharan Duggal, Sean O'Connor, Justin Vangrinsven, Kit Dylan Arrieta, William James, Lacey Lang, Robert Dougherty, Chris Navas, Courage Benally, George E. Nowik, Mykel Harrison, Angela Hammontree, Michael Dixon, Jeremy Hynoski, Ross Henderson, Evangeline Leavitt, Eric Norberg, Per Eide, Bryce E. Mitchell, Gavin Clifford, David Brack, Jeff Couch, Destiny Tyler, Mark Whitmore, Brett McGlone, William Anderson, Tracy Winjum, Evan Galt, Erica Pacheco, Mike McCallister, Randy Wood, Diana Skye, Robert Boehler, Dave Dudley, Bob McPhail, Brian Dina, Stacey Cooks, Jason Johnson, Patrick Brooks, Tony Nguyen, Ian Dickinson, Kevin Jones, Jonathan Rook, Richard Hinrichsen, David Templeton, Jonas Siegel, Chris Hoover, Ryan Hoover, Jon Paul Jones, Tom Jones, Dan Rud, Ryan Trager, Bob Koehler, Christopher Jones, Dru Deiner, Matt Roberts, Jerry Roberts, Chris Hoover, Troy Metcalf, Ryan Hoover, Chris Hoover, Shawn Russell, Matthew Ferrell, Ron Jacobsen, Shawn Trotter Chris Hoover, Joe Nicholson, Casey Izdepski, John Frost, Alex Valdez, Mark Hutchison, Sam Ewald, Kevin Brown, Francyl Gawryn, Memo Origel, Jeff Gekeler, Mike Graham, Anthony Cordocva, Lee Stover, Scott Clermons, Brian Bohman, Dan Rengo, Paul Burgess, Norm Robinson, Randy Widger, John Hart, Chuck Kinney, Paul Dehass, Royce Hemmons, Wes Buckwalter, Kyle McKibben, Fuailetolo Lemanuu, Enoka Fatuesi, Brent Stevenson, Paul Dillion, Aaron Parks, Noel Childs, David Axt, Sonja Olsen, Paul Dehass, Angel Weaver, Erika Wienecke, Nick Johnson, Chase Larabe, Tommy Jezierny, Josh Dale, Kevin Gow, Bill Stretch, Paul Michlik, Tony Radelich, Kate Newman, Cody Larson-2, Megan Rogers, Dave Hiney, Uiesemaalii Lemusu, Jeremy Goldsmith, Derek Nelson, Roosevelt Pristell, Peter Meisner, Forest Pond, Ron Killman, Michell McBride, Meara Forcier, Robert Hernendez, Hector Corkici, James Peters, Gavin Niemi, Daunish Chaudry, Daniel Schappell, Michael Gershman, Alexa Tobiason, Honda King, Kevin Jablonski, Chemy Kwon, Dennis Buffaloe, Jon Kamrath, Ron Killman, Aron Parks, Karl Cunningham, Jarod Keith, Alan Edwards, Tim Kutz, Darryl Grandison, Greg Crosswhite, Tim Tobias Toiva Kotilai, Tim Kutz, Milan Love, Terry Hays, Jeremiah "Beah" Johnson, Alan Edwards, Van R. Randolph, Gavin Hadley, Paul Stafford, Sean Burkhardt, Mike Holderreed, Greg Crosswhite, Geoff Ross, Stanley Florek, TinaLou Arciaga, Paul Hiles, Bryce Huber, Michael Gershman, Charles Prutting, Jorge Vasquez, John Millette, Trevor Ducken, Jesse Strasbaugh, Norm Fremmerlid, Charlie Chipman, Keith Louik, Jon Essinger, Adam Poland, David Dressel, Zak Brown, Sheila Taylor c/o Frank Miller, Shaka Shabazz, Peijman Kouret, Jerry Johnson, Floyd Lawton, Jim Johnson, Kyle Mallery, Jimmy St. Clair, Neil Satterfield, Chris Scavome, August Henrich, Frank Wetzel, Aundre Harmon, Nathan Provence, Trevor Ducken, David Tab, Oswald Blamco, Chad Klein, Lee Phillips, Chris Pozo, Brendon Cooks, Jackie Fitzpatrick, Charles Prutting, Paul Hiles, Thomas Bookhammer, Beau Santillan, Mark Nelson, John Millette, Mark Nelson, Alanna Keir, Tom Brabrand, Frank Wetzel, Dennis Paslay, Alicia Schmid, Joshua Brent, Christine Nielsen, Jay Hackler, April Goettle, Jim Goodreaux, Derick Segale, Jared Haney, Stevey Turner, Chuck Vannorman, Chown Kinglattana, Steve Jacoby, Chad Mohr, Ken Brannen, Hans Hanson, Rob Merwin, Phil Erb, Brad Fagala, Palace Corpuz, Carl Ekstrom, David Taylor, David