NON-MEMBERS: The Sound Studio is only available to members of 121 Studios. For more info or to sign up for a membership, please visit 121studios.ca.
MEMBERS: Please click here to access the Sound Studio Schedule and Appointment Calendar.
121 SOUND STUDIO POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Welcome to the 121 Studios’ sound studio!
Please review the following policies & procedures before booking your first session.
LAST UPDATE: AUGUST 25, 2017
CONTENTS
GENERAL POLICIES
PROCEDURES
Training Procedures
Booking Procedures
Recording with Condenser Microphones
Operating the Digital Audio Interface
Operating the Headphone Amplifier
Recording in a Digital Audio Workstation
RESOURCES
GENERAL POLICIES
Failure to comply with these policies may result in temporary or permanent suspension of sound studio privileges.
TRAINING PROCEDURES
Contact Charles (charles@unlondon.ca) to schedule a meeting. In the meeting, he will determine whether you require a training session before booking the studio for your first time.
BOOKING PROCEDURES
Please book all sound studio time using our appointment booking calendar.
The following procedures are in place to ensure that all equipment is handled properly. Familiarize yourself with them before using the sound studio.
RECORDING WITH CONDENSER MICROPHONES
Large diaphragm condenser mics are frequently used for recording voice, as well as a wide range of musical instruments, especially those rich in high-frequency content. They must be used, however, with utmost care, as they are very fragile.
Please review the following step-by-step instructions on how to properly connect and disconnect a condenser mic from the mixer.
Connecting a Condenser Mic
If you are unsure of any step in this process, please ask staff for assistance.
Disconnecting a Condenser Mic
Once you are finished recording, please follow these steps to avoid damaging the mic:
Do not activate 48V phantom power If you are using Ribbon or Dynamic microphones, as this can potentially damage both the mic and/or mixer. If you’re not sure what kind of microphone you are using, please look online or ask a staff member for assistance.
OPERATING THE DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE
The Scarlett 18i20 is the central hub through which all audio signals are routed. Each labeled component in this photo is explained in the following list:
RECORDING IN A DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION (DAW)
Presently, our studio is equipped with two digital audio workstations (DAW), Logic Pro X and GarageBand ‘11. We recommend you choose the one that best suits your needs.
Logic Pro X
If you plan to employ advanced mixing, editing, or mastering processes, we recommend using Logic Pro X, as it has numerous high-end effects plug-ins, software instruments, signal routing options, and other professional tools to help you achieve an impressive result.
GarageBand ‘11
For podcasts, spoken word recordings, and more basic recording set ups, GarageBand’s streamlined appearance and functionality is a great choice, especially for beginners and novices.
Getting Started
If you are new to Logic, GarageBand, or digital audio recording in general, please read the manual for the DAW you wish to use (PDFs are linked below). These manuals include helpful step-by-step instructions on how to record audio and great overviews of their respective features.
RESOURCES
Please consult the following resources for additional audio recording tips and processes.