Sound 101 is both an introduction to live audio engineering and an orientation to Vera Project’s methods and equipment. Topics covered include an introduction to microphones and mic placement, signal paths, stands, cables, DI’s, snake, sub-snakes and etiquette for working with bands.

Creating a good monitor mix is one of the most important skills for a live sound engineer to master. This advanced class will work with a live band in a low pressure environment. Subjects will include an introduction to Vera’s stage monitors, the basic ‘ringing out’ of monitors, EQing, gating, the techniques of creating clear monitor mixes and, if there’s time, an introduction to in-ear monitoring systems.

This intermediate class is designed to acquaint sound engineers with the Vera Project’s small PA used for poetry readings, acoustic shows, DJ sets or full blown rock shows with monitors.

The focus of this class will be two fold: learning how to use the outboard gear that will inevitably lead to the need to trouble shoot. Some of the topics covered: diagnosing and tracing out of a problem, signal flow, and what to do in an emergency.

This is the big one! A full two hours of mixing a live band in a low pressure environment beginning with the basics of mixing at the front of house board and ending with a full blown mix. Subject matter will include: Setting up for a mix, preamps, EQ settings, mixing styles, sound pressure levels, advanced outboard gear techniques and lots of critical listening.

You can book a private class for your friends, your classmates,  your high school jazz band,…whatevs.  You can book time to take any one or all of the classes we offer, or talk to us and our talented teaching staff can tailor one to your specific needs.

A companion to our Live Sound 101, Studio 101 is a two-hour introduction to the workings of Vera’s recording studio. Beginning with the basics, our professional studio engineers will explain Vera Studio’s mixing board, signal flow, and standard micing techniques as well as studio etiquette, organization and maintenance.

Put everything you learned in the Studio 101 to the test with a first person hands on recording experience. A short introductory class will be followed by the set up and recording of a live show on the Vera Project stage.

The final stage in multitrack studio recording is to create a 2 track mix of the songs. Getting a great mix is an art that sometimes takes years to master and this class is a great place to start.

Beginning with the 4-track recording craze of the late 80s/early 90s and continuing with the proliferation of inexpensive new microphones and digital recording programs, home recording has increasingly become the norm. Students will begin with basic old school analogue techniques and explain how to get good sounds with minimal mics and tracks.