Lemon, Scott Lam, Jessica Silks, Zach Clements, Nathan Hill, Michelle Herron, Lynn Kraus, Joshua Thorp, Scott Fulton, Jesse Johnston, Paul Sims, Darvin Jones, Mike Bailey, Dana Carsrud, Scott Robinson, Mark Lacy, Rosemarie Whitley, Heidi Fellman, Brigitte Hallert, Michelle Ware, Terry Gaughan, Mac Maccree, Romeo Tan, Trevor Mahnken, Floyd Hood, Mike Duggan, Bill McKee, Christopher Biltz, Dave Punch, Dave Bogue, Thomas Peterson, Taombi Anan, Steve Collins, Victor Contreras, Tim Malaki, Norm Fremmerlid, Suzanne Sweeney, Jeff Lane, Tony Bolles, George Maser, Larry Ross, Dan Martinez, Suzan Bradley, Chris Morda, Nany Martin, Suzanne Sweeney, David Fairbanks, Jo Naab, Brian Stensager, David Byers, Grover Naslund, Chris Stagg, Jeffrey Barns, Craig Coleman, JG Garonzik, Robert Hill, Mike Hadeen, Doug Moir, Ted Perry, Mark Phillips, Blake Oltmann, Kirk Rodgers, Mark Hopkins, Bryce Johnson, Sam Bateman, Jay Justice, Samantha Wilder, David Bulf, Trang Mguyen, Cameron Riddell, Shawn Lucas, Nico Doss, Chris Jones, Justin Henderson, Tobia Pescia, Vance Morimoto, Ben Pennington, Rod Giles, Uri Silverstein, Rick Ioset, Mike Tauvell, Kristian Zelada, Steve Vaughn, Derek Nelson, Jeff Ledoux, Allan Elkins, Korby Sears, Eric Maser, Doug Keeler, Jim Jacobson, Charles Stevanson, Lisa Castaneda, Medula Caldwell, Bill Carrick, Mike DiPofi, Bryan Casey, Collin O'Kelley, Joel Leigh, Charlie Cooper, Steve Vaughn, Jason Clark, Dennis Wright, John O'Malley, Gary Grant, Jerry Reed, Bryan Olson, Brent Weaver, Andy Childs, Mark Robinson, Jerry Reed, John O'Malley, Vincent Buckley, Patrick Jaika, John Gonzalez, Craig Chesler, Mike Skyler, Randy Fort, Eric Peiffer, Kathy Morris, Everett Touse, Todd Rostalski, Michael Cammack, Randall Brooks, Marilee Eckert, Chris Zerbe, Jesse Bodin, Brian Coppola, Pete Reilly, Glenn Love, Adam Joerber, Stanton Stevens, Anthony Mitchell, Josh Adams, Joe Syverson, Geof Olson, Josh DeMoss, Eric Hall, Jesse Russel, Anastacia Howell, Alena Steffens, Melisa Puglisi, Jeremy Hammer, Mark Doneen, Jim Greif, Kevin Hart, Anne Herkenrath, Rob Fraser, Jerome Dalbeck, Vickey Richter, Jerome Dalbeck, Rob Fraser, Louis Mouten, John Goad, Erik Barnett, Trent Johnson, Chris Sleight, Eduardo Nezbeth, Scott Paschke, Steve Webb, Chris DeGrazia, Robin Sifford, Steve Greenwood, Erik Barnett, Howard Mize, Mark Johnson, Norm Fremmerlid, Allen Brisky, Ken Ashton, Naila Jehovan's, Joe Lewnes, Scott Paschke, Ian Martindale, Trevor Hesse, Bob Leytze, Tim Medlin, Grey Chapman, Carla Olson, Ualifi Tusi Taualii, Lee T Van Patton, Tom Faureau, Brian Bearchell, Kevin Borgquist, Qyn Humpherys, Don Kaye, Honchol Sin, Erik Hanisch, Eric Lindman, Patrick Callender, Sam Hickey, Troy Lally, Tore Sleveland, Don Kaye, Greg Barr, Joel Hunger, Keith Sawka, Gabe Waite, Ted Hunt, Colin Stevens, Tore Sleveland, Natalie Schuchard, Jason Phillips, Brian Holsten, Steve Rodgers, Doug Nevins, Troy Kendrick, James Jennings, Naila Jehovan's, Earl Morrow, Ivan Lysene, Luis Enriquez, Micha Hutt, Dennis Whithers, Dave Dyer, Travis Koster, Doug Nevins, Larry Youngblood, Ky Carlton, Jack Keith, Mack Thompson, Travis Hinds, Steve Webb, Harold Thornton, Scott Henry, Dan Coons, Chris Sleight, Dwayne Mobley, Andy Lysene, Troy Kendrick, Charles Bolar Jr., Dan Coons, Mirador Productions, Cameron Scott, Bruce Johnston, Jim Ramsey, Ted Grudowski, Bill Barkley, Marcola+Valisa Nixon ......

