Sound Studio

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

• Food and drink are not permitted in the sound studio, with the exception of lidded beverages.
• Record directly to an external hard drive, and backup all files after every session.
• We are not responsible for loss or damage of audio files/data recorded and stored on our computer(s).
• “Loud” sound studio sessions must begin no earlier than 8pm, Monday-Friday and 5pm Saturday and Sunday, and end no later than 6am the following day.
• Read all procedures before your first time using the studio.
• Please revisit procedures on a regular basis, as they will be updated when new equipment is added to the studio.
• After each session, please return all equipment to its proper place and turn off monitors and lamps.
• If you are unsure of how to use a particular piece of equipment, please ask a staff member for assistance; do not try to figure it out on your own, as some equipment is very sensitive and fragile, and the slightest improper connection may cause damage.
• If anything breaks or appears to stop working, please alert a staff member immediately.

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

1. Turn on the mixer (power switch is located on the front panel, right side).
2. Connect XLR cable into the base of the microphone.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into any mic input on the Scarlett 18i20 digital audio interface.
4. Once connected, press the ‘48V’ button on the front of the interface to activate phantom power (see page 5 of this document for more info).
5. Adjust the corresponding gain dial to establish an appropriate level (see page 5 of this doc for more info).

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:

1. Exit your session and save/back up your work.
2. Turn the gain dial all the way down to - ∞.
3. Deactivate the 48V switches on the Scarlett 18i20.
4. Wait 30 seconds before disconnecting the mic from the mixer (time is needed to disarm the charge).
5. Disconnect the microphone and XLR cable from the mixer.
6. Turn off monitors (power switch is located on the back of each monitor)
7. Turn off mixer.
8. Return microphone and XLR cable to their proper place.

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:

1. Microphone Inputs: There are 8 XLR inputs in total; 2/front, 6/back. Simply plug a microphone cable(s) (XLR) into an input.
2. 48V Phantom Power Switches: All of the mics in the studio require phantom power. Activate these switches after you have plugged in all microphones. A red light will appear beneath each switch when properly activated.
3. Gain Dials: Each mic input corresponds to a gain dial located on the front of the interface. Adjust your input gain (volume) using these dials.
4. Monitor Volume Control: This dial controls the overall volume of your combined sources, which is sent to the KRK monitors. Notice there are “mute” and “dim” buttons located beneath the dial. When you are recording, make sure the “mute” button is activated to avoid unpleasant feedback.
5. Headphone Inputs/Volume Control: Simply connect headphones directly to an input and adjust the level with its dial. If you need more than two headphone sets, plug the headphone amplifier into one of these inputs (see page 6 of this doc for more info).
6. Monitor Output (Stereo): To listen to your work with the monitors, connect each monitor to its appropriate left and right channel using ¼” cables. Adjust the output level with the monitor volume dial (#4 above) located on the front of the interface.

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.

• Logic Pro -- Beginners should read Chapter 2 in its entirety
• GarageBand

RESOURCES

Please consult the following resources for additional audio recording tips and processes.

• Scarlett 18i20 Manual and Drivers
• Using Microphones
• Glossary of Technical Terms