Sample Itinerary
Final itinerary and dates are subject to discuss with the participants, but here is what you can expect.
Week #1 – Day 1 Tracking
8:30am – 9:30am group continental breakfast in hotel
9:45am at transport vans and ready to go to studio
10am-10pm Eddie Kramer Instructor/assisted by Translator & HHS Guide
Subjects Covered – Rhythm Section tracking: drums, bass, gtr
Basic micing techniques, selection and placement,
How to open and set up new session in Pro Tools HD version 10
10am start -1pm Setting up drums, and other instruments
Instructor explains why certain mics are used for certain instruments explains microphone placement, positioning and proximity to instrument or amplifier, building iso for amps Getting drum sounds.
1pm-2pm Lunch Break
2pm-6pm Begin Recording 1st Track
Bass, Drums, Guitars
Instructor explains different techniques on how best to record and which outboard gear to be used on different instruments.
6pm-7pm Dinner Break
7pm-10pm Complete recording 1st track, back up PT files; discuss plan for Day 2, any set up changes for next song discussed with asst engineer.
10:30pm Vans transport back to hotel.
Week #1 – Day 2 Tracking
8:30-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45 at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Eddie Kramer Instructor
Subjects covered: In addition to mic set-up, console operation and PT 10 HD, “The Room as Instrument” or how acoustics affect the sound of a recording will be discussed.
10am -1pm any mic changes or instrument changes for Track #2
Outboard gear; purpose for and appropriate use depending on instrumentation cont’d.
If no need to change alter/drum sounds, begin Tracking drums for track #2.
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm Begin tracking other instruments bass, guitar, keyboards or piano
6pm-7pm Dinner break
7pm-10pm Finish tracking song number 2, back up PT files discuss plan for Day 3, any set up changes for 3rd and final track discussed with asst engineer.
10:30pm Vans transport back to hotel.
Week #1 Day 3 Tracking
8:30-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45 at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Eddie Kramer Instructor
Subjects covered: Tracking
10am-1pm any mic changes or instrument changes for Track #3, assuming potential rhythm section amp changes or guitar, bass type changes, accordingly based on Instructors plan for final track.
Outboard gear; purpose for and appropriate use depending on instrumentation cont’d.
If no need to change alter/drum sounds, begin Tracking drums for track #3.
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm Begin tracking other instruments bass, guitar, keyboard/piano
6pm-7pm Dinner break
7pm-10pm finish tracking song number 3, back up PT files discuss plan for Day 4, Overdubbing strategy discussed with assistant engineer.
10:30pm Vans transport back to hotel.
Week#1 – Day 4 Overdubbing
Overdubbing (the process of making an overdub, or overdubs) is a technique used in audio recording, whereby a performer listens to an existing recorded performance, and plays a new performance along with it, which is also recorded. The intention is that the final mix will contain a combination of these overdubs.
Tracking (or “laying the basic tracks”) of the rhythm section (usually including drums) to a song, then following with overdubs (solo instruments, such as keyboards or guitar, then finally vocals), has been the standard technique for recording popular music since the early 1960s. Today, overdubbing can be accomplished even on basic recording equipment, or a typical PC equipped with a sound card, using software such as ProTools.
8:30am-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45am at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Eddie Kramer Instructor
Subjects Covered- Overdubbing
10am-1pm making any additional tone/instrument changes adding vocal booth set up/isolation and mic choice for vocalist
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm Begin overdubbing guitar & bass parts for all 3 tracks. If possible begin tracking vocals.
7pm-10pm overdubbing vocals, for all 3 tracks. Discussing final instrument/vocal overdub strategy with assistant engineer back up all data and discuss file management.
10:30pm Vans transport back to hotel.
Week #1 – Day 5
Complete Overdubs
8:30am-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45am at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Eddie Kramer Instructor
Subjects Covered-Overdubbing cont’d
10 am-1pm finish all guitar, bass overdubs adding any additional percussion parts, shakers, tambourine etc.
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm Finish all vocal overdubs, and additional instrument overdubs
6pm-7pm Dinner break
7pm-8pm Celebrity Meet & Greet in VIP lounge and deck, photos and Q& A
8pm-10 pm finish all overdubbing, discuss data management and back up all PT files, mix prep with assistant for Day 8 beginning Mix sessions.
10:30pm Vans Transport back to hotel.
Week#1 – Day 6
Industry Specific Field Trip
I.e. Visit to Grammy Museum (attendees choice to participate or not)
8:45am meet vans downstairs at hotel for group transport to breakfast
9am-10:30am group breakfast at Mel’s Diner on Highland Ave. or similar restaurant. Translator discusses plan for the day, explains the importance of staying with group at all times.
