Lecture & Workshop | Topics
The lecture and workshop will be held by Michele Gaggia in German and English language.
Location: the Recording Studio of the FH Salzburg.
Analogue and Digital Mixers
- setting the input levels
- metering, pan & balance
- adding effects (insert or send/return)
- using external effects
- control surfaces
Control Rooms and Monitoring
- control room design and acoustics: LEDE, RFZ, Non Environment, ESS
- sound proofing and acoustic control
- absorption, diffusion, reflection
- main monitors, mid fields, near fields
- stereo and 5.1 surround setups
Mixing
- what is mixing?
- "technical" mix parameters and "musical goals" in a mix
- places from where to start mixing
- sound of single instruments in a mix
- how to prevent instruments "fighting" with each other
- positioning sounds in the stereo field, setting stereo width on stereo signals
- minimal phase vs. linear phase EQ; passive vs active EQ
- opto-compressor vs. VCA compressor
- algorithmic reverb vs. impulse response reverb
- the mixdown
Mastering
- what is mastering?
- typical mastering tools and effects
- what can (and should) be fixed/adjusted
- mastering EQ and compressor
- multi-band compressor
- brickwall limiter
- dithering, audio file format conversion
- ISRC and UPC/MCN, PQ editing, DDP, etc.
- Project presentation
Downloads
Handouts
Digital Audio Production Tools
- DAW Overview - Michele Gaggia (PDF download, updated 29.01.2017)
Acoustic Basics and Digital Audio Recording
- Acoustics Basics and Digital Audio - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 23.12.2025)
- Digital Audio Formats - Drivers - Plugins - Michele Gaggia (PDF downlaod - updated 29.01.2017)
- Acoustic and Vibration Animations - Dan Russel
- Musical Acoustics - Links - University of South Wales, Australia
- Digital Recording - Wikipedia
- Digital to Analog Converter - Wikipedia
Microphones and Stereo Recording Techniques
- Microphones and Recording Techniques - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 29.01.2017)
- Microphones - Wikipedia
- Stereophonic Sound - Wikipedia
- Surround Sound - Wikipedia
Rhythm and Musical Form
- Rhythm, Beat, Drum Pattern - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 19.01.2026
- Musical Form - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 21.06.2026)
Sound Synthesis
- Sound Synthesis 01 - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 29.01.2018)
- Sound Synthesis 02 - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 09.06.2018)
- http://www.vintagesynth.com (Vintage Synthesizers and their History)
Effects, Mixing and Automation
- Audio Effects - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 29.01.2017)
- Mixing and Mastering Tips - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 29.01.2017)
- Mixing Automation - Michele Gaggia (PDF download)
- Loudness Levels on Streaming Platforms - masteringthemix.com
Room Acoustics and Design
- Studio Design - Michele Gaggia (PDF download - updated 29.01.2017)
- Amroc Room Mode Calculator
- Room sizes compliance with international standards and recommendations
Recommended Literature
Books
- Henle, Hubert (2001) Das Tonstudio Handbuch.
GC Carstensen Verlag: München. ISBN 3910098193 - Pieper, Frank (2004) Das Effekte Praxisbuch.
GC Carstensen Verlag: München. ISBN 3910098274 - Owsinski, Bobby (1999) The Mixing Engineer's Handbook.
Artist Pro - Mix Books: Vallejo (CA). ISBN 0872887235 - Owsinski, Bobby (2000) The Mastering Engineer's Handbook.
Artist Pro - Mix Books: Vallejo (CA). ISBN 0872887413 - Gervais, Rod (2011) Home Recording Studio: Build it Like the Pros
Course Technology CENGAGE Learning, Boston (USA). ISBN 1-4354-5717-X
Magazines
- Keyboards - http://www.keyboards.de
- Production Partner - http://www.production-partner.de
- c't (Magazin für Computertechnik) - http://www.heise.de/ct
- Computer Music - http://www.computermusic.co.uk