Audio Production / Music Engineering Programs in Franklin, TN

Dark Horse Institute:
Dark Horse Institute in Franklin (15 miles south of downtown Nashville), Tennessee, is an audio engineering and music production school providing students with real-world training. We can teach you everything you need to know to get started in the recording industry in 12 weeks. As our school is hands-on, you will be learning from (and working alongside) professional producers and engineers who do this for a living - every day of the week. Our goal is to give our students every opportunity to excel in the entertainment industry.

Accelerated Music Production Crash Course:

Intro to Recording:
Right off the bat you will learn the essentials that EVERY engineer needs to be competent starting with topics such as: Understanding sound, Console signal flow, Types of Microphones, Loudspeakers, and Basic Music Theory. Also in this first course we are going to teach you the "need to knows" to audio connections, soldering, trouble shooting, and studio maintenance. Finally this course will introduce you to the role of the assistant engineer and his role in the recording process.

Analog Recording:
With a good foundation from weeks 1 and 2, this part of the program will focus on analog recording and equipment. We will cover such topics as critical listening, analog tape machines, analog alignment, compression, equalization and many different types of outboard gear. You will also start learning the fundamentals of microphone placement (hands on in the studio) and what it takes to get world-class sounds with various hands on recording labs. Towards the end of this course we will go over analog mixing and Neve flying fader console automation systems.

Digital Recording:
With a solid grasp of signal flow and gain staging under your belt, you will now tackle the fundamentals of Digital Recording. You will begin learning the ins and outs of various digital machines like the Otari Radar II and Pro Tools HD. You will also learn the basics of the Apple Computer and how to properly maintain the computer.

Pro Tools:
For you to succeed as an audio engineer, it is essential that you master the "industry standard" Pro Tools. By week 7 you will be immersed into the world of Pro Tools 8 and begin learning all the tips and tricks that the professionals use on a daily basis.

Business of Recording:
Week 9 we will focus on the music business and how it relates to becoming a successful recording engineer. In our continuing lecture series, you will also hear from some of the world's most successful engineers and producers, and how they operate the business side of their passion.

Studio Recording:
Weeks 11 and 12 brings your educational experience full circle, as you continue the process of recording this album from beginning to end. You will be miccing the drum, acoustic and electric guitars, as well as all the other instruments. You'll be engineering the vocal overdubs and lead solos. You'll be mixing all the songs, finally master the project and deliver the band a final product. You'll be doing all this on the same gear that is used to record some of the biggest selling albums in the world.