10:30am-11am transporting group to field trip destination
11am-1:30pm tour Grammy Museum,
1:30pm-2:30pm lunch break near Grammy Museum
2:30pm-6:30pm return to hotel to relax, sight see, shop in immediate area such as Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood Walk of Fame, etc
7pm-8:30 pm Group dinner in Hollywood either group van transportation or walking distance from hotel. Possibly The Rainbow Bar and Grill for dinner followed by a show at The Roxy
8:30pm-11pm go to Sunset Strip “Hot Spot” i.e. Roxy, Viper Room, House of Blues on Sunset Blvd. Vans transport back to Hotel by 11:30 pm
Week #1 – Day 7
Sightseeing open air Gray Line tour of Hollywood/or option of personal Day to explore Los Angeles on your own
Week # 2 – Day 8 Mixing
8:30-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45 at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Jim Scott Instructor
Subjects covered: In addition to mix preparation and set-up, analog console and DAW mix workflow, “The Console as Instrument” or how signal processing and effects influence the sound of a mix will be discussed.
10am -1pm Initial mix preparation for Song #1 / Track cleaning & assessment
Mixing Approaches: building a mix vs. faders up / finding the heart of the song
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm: Mixing Techniques: Console Eq & Analog gear vs. Software plugins. Mix Eq techniques. Reverb and effects. Sub mixing and Stems. Intro to Mix Automation.
6pm-7pm Dinner break
7pm-10pm Complete Song 1 mix, generate ref mix, save and archive Pro Tools session, Document Outboard Equipment Settings. Save console automation data. Console recall documentation.
Discuss plan for Day 2, return to hotel.
Week # 2 – Day 9 Mixing
8:30-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45 at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Jim Scott Instructor
Subjects covered: Continuing from Mix Day 1, previous day’s mix will be evaluated and adjusted, prior to moving on to Song 2. Rest of morning and afternoon/evening will be devoted to Song 2, while introducing additional mix concepts and techniques.
10am -1pm Review Song #1 Mix; make final adjustments and mix
Song #2: Track cleaning & assessment; begin mix down
Mixing Tricks: comping and flying sections. Auto-Tune.
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm Mix 2 continued: Automatic Double Tracking. True gated reverb. Mixing to tape vs. digital: The sound of Analog 2-track half-inch mixes; tape compression / head bump; tape saturation
6pm-7pm Dinner break
7pm-10pm Complete song 2 mix, alternate mixes: vocal up/down concepts. Generate ref mix, save and archive Pro Tools session, Document Outboard Equipment Settings. Save console automation data. Console recall documentation.
Discuss plan for Mix Day 3, return to Hotel.
Week # 2 – Day 10 Final Day of Mixing
8:30-9:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
9:45 at vans ready to go to East West Studios
10am-10pm Jim Scott Instructor
Subjects covered: Continuing from Mix Day 2, previous day’s mix will be evaluated and adjusted, prior to moving on to Song 3, As described in Day Nine, while introducing advanced mix techniques.
10am -1pm Review Song Mix #2; final adjustments / print mix
Song Mix #3: Track cleaning & assessment; begin mix down
Mixing Tricks: Parallel processing, back-bus compression editing techniques, tempo-synced effects.
1pm-2pm lunch break
2pm-6pm Song Mix #3 continued:
- Triggered Drums
- Mix Bus Eq & Compression
- Full automation; Console vs. Pro Tools
6pm-7pm Dinner break
7pm-10pm: Complete song 3 mix, alternate mixes: mix stems / instrumental mixes / acapella versions.
Generate ref mix, save and archive Pro Tools session, Document Outboard Equipment Settings. Save console automation data. Console recall documentation.
Return to Roosevelt Hotel.
Week #2 – Day 11 Mastering
10:00am-11:30am Group Breakfast at hotel
11:45am at vans ready to go to Universal Mastering
12:15pm to 1:15pm tour Universal Mastering Facility With Nick Doffelmeyer Manager
1:30pm-2:30pm lunch break nearby restaurants, across from Universal Mastering
2:45pm-5:45pm Observe and participate while Peter masters track # 1
6:00pm-6:30pm Review final mastered version of track and discuss next days plan for tracks 2 & 3
Meet Vans at 6:45 to return to hotel
8pm-9:00pm Group dinner
Week #2 – Day 12Final Day of Course
8:30am-9:30am Group breakfast at hotel
9:45am at Vans ready to go to Universal Mastering
10:30am-1:30pm Observe and participate while Peter masters Track #2
1:45-2:45 lunch break nearby restaurant such as Poquito Mas Mexican restaurant
3:00pm-6:pm Observe and participate while Peter masters final Track # 3
6pm-7pm Q& A and photos with Peter Doell and Universal Mastering staff
7:30-8:00 Champagne toast at Hard Rock Café where all participants will receive “certificate of Achievement” Secrets of the Pros/Hollywood Hitmakers
8:00pm-9:30pm Final group dinner, Graduation, Certificate Ceremony at Hard Rock Café
9:30pm-11:00pmWalk around Universal City Walk shop for souvenirs etc.
11:30pm Meet vans to return to hotel And prepare for departure/check out by 12 :00pm Noon
12:30pm meet vans for transportation to LAX
All participants will receive a DVD copy of the course captured on video as well as a CD copy of the 3song demo of the band they helped to produce, record, mix and master.
Day 13 and 14 – Last Weekend
Attendees can have a choice to of doing group activities that are included, such as Disneyland, Universal Studios Tour, Private Hollywood Bowl Tour, Beach Excursions to Malibu, Santa Monica, etc.. or shopping excursions to Beverly Hills and other sightseeing locations.
