Creative Media Education

San Francisco Courses

Electronic Music Production

 

EMP Program Overview

The Electronic Music Production course provides an opportunity for music enthusiasts to unleash their passion for sound by training with industry professionals at a world-class facility. The program encourages artistic individualism and combines the fundamentals of electronic music production with exploration of more experimental and advanced techniques. Students will graduate from the six-month program with the skills and knowledge to better create the music they love.

You would benefit from this course if:

  • You make music and you would like to experiment with electronic sounds or work more efficiently with your equipment
  • You have basic knowledge of music creation software such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live, or Reason, but want to unlock the true potential of these programs
  • You are a DJ looking to advance your career
  • You want an edge on your existing production techniques
  • You are passionate about electronic music
  • You intend to study further in this area

Who should take this course?

The EMP program is intended for musicians and DJs who enjoy experimenting with technology as well as electronic music and audio hobbyists. The program is open to anyone 16 years of age and above with no prior experience or personal equipment required. (A laptop capable of running current music software is suggested for students attending this course.)

How is this course delivered?

The Electronic Music Production course is an innovative combination of lecture-based training and practical, hands-on learning.

Lecture-based training:

Consists of interactive sessions based on comprehensive notes and visual demonstrations of theory and concepts. Guest lecturers are invited to provide industry workshops. Throughout the course, students will be assigned projects in sound creation, arrangement, and production so that their artistic and technical progress can be monitored and guided.

Hands-on learning:

In class, students are asked to preform tasks relating to the subjects being covered. Lecturers and established industry guests conduct demonstrations showcasing studio equipment and best practice production techniques.

Instructor Feedback:

A few times throughout the course, the students will present original work to all of the instructors and the rest of the class. In this high-resolution listening environment, students will receive constructive criticism and positive reinforcement to help further refine and enhance their work.

Areas of study:

The Electronic Music Production course is divided into four sections:

Audio Engineering & Music Fundamentals

Without a solid foundation, nothing truly great can be built. Students learn about critical concepts such the history of electronic music, music theory, digital audio, microphone recording, analogue & digital mixing consoles, and signal flow. Students will examine various home studio set-ups and will be offered assistance in purchasing decisions. (Attending this course includes SAE student discounts on equipment from GC PRO)

Composition, Recording & Production

Knowing and understanding your tools is crucial to any task. After gaining understanding of the nuts & bolts of audio, students begin to learn popular programs such as Reason & Ableton Live. Also covered are dynamic & time-based effects, equalization, MIDI control, and basic audio synthesis.

Creating Original Sounds & Advanced Techniques

The key to rising above the noise is finding your own voice. Next up, more sophisticated recording programs such as Logic Pro 8 are explained. Advanced synthesis, sampling, remixing, beat chopping and outboard processing are all extensively covered in this section. Utilizing these concepts, students are shown how to craft compelling original sounds for use in their productions.

Getting It Together & Putting It Out

Properly presenting your vision is as important as having ideas in the first place! In this final section, students learn how to arrange, mix, and master their music to provide optimum impact both in earbuds and on the dance floor. Digital distribution and music business concepts such as copyright, blogging, and marketing are also covered.