Classes
Recording Course - Outline
Learn Audio Recording Techniques in the Stutdio Got The Learning Curve Blues? ... o You’ll Enjoy Our Proven Step By Step Method o Join our numerous successful graduates Learn How to Record Vocals, Drums, Keys and Guitars with Ease! Pro Tools Class! Hands-on learning with the industry standard DAW Pro Tools HD, Logic, Abelton Live, and Waves plug-ins “Hands-On Training” Learn By Doing. Get Valuable Experience 8 - 2 Hr Audio Engineering Classes Bands! Enroll and Produce Demos During Class! Learn Home Studio Tips that will improve your home recordings! Small Class Size, register Today!
Our Students Say...
Sound and Hearing
Week 1 Joe Buck in Mirror Sound for Recording
Microphones
Learning to use an equalizer (tone controls) may seem complicated until you learn the basic parameters and realize the similarities all Eqs share. Here we explore these studio signal processors and get you using them in class.
Signal Processing
Week 3 An Example of Analog Equipment within a Producer's Desk for Home Recording
One of the least understood pieces of studio equipment is the compressor/limiter. With the right info getting started can be easy and fun. You’ll experience analog as well as digital plug-in compressors limiters, gates and more.
Signal Processing Pt 2
Week 4 Week 5
Digital Effects
Midi
Week 6 A Vintage DBX 160 Analog Compressor great for recording
Mixing Console / DAW
Week 7 Week 8
Studio Session Procedures
An Example of Digital Effect Processing for recording An Example of a MIDI Piano Roll And Example of a Band Recording At Mirror Sound Musician's Jamming out with different recording microphones Week 2 Tampinist Recording in Mirror Sound's Live Room
...More about our Music Recording Course- P.A.R.C. This 8-week studio recording program is a series of classes featuring “hands-on” workshops focusing on today’s studio and audio recording techniques, procedures, terminology and equipment. Designed primarily for musicians, artists and future sound engineers, PARC has also been popular with audiophiles, DJs and just about anyone interested in sound production and recording. This studio recording program is taught by owner/engineer Ken Fordyce at Mirror Sound Studio’s in Shoreline First offered in Seattle in 1998, this course uniquely features a small class size (limited to 5 students per class), giving each student the maximum benefit of “Hands-On Training” time and individual attention. It’s our belief that using the equipment yourself and learning to make audio judgments with your own ears is the best experience you get when you’re starting out. Students are encouraged to submit for recording a (band or artist) demo to be recorded during class. A certificate is awarded to each student upon completion of our recording course.
Midi changed recording forever with it’s amazing powers. We’ll explore the gamut of today’s Midi. Writing and arranging music has never been easier if you enjoy using Midi sequencing and samplers. We’ll use Sonar X1 to get you started.
The mix is where all of the studios’ resources are pulled together to arrive at a final sound for the song. You’ll see how the pros do it in a studio and you’ll see how you can do it on your computer as well.
As we wrap up, we’ll discuss how to optimize work flow in any recording environment. How to equip a home recording studio, for various purposes and we’ll be mixing and mastering our student projects.
We get started in our audio recording course with basic concepts of sound, like frequency response and dynamic range. We’ll also discuss audio terminology, student projects and get familiar with the all of the equipment in the studio we’ll be using.
Reverb, Echo, Delays, Chorus and Flange effects are sometime the icing on the cake and other time the whole cake itself. Learn how and why they work and various ways to use them. We start with the basic parameters and then work into using effects in a mix.
“You and your staff are fantastic, I wish I had learned from you all a long time ago. You made things fun, understandable and removed any elements of fear that may have been lingering. I look forward to keeping in touch and possibly taking an advance class at some point.” All the best! - Kent Guzey “The staff have years of recording experience and the course saved me tons of time that I would have spent learning on my own.. Great job guys!." - Kevin Spollen
Being your primary tool of recording, let’s learn all we can about using mikes: Dynamics, Condensers, Ribbons, PZMs, Polar Patterns, Brands and models. We see and hear the differences and discuss how to choose the right mic for any situation.
Mirror Sound Studio's PARC Class for Recording
Edmonds Community College Seminar/Tour
Rob Carroll: “I took this course with Ken 30 years ago in Jersey. It gave me a great foundation for all of the work that I continue to do today. I would highly recommend this for anybody looking to get into recording.”
A PARC Class lining up for a photo for Recording
Gregg Opsal: I recently completed the Practical Audio Recording Course (PARC) from Ken at Mirror Sound Studio. Great experience! Ken is honest and forthright. The classes are small enough that you are heard. I was 60 years old and inexperienced at recording and had concerns about fitting in. Not a problem. The hands on approach works. I have spent more on mediocre guitars that are long gone. What I learned from Ken was how to record and how to continue to to teach myself what I need to grow in this field. Highly recommended.
Mirror Sound's Recording Control Room
“ I’d love to take many more recording classes at Mirror Sound. I learned a lot about both Pro Tools and various plugins within a DAW. Really enjoyed the whole experience.“ - Matt Lahr
Neil Mitchell: "“I was expecting to learn more in depth [information] and got exactly that plus more... There was nothing I didn’t enjoy in the class!”
