Music 140/142/ES 65
What is this course and who should take it?
 

Music Recording and Production is a joint effort of the Department of Music and the School of Engineering. It has been given each Fall semester since 2008.

The course is in two “sections,” one primarily for Engineering majors and the other primarily for Arts & Sciences majors. The sections do not meet separately: one is a subset of the other.

This course is very popular and fills quickly! You can only register with the permission of Prof. Paul Lehrman. To insure your place in it, contact him prior to the registration period in the spring.

WHICH COURSE DO I SIGN UP FOR?
• Arts & Sciences students usually (but not always) sign up for Music 140

Engineering majors are allowed to sign up for Music 140 if they wish, for example if they need Arts distribution credit, but they will not get Engineering credit for the course.

This section meets in Granoff 252, the computer lab, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30-11:45 am. On about three  Thursdays, Music 140 students will be required to attend the afternoon lecture (3:00-4:15). Please contact the instructor if you have a conflict.

The recommended prerequisities for this course are:
• basic music literacy
• the ability to play an instrument
• Math 5 or AP Calculus*
• Physics 1 and 2 (or 1N and 2N) or AP Physics*
    *one or both of these may be waived if you have taken Music 61, Music 141/ES 95, or Music/ES 62		   • Engineering students usually (but not always) sign up for Music 142 / ES 65  (which are the same course)

If you are an Arts & Sciences student planning to get the Music Engineering Minor with the Sound Recording and Production emphasis, you must enroll in Music 142 or ES 65.

Students in this section must have taken Music 61, Music/ES 62, EE20, EE21, ES 3, ME 30, EN 1-02, or an equivalent electronics course. The electronics courses may be taken simulatneously with this section.

This section meets with the other section in Granoff 252, Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11:45, and will also meet in the same room on Thursday, 3:00-4:15, with Professor Fox.

If you are planning to take one of the other tracks to the Music Engineering Minor, you can take either 140 or 142 and it will count as an elective towards the minor.
WHAT WILL BE COVERED?

Topics covered in the course will include:
• Acoustics • Perception • Transducers • Microphone theory and practice • Speakers and power amplifiers • Mixing consoles • Digital recording • Editing in ProTools • CD mastering • Effects • Multitrack recording • Mix automation • MIDI • Mastering • Surround audio • Audio with video

Music 142 / ES 65 students will be getting extra material in the mathematics, physics, acoustics, and electronics involved in audio recording and processing, including:
• Vibrational modes • Microphone and speaker design • Mixing console architecture • A/D converter design • Digital filter design • Time-stretching algorithms • Noise-cancelling technology • Data compression • Synchronization

There will be several hands-on projects, using the Music department's equipment and facilities, including Distler Recital Hall, Fisher Performance Hall, and other spaces in the Granoff Music Center. These projects will involve recording voices, instruments, and groups, and mixing and processing new and existing recordings.
WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

David Lefkowitz is a composer, songwriter, engineer, and producer. He has worked on records with international and regional artists and on numerous films including Live at the Rat Suite. He is on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music.

Daniel Fox is an educator, consultant, recording engineer/producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He served as Program Chair for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Audio Engineering Society High School Audio Educators Conference. He spent 17 years as the Director of Creative Media & Technology at ZUMIX, an award-winning youth music program in East Boston. He also teaches Music/ES 62, Introduction to Music Engineering.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?

The combined enrollment for both sections is limited, and the course fills quickly.
If you are interested in Music 140, 142, or ES 65, please contact Prof. Lehrman at paul.lehrman@tufts.edu. State your year, major, and appropriate courses and experience, and feel free to ask any questions you have.