Conservatory Recording Department

Located on the 5th floor of the Performing Arts Center, Conservatory Recording performs such services as recital and concert recording, audition/demo recording, tape/CD duplication and sound reinforcement/PA systems. The studios are available for use by Conservatory students and faculty, as well as the larger UMKC community as a whole. Recordings can be made in White Recital Hall, Grant Recital Hall, the Conservatory's multi-track recording studio, and in other locations on or off campus. Recital recordings and audition recordings made in the recital halls are scheduled through the Office of Concert Activities. All other recording sessions must be scheduled directly with the studio. This is done by contacting Bob Beck in PAC 515 or Jason Scheufler in PAC 513. Please plan ahead, as the studio calendar tends to fill up quickly-especially near the end of each semester. We ask that you book all recording projects at least 2 weeks in advance to allow us to secure staffing, materials and equipment for your project.

We offer 5 basic services to our constituency:

1. Concert/Recital Recording
2. Audition/Demo Recording
3. Duplication
4. Sound Reinforcement/Public Address Systems
5. Audio Recording Classes

Concert/Recital Recording

The Conservatory of Music requires that all degree recitals (those necessary for the completion of a degree) be documented by Conservatory Recording at the performer's expense. These recordings are scheduled through the Office of Concert Activities and the $75 recording fee must be paid in advance. A digital stereo master recording is produced for permanent storage in the Conservatory Recording archives. The performer receives one Compact Disc (CD) copy, which may be picked up one week after the performance in PAC 513.

Additionally, the studio can provide VHS video recordings of recitals for an additional charge of $15, added to the $75 recording fee. Concert/recital videos are single-camera, documentation-grade recordings. The camera is not panned or zoomed during the performance. The audio mix is identical to that of the digital audio master. The master tape is not stored in the archive, but given to the performer.

Audition/Demo Recording

Demo sessions are produced in the recital halls or recording studios with a staff engineer. These recordings may be used for a variety of purposes, including scholarship applications, contest entries, and admission to schools, workshops and master classes. These sessions are charged by the hour (see rates below). Bear in mind that studio time includes setup, recording, listening, editing, and tear-down/strike-in other words, as long as you are working with an engineer, the clock is ticking. Plan to take your master CD home with you and do your listening there. You can then set up another session to do any editing/duplication that needs to take place. This saves everyone time and saves you money.

Some demo sessions take place in the 5th floor studios, but for most styles of music we recommend recording in the recital halls. Our schedule is very flexible, and normally if you can schedule a recital hall in which to record we should be able to find an engineer to record you. Contact the Office of Concert Activities to schedule the recital hall, the Piano Technicians to have a piano tuned (if necessary), and then get in touch with the studio staff to schedule a recording engineer for your project.

Current Students, Faculty, and Staff: $40 per hour plus materials

All Others*: $85 per hour plus materials

*Non-University projects are not normally accepted by the recording studio. We recommend that you contact one of the many commercial studios in the Kansas City area for assistance with these projects.

Duplication

Conservatory Recording can do audio transfers to/from most popular formats, including Compact Disc (CD), Cassette, LP record, Digital Audio Tape (DAT), MiniDisc, ADAT, 2" 24-track and 1/4" analog tape (1/4-track or 1/2-track, 3.75 ips, 7.5 ips, 15 ips or 30 ips). If you need audio copied from MiniDisc, we recommend that you bring the MD recorder that was used to make the original recording. Our professional MD player cannot play back discs recorded using the LP feature available on many portable recorders.

Prices for duplication vary depending on the amount of time and number of copies required. Contact us for more information about your specific project.

Sound Reinforcement/Public Address Systems

Sound systems are available in both recital halls on campus. Rates vary depending on the complexity of the system required and the length of your event. Be sure to contact us well in advance, especially if you have any unusual requirements that might require equipment rental. Bear in mind that the recital halls are designed for acoustic music and voice. As a result, you may not need a sound system at all (particularly in Grant Hall, which is quite small).

Audio Recording Classes

The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance offers a series of four classes in Audio Recording techniques. There is no degree available from UMKC in this field, although the Conservatory has two Bachelor’s degree programs that include audio coursework: the BA in Electronic Media and the BA in Electronic Media Programming. Some other students choose to pursue a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree (through the College of Arts and Sciences) and study audio recording as a part of their elective coursework. All audio recording classes are offered through the Conservatory of Music and Dance. Individual course information is as follows:

• Conservatory 202—Basic Techniques of Audio Recording I (3 credit hours) Jason Scheufler, instructor
  
  This is an introductory course that teaches about acoustics, sound wave propagation, microphone theory, studio personnel, and the audio recording signal chain. We study audio mixers, recorders, loudspeakers and signal processors, and spend class and laboratory time working on fundamental equipment interconnection and operation as well as ear training. The emphasis this semester is on simple, one-or two-microphone recordings. There is a weekly lab period (scheduled outside of regular class time) during which students are expected to gain practical, hands-on experience with the techniques discussed in the lectures. The class has no prerequisites and assumes no prior knowledge of the subject.
• Conservatory 203-Basic Techniques of Audio Recording II (3 credit hours) Jason Scheufler, instructor
  
  This course expands on the information first learned in Conservatory 202. The lectures go into greater detail about many of the concepts first addressed in 202. We will study digital music editing and each student will be required to complete a personal editing project outside of class time. We also begin an in-depth look at the modern multitrack recording process and its influence on music creation in the 21st century. In the weekly lab sessions, more emphasis is placed on listening and using proper microphone technique to accurately capture the sound of a performance. Additionally, students will begin learning the art of mixing a pre-recorded multitrack tape down to a stereo master recording. Finally, students are expected to begin honing their troubleshooting abilities in order to be able to quickly and calmly solve problems that come up in the studio. Requires access to a personal computer with CD burner.
• Conservatory 309-Audio Recording III (3 credit hours) Robert Beck, instructor
  
  The emphasis this semester shifts away from traditional, analog-based recording technique and moves into a state-of-the-art, fully-digital workstation environment. The software/hardware package used for this course is Digidesign’s Pro Tools, the industry standard digital audio workstation system used throughout the audio business. Students will gain proficiency in computer-based recording, editing, processing, and mixing on the Apple Macintosh platform. It is recommended, but not required, that students own a Pro Tools LE workstation (Digi001, Digi002, Digi002R, MBox, etc.) to facilitate the completion of homework assignments outside of the classroom.
• Conservatory 407—Audio Intern Program (1-3 credit hours) Robert Beck, supervisor
  
  The Conservatory’s Audio Intern program is designed to prepare the best and brightest students for entry-level positions in recording studios, broadcast stations, or live sound venues. Interns will assist in the daily operation and upkeep of the Conservatory’s audio facilities and will receive individual instruction in audio recording, post-production, and live sound reinforcement. Students may be asked to serve as lab instructors for 202/203 classes. Personal projects may be assigned as time and resources permit. Some field trips to one or more outside studios may be included as well.