Times: 8-week course each class is 2-hours,16 studio class hours total. Note: Please allow for a 1-week recess Text: The Recording Engineer’s Handbook & The Mixing Engineers Handbook Bobby Oswinski Tuition: Call for Pricing
Dora Barnes 4-23-2018: I recently took the Practical Audio Recording Class with Ken and walked away knowing so much more than I did walking in. If you are interested in learning more about audio engineering, Pro Tools or even how a recording studio operates, this is a great class for anyone to take. I signed up for the class knowing basically nothing about audio equipment or audio programs but that wasn't a problem. Ken is extremely knowledgeable, patient, and fun and his assistant Matt is a great help in the classes as well. Classes are well rounded with take home assignments as well as in class projects and hands on time with the sound board and equipment. I brought in my band for the class project and we were amazed at the sound that Ken and his team can produce. 10/10 would take the class again! Thanks to Ken and Derek!
Certificate Program focuses on your personal needs and experience level. “Informative, Engaging, Inspireing!” - Bob Sparks
“Loved taking the recording classes! I’ve learned so much these past 10 weeks, it was extremely useful info and I’ve been using these skills in the real world with all my music projects. The great thing is, this was only the beginning and I’m excited to learn more in the advanced classes! Ken and Matt are amazing teachers and I love learning from them! Thanks!” Nicole - 2018
Register Today! Two Graduates of Mirror Sound's PARC Classes
(Left) Student Greg Veith sitting in on a session with legenday sports announcer Joe Buck. (Rt) Ken Fordyce - 2021
t The Practical Audio Recording Course REGISTER TODAY! Week 1 Week 3 Week 4 Week 2 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Dora Barnes within Mirror Sound's Home Recording Boothe
“Let Mirror Sound Reflect Your Ideas”
Studio
The Drum Room
Mirror Sound Studio 301 NE 191st St., Seattle, WA,98155 Email: info@mirrorsound.com 206.440.5889
Studio
206 877 3023
Parc Photo Gallery
Advisory Board Status at ECC
Times: 8-week course each class is 2-hours,16 studio class hours total. Note: Please allow for a 1-week recess Text: The Recording Engineer’s Handbook & The Mixing Engineers Handbook by Bobby Oswinski Tuition: Call for Pricing
Course - Chapters
Sound and Hearing
Signal Processing Pt1 Equalization
Signal Processing Pt 2 Compression
Digital Effects Delays, Chorus, Flange
Mixing Console / DAW
Studio Session Procedures & Workflows
...More about our Music Recording Course- P.A.R.C. This 10-week studio recording program is a series of classes featuring “hands-on” workshops focusing on today’s studio and audio recording techniques, procedures, terminology and equipment. Designed primarily for musicians, artists and future sound engineers, PARC has also been popular with audiophiles, DJs and just about anyone interested in sound production and recording. This studio recording program is taught by owner/engineer Ken and Derek Fordyce at Mirror Sound Studio’s in Shoreline first offered in Seattle in 1998, this course uniquely features a small class size (limited to 5 students per class), giving each student the maximum benefit of “Hands-On Training” time and individual attention. It’s our belief that using the equipment yourself and learning to make audio judgments with your own ears is the best experience you get when you’re starting out. Students are encouraged to submit for recording a (band or artist) demo to be recorded during class. A certificate is awarded to each student upon completion of our recording course.
Edmonds Community College Seminar/Tour
Rob Carroll: “I took this course with Ken 30 years ago in Jersey. It gave me a great foundation for all of the work that I continue to do today. I would highly recommend this for anybody looking to get into recording.”
Neil Mitchell: "“I was expecting to learn more in depth [information] and got exactly that plus more... There was nothing I didn’t enjoy in the class!”
Certificate Program focuses on your personal needs and experience level. “Informative, Engaging, Inspireing!” - Bob Sparks
•	Learn Audio Recording Techniques in the Stutdio •	Got The Learning Curve Blues? ...  o	You’ll Enjoy Our Proven Step By Step Method  o	Join our numerous successful graduates •	Learn How to Record Vocals, Drums, Keys and Guitars with Ease! •	Pro Tools Class! Hands-on learning with the industry standard S/W - Pro Tools HD, Logic, Abelton Live, and Waves plug-ins •	“Hands-On Training” Learn By Doing. Get Valuable Experience •	10 - 2 Hr Audio Engineering Classes •	Bands! Enroll and Produce Demos During  Class! •	Learn Home Studio Tips that will improve your home recordings! •	Small Class Size, register Today!
Register Today!
(Left) Student Greg Veith sitting in on a session with legenday NFL sports announcer Joe Buck. (Rt) Ken Fordyce - 2021
Mirror Sound Studio’sRecording Classes REGISTER TODAY!
Microphones
Dora Barnes 4-23-2018: I recently took the Practical Audio Recording Class with Ken and walked away knowing so much more than I did walking in. If you are interested in learning more about audio engineering, Pro Tools or even how a recording studio operates, this is a great class for anyone to take. I signed up for the class knowing basically nothing about audio equipment or audio programs but that wasn't a problem. Ken is extremely knowledgeable, patient, and fun and his assistant Matt is a great help in the classes as well. Classes are well rounded with take home assignments as well as in class projects and hands on time with the sound board and equipment. I brought in my band for the class project and we were amazed at the sound that Ken and his team can produce. 10/10 would take the class again! Thanks to Ken and Derek!
Midi (Musical Instument Digital Interface)
Mirror Sound Studio 301 NE 191st St., Seattle, WA,98155 Email: info@mirrorsound.com 206.440.5889

The Practical Audio Recording Course

Recording Course Outline