Searchable Class Schedule

• Description: The history of music technology and sound recording from the earliest analog devices to current digital streaming services. How technological change is inseparable from economic, cultural, and political change. The role of race, ethnicity, and gender in the development of new technologies and production techniques. Ways that music producers responded to different access of technologies shaped by geographical and economic factors. Historical, cultural, and theoretical understanding of recorded sound, media, and digital distribution. How the digital era, laptop computers, and mobile phones made home studios the dominant location for commercial record production. Hands-on experience with a variety of analog and digital audio-visual technologies. Identify hallmark sounds from commercially released recordings by historically significant audio engineers, music producers, and artists.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 4 hours lecture per week, 1 hours lab per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: Both
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Introduction to creating music with computers, keyboards, audio samples, and beats, using Pro Tools and other digital audio workstations. Basic principles and use of MIDI sequencing/audio software. Songwriting, musical composition, mixing, mastering, and the basic elements of music (pitch, rhythm, harmony, style, and form), as they relate to contemporary music. Basic music production using DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations). General computer literacy and media management. Exploration of the music production techniques and styles of producers from varied racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. All styles are included, and prior musical training is not required.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 66A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Introduction to fundamental concepts and techniques of microphones and signal processors, and their application to studio recording. Basic introduction to computer-based recording with Avid Pro Tools systems. Microphone placement, physics of sound as it relates to recording, and studio setup techniques. Analysis of production styles employed by engineers and producers from diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 80A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Introduction to multitrack recording and production using Avid Pro Tools systems. Contemporary recording studio production techniques, including microphone selection, placement, analog and digital signal paths, speaker monitors, and studio acoustics. Techniques for recording drums, bass, piano, guitar, and vocals. Production styles and techniques employed by engineers and producers from diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Practical hands-on experience with professional recording artists and student collaborations.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 81 or 81A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Mixing and mastering multitrack recordings using Pro Tools. EQ, compression, reverb, delays, tempo maps, harmonic distortion, multi-band compression. Compare and contrast mixing techniques employed by engineers and producers from diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Styles of mixing including jazz, classical, country, rock, hip-hop, electronica, etc. Example exercises featuring professional recordings and mixes. Understanding and applying mixing concepts such as balance, dimension, and monitoring. Deliver final mixes that translate accurately to various speaker systems and listening environments.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 81C.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Advanced mixing and mastering techniques with Pro Tools. EQ, compression, reverb, delays, and tempo maps as applied to all styles of music, including jazz, pop, rock, hip-hop, orchestral, and electronica. Compare and contrast mixing techniques employed by engineers and producers from diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Apply critical listening to mixes and enhance mixes with automation, audio plug-ins, and external hardware equipment. Use multi-band compression and advancing audio processing in mastering. Study mixes of professional audio engineers and recording artists. Prepare to work in commercial production facilities and apply these techniques in a home studio. Learn professional collaboration workflows, file management, and delivery to a wide range of formats, including CD, DVD, MP3, and internet streaming. Although this course uses Pro Tools, the concepts and techniques can be applied to any digital audio workstation (Logic, Cubase, etc.) or any traditional analog mixing console.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 81G.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Recording, editing, and mastering sound for games and interactive multimedia. Working with dialog, scripts, sound effects, Foley, ambient backgrounds, loops, elastic audio, tempo matching, digital processing, and plug-ins. Producing game music, layering, splicing, mixing cinematic audio. Deliver game audio formats to commercial players and end users. Hands-on experience with examples of game audio production soundtracks and workflows that reflect the viewpoints of various races, ethnicities, and gender backgrounds. Part of Avid Pro Tools Certification training program.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 82F or 84A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Creating, editing, and mixing audio for film and video. Understanding aesthetic qualities of sound effects and music as they relate to story. Recording original sound elements and using commercial sound libraries. Editing, layering, and processing sound elements to create complex sound effects. Synchronizing audio to video using a digital audio workstation. Basics of mixing and mastering finished soundtracks for digital distribution.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MDIA 81B, MUS 81B or VART 81B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Introduction to Pro Tools with Avid Certification training material. Basic audio editing tools and techniques, plug-ins, and mixing in the Pro Tools environment. Build sessions that include multitrack recordings of live instruments, MIDI sequences, virtual instruments, audio loops, and beats. Practical experience with examples from major label recording artists and feature films that reflect diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Understanding menus, windows, preferences, and system configurations for Pro Tools in home studios and professional facilities. Introduction to automation, dialog editing, and audio post production for film and video. Required for Avid Pro Tools Certification.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 82A.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Pro Tools production concepts and techniques with Avid Certification training material. Recording, editing, routing audio, and MIDI data. Managing Pro Tools sessions, using virtual instruments, plug-ins, loop recording, Elastic Audio, Beat Detective, and music notation. Conform loops and beats to any tempo. Introduction to control surfaces, automation modes, and signal path workflows. Practical applications with examples from professional recording artists, including pop, rock, jazz, and hip-hop that reflect diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Create tempo maps, meter changes, and transpose key signatures. Required for Avid Pro Tools Certification.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 82B.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Avid Pro Tools Certified training material covers concepts and skills needed to operate Pro Tools in a professional recording studio environment. Introduction to Pro Tools HD system configurations. Pro Tools HD features, including control surfaces, automation, advanced editing, mixing, hardware set-up, and session management. Practical examples and experience with exercise files from professional music, film, and TV productions that reflect diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Required course for Avid Pro Tools Operator Level Certification. Prepares for enrollment in Pro Tools 300 Expert Level Certification courses.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 82C.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Avid Pro Tools Certified course completes skills needed to operate sophisticated Pro Tools systems in professional music production environments. Music production techniques, composing with MIDI, loop editing, sampling in Pro Tools, Beat Detective, drum replacement and augmentation, final mixing and mastering. Collaborate workflows between home studios and commercial recording facilities. Pro Tools keyboard shortcuts for increased efficiency. Practical examples and experience with exercise files from professional recording artists. Successful completion achieves Avid Pro Tools Operator Music Certification.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MUS 82D.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. 72 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description:
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability:
• Hours:
• Foothill GE Area:
• Transferability:
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note: