Recording a Vocal CD

Rosemary Murdy-Haber
rhaber@bethsd.org
Freedom High School

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Multimedia/Digital Media
Internet

Level:

High School

Class:

Music Theory

Equipment:

Computer Lab, Headphones, Pro Tools LE, Shure SKM27 and Carvin CM90E microphones and stands

Duration:

80 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

Basic skills in Pro Tools LE and searching the world-wide web.

MENC Standards Addressed:

MENC 1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
MENC 6: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
MENC 7: Evaluating music and music performances.
MENC 8: Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

Materials:

Microphone set-ups for vocal recording handout

Objectives:

1. After searching the web for an instrumental midi file, the students will record a vocal CD, using quality recording microphones.

Procedures:

1. Students will search the web for an instrumental midi file and import it into Pro Tools LE.
(Time allotment-10-15 minutes)
2. Students will set up the microphones for vocal recording.
(Time allotment-15 minutes)
3. Students will record themselves singing the melody along with the instrumental accompaniment.
(Time allotment-15 minutes)
4. The students will re-record their performance with a different microphone.
(Time allotment-5 minutes)
5. The students will decide which microphone produces the best sound and re-record the same performance.
(Time allotment-5 minutes)
6. The students will cut, paste, and edit both recordings to create one finished recording.
(Time allotment-30 minutes)
7. Students will burn to CD.

Evaluation:

1. Students will perform for the class which proves to be an effective assessment.

Follow Up:

Have students create their own instrumental tracks and then record vocals.