The Department of Telecommunications' renowned list of immersive-learning projects lengthened this summer with the addition of an audio production project. The ten-week project consists of four students, Aaron Bettinger, Matthew Rector, Aaron Newport and Sheila Plank, who are working together to produce the first album under the university's newest record label, Frog Baby Records. The new label is designed to act as commercial studio, engineered in the TCOM department, and is likely to become an essential component of the department.
Instructor of telecommunications Stanley Sollars was the visionary behind the latest immersion program. Sollars wanted an audio production program to become an integral part of the department, similar to the established TCOM programs such as Newslink Indiana, Cardinal Filmworks and WCRD-FM.
Sollars' intention of the program is to produce a full-length album for a local band and release it electronically (most likely via iTunes) as well as create a Web site to give the band an online presence. His goal for establishing the band's online presence is to give them promotional opportunities and groundwork to build from.
However, the basis of the program remains on education. The first couple of weeks consisted of a review and classroom work. "It must have classroom focus and training within the walls," Sollars explained, "but we also need outside connections and immersion." Students will be able to benefit from real, professional experience and continue to learn different aspects of the audio production process first hand.
Sollars left it up to the students to choose the local band they wanted to produce an album for. He recommended the students have full control over the decision-making process to ensure they build a positive relationship with the band and enjoy the overall experience.
"Music is about telling a story in each song," Sollars said. "Getting to know the band and establishing a relationship helps to translate that story."
The students decided to go with local, four-part instrumental band Catch Curtis. Sollars approved of the students' choice, noting their "harmonious relationship" and the likelihood of a successful outcome. He explains that music is created out of joy, and it's all about finding a balance.
"The band is the talent. You do everything you can do to support and protect the talent, and its much easier if you enjoy it," Sollars said. "If you look out for one another, and do things properly, it allows freedom and a positive experience."
Once the band was chosen, the students spent three weeks and countless hours recording the band's raw tracks. After all the tracks were recorded, the mixing and mastering process began. The students hope to be finished early this week, and once the mastering of the tracks is complete, they will create a Web site for the band and make the tracks available for online distribution.
The TCOM recording studios are of professional caliber and will provide students with experience they can apply to their future careers. "Nothing beats experience," Sollars said, "it may be small - but it's worthy."
As one of the student audio production engineers, Bettinger was enticed by the opportunity the project presented to gain "real world" experience. The process the band and students are following mirrors that of professional commercial studios.
"I love the community involvement aspect," Bettinger said. "Everyone involved is getting an extreme learning process. We all get to see what it is going to be like in the future, when we're doing it professionally."
The long hours of work and quick deadlines have been a challenge for students. The intensity of attempting to complete such an extensive project in the short Summer Semester has been a difficult, but rewarding experience. The summer's format will help to set groundwork for the development of similar projects in the future.
"If I had the chance, I would be involved in this project over and over again," Bettinger said. "I am honored to be in the first group of students to complete this program and it will continue to benefit other students that get involved in the future. It has refined my skills and inspired me to do even more audio production work."
The program is done primarily on goodwill, receiving little funding from the university. Sollars looks forward to expanding the program and aspires to make it a collaborative, interdepartmental program. Developing the program into a budgeted program and receiving funding to distribute physical albums is another prospective idea. Getting the necessary funding to produce physical albums remains a possibility for this summer's project as well.
However, copyright issues are an imperative aspect in audio production and students are also receiving insight into the legality aspects. "It's show business," Sollars said. "There is the show, and there is the business." Not only does he want the students to gain a better understanding of the business, but he also wants to educate the band in how to protect themselves and their intellectual property.
Because the album is being produced in Ball State facilities, the university will own rights to the album. The Ball State Innovation Corporation encompasses The Office of Technology Transfer, which handles all the patents, copyrights, trademarks, tangible research property issues and establishes royalty distribution.
Innovation Corporation President Michael Halbrook oversees intellectual property, technology transfer and commercialization at the university. He has had a major involvement in the creation of Frog Baby Records and continues to meet with the students and members of Catch Curtis to discuss the legalities concerning the ownership and distribution rights in regards to the album in production
Not only are Bettinger and the other student engineers benefiting from the project, but the members of Catch Curtis are as well. The band, consisting of three Ball State students and one Butler University graduate, has been together for a little over a year and are grateful for the opportunity to record for the first time.
"I wanted to get involved in the project because of the idea of being able to help everyone," drummer Nick Rapely said. "The students are learning through this process, and at the same time, we get the benefit of having a full-length album recorded. It's a really good symbiosis of helping each other out and it's just a really cool project."
Catch Curtis is a strictly instrumental band, and the high quality musicianship and individuality of each member allows them to create a sound from an eclectic combination of genres.
"The genre is kind of tough to get into, but I would describe it has jazz, funk, latin-fusion, rock, hip-hop, techno," Rapely explains. "It's everything rolled into one - but tastefully done, that's the key."
"We get really psychedelic sounding, with really crazy sounds," guitarist Josh Lockwood said. "But we always try to keep a groove - a dance, funk groove. So that no matter how weird or dissident things start to sound, it makes your head bob. That's what we're going for."
The extensive studio time not only helped develop and improve the band's musicianship, but it also presented the band with the opportunity to tighten up compositions that needed a little more structure. The creation of a Web site will also help to increase promotion, while the quality of the TCOM's professional recording facilities has the potential to open a lot of doors for Catch Curtis.
"It helps to have a good recording in order to get gigs where you don't know people and you don't have any kind of in and where there is a lot of competition for the same playing spots," bassist Matt Parkison said. "It will help us get gigs and just make it to the next step of playing in venues outside of Muncie."
"Getting involved in this project will only allow us to further ourselves," keyboardist Ashton Kleemann said. "Being able to cut this album and get a Web site and iTunes page will bring our professional level up to a higher standard."
Sollars' implementation of the Frog Baby Records immersion project has provided TCOM students with another opportunity to expand on their classroom work and gain professional experience. The summer has been advantageous for both the student audio engineers and band members involved in the active learning process alike. The expansion and development of the program will continue to benefit students in the future and follow Ball State's mission to redefine education.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
