Gus Dudgeon Foundation Audio Engineering Course

Latest News from the J.A.M.E.S Certified Gus Dudgeon Foundation Post Graduate Audio Engineering Summer Course 2012

22/06/12: Sonic Distribution sponsor The Gus Dudgeon Foundation For Recording Arts Post Graduate Audio Engineering Summer Course being held in the Gus Dudgeon Studio Suite at the University of Glamorgan’s Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries from the 15th to the 21st July 2012. "We are delighted to be supporting JAMES, The Gus Dudgeon Foundation and the UK’s top graduating students from JAMES accredited audio engineering courses with this inspiring education initiative." comments Jeremy Lumsden, Sonic Distribution Marketing Director.

13/07/12: Sonic Distribution crossed the Severn Bridge this morning with over £20,000 of recording studio gear for next week's session including an sE Munro Egg 150 System (guess which box!), 2 x stereo pairs of sE Rupert RN17 mics, 2 x sE RNR1 Active Ribbon, a Rupert Neve 5024 Quad Mic Pre, a Rupert Neve Master Buss Processor, a sE Gemini II valve mic, a stereo pair of sE4400a multi-pattern mics, an sE T2 Titanium mic (very fast transient response, great for percussion!) and two sE Voodoo VR1.

15/07/2012 - Day One

By 10am the session was underway with sE Rupert Neve RNR1 and RN17 mics on the kit. Can you see the sE Munro Egg speaker lurking behind the glass?

You may notice an sE Munro Egg, both the Rupert Neve 5024 Quad Mic Pre and Master Buss Processor in the picture below and a wooden Rhino! 

15/07/2012 - Day Two

Phil Harding comments: "The basic backing track of Tereza's 'Robert Song' was successfully laid down yesterday (Monday) with great performances from Ben Haines on Drums - Matt Waddell on Bass - Greg Fitch on electric guitar - Gill Edwards on keyboards and Tereza on acoustic guitar and guide vocals."

"It was a tough day technically as coaxing the wonderful Gus Dudgeon MCI JH500 desk is not easy when working for such a full line up, even after being lovingly restored by the Glamorgan University team - lead by Dan Turner - it still often needs multiple 'hits' on various pots and buttons to get a clean signal to tape......"

"The Rupert Neve RN17's have been brilliant on drums for HH and on the acoustic guitars. The RNR1's also wonderful as a front pair on the drums. The sE Munro Egg monitors have been a treat to work on so far.."

What is the Gus Dudgeon Foundation Post Graduate Audio Engineering Summer Course?

The course is open to the top graduating student from each J.A.M.E.S (Joint Audio Media Education Support) approved audio engineering courses in the UK. The course is led by music producer Phil Harding who has been responsible for major hits with Depeche Mode, Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys to name but a few. Upon successfully completing the audio engineering course, each student will earn 10 credits valued at Masters level, and they will also receive a JAMES certificate. The "student-of-the-week" will also WIN an sE microphone of their choice. There will be plenty of opportunity for the nine competing students to use sE Electronics and sE Rupert Neve mics during the week as their task will be to record just one song (vocals, acoustic instruments, percussion, drums, strings and more) with artist Tereza. If the "student-of-the-week" decides that an award-winning studio monitoring system is likely to be more beneficial to the development of their audio engineering career (and obviously their personal recording studio!)  than microphones such as the Rupert Neve RNR1, then they can choose to take home the sE Munro Egg 150 Monitoring System as their prize!

Gus Dudgeon Studio Suite Gear Provided by Sonic Distribution

In the mic cupboard are 2 x sE Rupert Neve RN17 Stereo Pairs (three times Grammy nominated Producer / Recording Engineer, Ken "Pooch" Van Druten, is currently using the RN17 on hi-hat and bottom ride on Linkin Park Tour - wonderful picture here), 2 x sE Rupert Neve RNR1 Ribbons, the sE Electronics Gemini II Dual Valve, a sE4400a Stereo Pair (as used by Producer Rik Simpson on piano for Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto - find out more here),  the sE Electronics T2 Titanium and the sE Voodoo Ribbon (currently being used on all guitar amps on current Linkin Park tour by Ken "Pooch" Van Druten). The sE Munro Egg 150 will be on monitoring duty and Rupert Neve Designs mic pre-amps and compressors are in the rack poised for a busy week including the Rupert Neve 5024 Quad Pre-Amp and the Rupert Neve Master Buss Processor (read Audio Media Rupert Neve Master Buss Compressor review here). Pictures, videos, audio clips, gear reviews and sound engineering tips and techniques from the 'Tereza' session will be shared 'live' on the Sonic Distribution website and social media channels including Recording Community, Sonic Twitter and Sonic Google Plus.

