Classes
Recording Course - Outline
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Learn Audio Recording Techniques in the Stutdio
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Got The Learning Curve Blues? ...
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You’ll Enjoy Our Proven Step By Step Method
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Join our numerous successful graduates
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Learn How to Record Vocals, Drums, Keys and Guitars with Ease!
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Pro Tools Class! Hands-on learning with the industry standard DAW
Pro Tools HD, Logic, Abelton Live, and Waves plug-ins
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“Hands-On Training” Learn By Doing. Get Valuable Experience
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8 - 2 Hr Audio Engineering Classes
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Bands! Enroll and Produce Demos During Class!
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Learn Home Studio Tips that will improve your home recordings!
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Small Class Size, register Today!
Our Students Say...
Sound and Hearing
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
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
Digital Effects
Midi
Mixing Console / DAW
Studio Session Procedures
...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.
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.”
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.
“ 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
(Left) Student Greg
Veith sitting in on a
session with legenday
sports announcer Joe
Buck. (Rt) Ken Fordyce
- 2021
“Let Mirror Sound Reflect Your Ideas”