PARC Course Information and Registration Information:
This 8-week program is a series of seminars and “hands-on” workshops focusing on today’s studio recording techniques and procedures, terminology and equipment. Designed primarily for musicians, artists and sound engineers, PARC has also been popular with audiophiles, DJs and just about anyone interested in sound production and recording. This course is taught in Mirror Sound Studio’s 24 track Shoreline recording facility. First offered in 1984, a unique feature of PARC is the small class size (strategically limited to 6 students per class), giving each student maximum “Hands-On Training” potential. Using the equipment yourself and learning to make audio judgments with your own ears is the best experience you get when you’re a beginner. Vital to understanding the academics of sound is our new text book: David Miles Hubers' Modern Recording Techniques, 6th Edition and is available at the studio. Students are encouraged to record a demo during class (outside band members or groups are welcome during these sessions. What better way to focus on sound technology than by working on you own music? A certificate is awarded to each student upon completion of the course.

Practical Audio Recording Course (PARC) Course Description

Week One: Introductions, Sound and Hearing, Studio Acoustics, Monitoring
Read: Chapters 1,2, 3, 14
Focus: Frequency response, dynamic range, audio metering, terminology, equal loudness contours, phase coherency. Speaker Design, Far Field vs. Near Field Monitors, Headphones, Discuss Student Projects, Control Room Equipment Survey

Week Two: Microphones: Design and Application, Microphone Technique
Read: Chapter 4
Focus: Dynamic vs. condenser microphone design, polar patterns, mic placement, balanced vs. unbalanced, proximity effect, Student Mic-shootout

Week Three: Signal Processors Part 1: Equalizers
Read: Chapter 12 (pp 439-451)
Focus: various types of filters, pink-noise/real-time analysis, the patch bay, feedback suppression

Week Four: Signal Processors Part 2: Compressors, Limiters, Expanders (Gates), Dessers
Read: Chapter 12 (pp 455-485)
Focus: compression parameters, applications, stereo limiting, Start Student Projects

Week Five: MID-TERM Quiz, Digital Effects Top Digital Audio Workstations
Read: Chapter 11, 12 (pp 469-483)
Focus: chorusing, echo, doubling, flanging, glossary, digi plug-ins, reverb, midi-based effects editors, Pro Tools LE 6.7, Sonar 4, Samplitude 8, & Student Projects

Week Six: MIDI Basics, MID-TERM Quiz
Read: Chapter 7
Focus: Midi Controllers, Midi Voice Modules, Sequencers, Sonar 4, Reason 3.0 & Student Projects

Week Seven: Week Eight: The Mixing Console
Read: Chapter 11
Focus: Busses, Aux Sends, Direct Outputs, Insert Points, Master Module, Digital vrs Analog summing & Student Projects

Week Eight: Studio Session Procedures, Ideal Home Studio Scenerio, Judging Sound Quality, Mastering, FINAL EXAM & Student Projects Wrap-up
Read: Chapter 14 &19 and Review all course materials for exam
Focus: tracking, overdubbing and mixing procedures, editing using a Digital Audio Workstation (Magix’s Samplitude 8 PC/XP)

Students interested in additional training, please inquire about The Advanced Course or tutoring on specific subjects, Note: Student are entitled to Special Educational Discount Pricing on Samplitude/RME Products.

Time: 1 evening per week for 8 weeks from 7-10pm Note: Allow for a possible 1-week recess during your class
Text Book: David Hubers' Modern Recording Techniques (6th edition) $45.
Tuition: $575 (payment plan available) Call now to secure your reservation for the next course, $200 deposit required. Checks, cash or money orders accepted.Sorry, no makeup's or tuition refunds for missed classes.

The Parc Advanced Course (offered 2 times/year) is a intensive hands-on training class that gives you maximum time on the equipment. Students can bring projects/bands/artists to class and work on demos in conjunction with the other students. Parc Advanced assumes the student knows the basics of EQ, Compressors, Microphones, Signal Flow, and Digital Recording. So if you have graduated Parc I and want more experience this is the class for you. Midi enthusiasts are especially welcome as we explore virtual instruments, Reason 2.5, Sonar, Jammer 5, Pro Tools, Samplitude 8 and much more!