University of Glamorgan’s Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries

The Gus Dudgeon Suite is situated in the University of Glamorgan’s Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries. Jim Barrett and Dan Turner from the University are hosting this education initiative. Jim Barrett is a Principal Lecturer and Head of the Division of Music and Sound. Jim has a PhD from London Metropolitan University, is a member of the British Forum for Ethnomusicology and the Association for the Study of the Art of Record Production, and performs regularly with Wonderbrass. Jim Barrett was also a member of the original RePro Education Committee in 1998 that became the Music Producers Guild Education Committee on the formation of the MPG in 2000. Extensive work by that committee has led to the establishment of the Joint Audio Media Education Support group representing the music and sound industries in education. Starting in the mid-Nineties as runner/tea boy to Elvis Costello, Dan Turner has had an illustrious career that witnessed him work through brief assisting spells at Ridge Farm and Jacob’s Studios, eventually winding up as Chief Engineer at Parkgate; engineering records for the likes of Gary Moore, Suede, The Cardigans, Jack Bruce and the So-Solid Crew. Going freelance in 2002, Dan moved into his first love of Heavy Metal music, engineering / co-producing albums for the likes of Napalm Death, Therapy? and The Almighty, as well as engineering the first two records for Bullet for my Valentine (including the hit ‘The Poison’); the Grammy-nominated ‘Nymphetamine’ album for Cradle of Filth and working on various projects with members of Slipknot among many others.

Gus Dudgeon Foundation Post Graduate Audio Engineering Summer Course 2012

Which J.A.M.E.S Accredited Colleges Have Nominated Students and Who Are Their Top Graduating Audio Engineering Students?

Anglia Ruskin University – Cambridge / Student - David Kuratsu 

John Ward (Course Leader): "David has been the outstanding student in his year throughout his degree.  He is highly enthusiastic about all things audio and has developed excellent sound engineering skills in his time here at Anglia Ruskin. He is never afraid to experiment and has successfully carried out a number of really challenging recording assignments.  He sets himself extremely high standards in all aspects of his work. He is also a very capable electronics engineer and has built two mic preamps (one valve) and a combined moving magnet / moving coil phono preamp.  All of these are fully working and very good quality. David is also a talented mutli-instrumentalist and his playing and singing have featured on some of his own recordings and many of those by his peers. He thoroughly deserves this great opportunity."

Glamorgan University - Cardiff / Student - Ifan Jones 

Gwilliam Jones (Course Leader): "Hailing from Bala North Wales, Ifan will have just turned 22 at the start of the Summer School.  He is just about to graduate with a 1st class honours degree in Sound Technology (with welsh opportunities). This is the bi-lingual pathway through the honours course in Sound Technology.  He has shown consistent improvement during the course which has resulted in him achieving this 1st class honours. He produced some excellent work in recording engineering, Sound for Film & Television, Project studio production and advanced sound synthesis.  He is a modest individual and it has been good to watch his confidence grow and him mature into a responsible and excellent student, well respected by staff and peers alike."

Coincidentally, Ifan Jones owns an sE4400a Stereo Pair. Ifan Jones: "I bought the sE 4400A mic pair in February and have been using them on a wide range of uses for both my university studies and personal projects. I've been using them as overheads on a number of tracks because they give a darker sound which I prefer on things like cymbals. I've also been using them on vocals and have regularly been choosing it over more expensive mics like the U87 because it tends to suit a number of male vocalists that have thinner, more raspy voices. Using them as a pair, i regularly use the in Mid-Side on acoustic guitars to get a very rich and open sound." Check out Ifan's band, Candelas, on soundcloud.

Buckinghamshire New University / Student  - Bartosz Piekarski 

Warren Bassett (Course Leader):  "Over the three years of his degree he has always managed to find interesting and unique projects to record. His final piece of work was an Irish folk singer who his has managed to produce a very commercial sound for. His practical skills and his thirst for gaining more experience are some of the reasons we would like to put him forward. I also think Bartosz may want to further studies in the future so this would help him see what he wants to do."

Northbrook College – Worthing / Student -  Nick Violet 

Course Leader (Paul King): "Recommended for his consistently high standard of work.  Nick has been with us for five years and demonstrated  insight and independence every stage of the way. It is predicted he will graduate this year with a first class honours degree."

Check out Nick Violet's website and soundcloud.

Leeds Metropolitan University / Student - Dijon Wall

Steve Parker (Course Leader): "Dijon has worked tirelessly throughout his degree to improve on all aspects of his recording practice. Dijon worked as part of a team to record a jazz quartet and produced a well-balanced and representative individual mix meeting the client’s expectations and requirements. Dijon has shown an outstanding positive attitude towards his practice, working well with his peers, external clients and seeking direction and feedback when necessary."

University of Abertay – Dundee /  Student - Ross Watson 

Peter O’Hare (Course Leader): "Ross Watson has managed to pursue his academic studies at the same time as engaging in his passion for Electronic Dance Music (EDM). He combined both elements for his Honours year project,investigating the history and evolution of EDM. He approached this with an enthusiasm that was infectious and a commitment that was admirable.Ross will certainly enjoy the opportunity to further his skills and experience."

University of West England – Bristol / Student – Adib Mehrabi

Stephen Allan (Course Leader): "I would like to nominate Adib Mehrabi for the summer course. He is showing excellent promise as a sound mixer and is also looking at a possible career in academia so he is ideal!"

LIPA – Liverpool / Student – Jonathan Sagis 

Jon Thornton (Course Leader): "Jonathan has consistently performed at or near the top of his class in the area of music production / engineering."

Coventry University / Student – John Campbell 

Mark Thorley (Course Leader): "John Campbell was chosen from the cohort at Coventry University for two reasons. Firstly, he has shown consistent and high quality achievement in modules related to recording and production. Secondly, he has demonstrated a high level of motivation towards being part of the Gus Dudgeon Summer School in order to develop his future work either for postgraduate study or employment."

Good Luck to all audio engineering students on the Gus Dudgeon Foundation Summer Course from Sonic Distribution.