Recording is a very intricate thing to do. When recording any music, vocals or sounds, it’s very important that you understand what types of microphones, amps and instruments you’re using. You also need to know what product gets you the best sound quality.

Professor Eric Chun teaches MUSM 342: Recording Studio Techniques. Unlike other classrooms on campus, when you walk into FA 537-A, you pull up a chair from a stack and find room to seat yourself.

The description of the class online says, “This first course in a four-part series covers entry-level techniques in audio and music production. It also covers microphone fundamentals and applications, studio equipment, recording console functions, and multi-track recording procedures.”

Chun creates a very relaxed atmosphere as he lectures the class and gives examples. He allows students to ask various questions and always has an answer for them.

Throughout the class, he gives instances of tones and pitches by playing the piano that’s in the room and singing a short verse. Chun then explains what he just did and how a certain microphone or amp can affect the pitch of what is being recorded.

Chun jokes around with his class to help make the lectures interesting. He pokes fun at some artists and imitates their voices to help get his point across.

There are all sorts of bells and whistles that can affect sound, and Chun urges his students to become diverse. The more a student knows, the easier it is for him or her to be able to promote themselves at an event.

The class does require field trips and write-ups, but they coincide with the class. A field trip may include going to a recording studio and being allowed to use the equipment, while the write-ups involve going to a music event.

In recording, there are various minute technical aspects that most people don’t really know about. If you don’t take this class because you are majoring in music, you can take it to get an idea of how your favorite artist records their album(s).

Roy Gray, Commercial Music: I love the instructor. I think he’s funny and he makes the class more fun. He goes straight from the book and he explains it. He gives a lot of good notes.

Eric Chun: The recording field is such a common element and a necessary item for every musician to learn how to do, because it’s so accessible now. One should have basic recording theory and fundamentals for their music career.