~ Students' Feedback ~

3-22-07
I just wanted to get back to you and let you know that all the guys in WitnesseX were very impressed with that class project demo that we put together. I just recently purchased myself a Mackie 24/8 for my studio. It’s pretty sweet to step into 24 track world and the experience of mixing outside of the box. Thanks a lot again for sharing your knowledge and talent it sure has sent me in the right direction. Look forward to taking that advance course in the future. ~Jake (recent Parc graduate)

~ Fall 2006 ~

Did you find the classes lived up to your expectations as far as conveying information you expected to receive.

"Even more than I expected. I wasn't quite sure about the level of information as a lot of the text book was pretty in depth, but the course itself balanced nicely between the highly technical and the grassroots practical in a good way."

Recent graduates: Angela Hammontree, Jeremy Hynoski and George E. Nowik. (11/06)

Students Angela Hammontree
and George E. Nowik working on
Angelas' project.
Note: the Chapman Stick was
Georges' bass of choice.

"I would tell others who are interested in taking the Parc course that it is a fantastic experience for folks who are completely unfamiliar with the studio environment, folks who have been in a studio to record before but never knew what the devil was happening on the magic box of mixing wonderment, and even for individuals who have had some experience with mixing in their own home project studios and need to go back to the basics and get a better understanding of the world of mixing."
"The class is a lot of fun, and the material is really interesting and even exciting at times! Be prepared to really do the reading, though, and apply yourself to this class"

"My favorite portion of the course was the recording and mixing of the live groups. Getting to see the live recording setup in practice, experience the steps necessary and the gear used, and hearing the end result immediately afterwards was a great experience."

~ Winter 2006 ~ Kit Dylan Arrieta

What was your favorite and least favorite aspects of the course?

FAVORITE: Setting up the recording studio for recording and mixing; student projects; software/program and console discussions and demonstrations; chapter discussions (q&a); quizzes and exams.

~ May 2007 ~ Paul Souyoultzis [riffmachine@comcast.net]
[Student Demo: Weapon Within]

Did you find the classes lived up to your expectations as far as conveying information you expected to receive ?

Yes, I found that the class definitely lived up to my expectations. I was able to clear up many questions I had, and I also gained a more complete understanding of certain aspects like Frequency Response, compression, MIDI, and the studio in general. My favorite aspects would definitely be how to use compression and other effects, the different condenser mic experiments we did, the student project (its set up, organization, and mixing), applying MIDI, and the best part for me would be that you created an environment that was relaxed. It was nice that that you were open minded and allowed me to continually ask the necessary questions that further explained certain things. Without that, I probably wouldn't have gotten as much out of the course as I did. Thanks.

~ Spring 2006 ~

"The instructor was very experienced in recording techniques and passionate about it."

"Read the spec sheet from focusrite and this seems like a great unit for the price. I really appreciate what your teaching in the class, I'm getting all sorts of positive feedback from the improvement in the sound on Sundays and almost all the improvement leads right back to what you have taught me in class.
Thanks, ~Peter Meisner" Parc Student 1/28/04

"strong knowledge of the subject- very useful!"

"the students questions steered the direction of the class"

"the information was well presented in a way we could understand"

"the material in this class isn't taught in many other places"

"I was able to watch the instructor go about doing things that helped me in my efforts of doing similar tasks. i learned some very valuable techniques from him."

Instructor was able to work with people from very different backgrounds"

"The class was actually in a working studio which was great. "

"It provided some insight on the recording technology that is available and how it can help me. "

"After working at Mirror Sound Studios for the past eight months to complete my schooling through Recording Connection, I could have not had a more pleasurable and educative experience. Not only was the environment very laidback and comfortable, but Ken is also a very competent, patient teacher who knows his equipment extremely well. His knowledge of sound and how it is captured and recorded is evident from the moment you step into Mirror Sound and hear him speak about recording a band or track. He also immediately made me feel at ease in the studio and I was given more than enough opportunities for hands on experience with a variety of artists and projects, which I thoroughly enjoyed working with and on. Not only do I have the appreciation of what it takes to record a good track but now I have the knowledge and understanding to begin a career of my own in audio recording and sound engineering. I highly recommend interning at Mirror Sound if one wants to get more hands on experience and a higher level of interaction and understanding than one would get at a beginning internship at any other studio.
Sincerely, ~Whidden Flores 6-9-06

Hi Ken, I took your intro to PC recording class last summer. I went from no goodies, to now owning M-Box 2 with pro-tools. I've gone from 0 to 60 in like 1 second w/ this thing. I hope all's well with you! You really inspired me. Best, ~Ryan