The Tuesday Tutor Series

Starting in February, TRAC will hold bi-monthly "mini-training" sessions focusing on specific topics like Beat Detective, Elastic Audio and Keyboard Shortcuts, to name just a few. These sessions will be open to any interested parties and we expect them to fill up fast! For more info call Caleb or Amy at 858 592 0556.

Happy New Year from TRAC and Studio West!

Our favorite little bits of 2009...

January -- A member of our staff celebrated a milestone birthday and we all gathered at the party, which turned out to be a private concert by Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket, Works Progress Administration)
February -- Pro Tools grads booked time in Studio West's edit suites, Studio C and Studio A, flexing their newly formed engineering muscles
March -- TRAC and Studio West kicked off the first meeting of the San Diego Pro Tools User Group and we spent the evening finding out "What's New and Great in Pro Tools 8"
April -- We closed the downtown room and refocused on our North County space, upgrading all the systems and giving the room a little more "vibe"
May -- Two more Pro Tools grads accepted internship positions at Studio West
June -- TRAC graduated it's first father/son Certified Music Operator team
July -- Another member of our staff proposed to his lovely girlfriend...and she accepted!
August -- We gathered two more outstanding engineers into the training fold and watched the stellar reviews come pouring in
September -- Audio Recording Techniques got an overhaul and an upgrade and eager students poured into Studio A to track live
October -- We logged our 150th Pro Tools class
November -- The new D-Control console was installed in Studio B, ICON Mixer classes started rolling, and everyone coveted the comfy new control room chairs
December -- We finalized plans for an all-HD training space and set the date to break ground.

Hope you have many of your own favorite moments of 2009 to recount...we'd love to hear about them!

Happy holidays from your friends at TRAC

The Top 10 Reasons to Train at TRAC

10. Learn all about recording audio in a working commercial studio.

9. Network with audio engineers, producers, artists and professional DJs.

8. All enrolled students get a discount at the Digidesign online store: 40% off Pro Tools LE and 50% off selected plug-ins. This discount is effective as soon as you register, and has no expiration date.

7. TRAC students are eligible for student discounts on McDSP plug-ins and bundles.

6. Pro Tools 110 includes a free Digidesign plug-in, and there are 5 to choose from.

5. Edit Suites at Studio West are available to students to use for practice or to work on their independent projects.

4. Signal Processing with Waves includes 5 free plug-ins: Renaisance EQ, Renaissance Compressor, C1 Parametric Compander, Renaissance Reverb and Super Tap.

3. TRAC students enjoy deep discounts on studio time at Studio West.

2. When an internship position needs to be filled at Studio West, TRAC students are considered first.

...and the number one reason to train at TRAC:

1. Didn't get it the first time around? Come on back and take the class again...for FREE.

Pictures of the Reconstruction

Studio B is complete and fabulous, sporting a shiny new D-Control...

...and Studio C is next! Then we break ground on our second, HD-dedicated training room. Nothing so constant as change! More pics coming soon....

Now enrolling! Pro Tools 205: D-Command

This 1-day course covers techniques for mixing, routing and monitoring through a D-Command control surface.

Here's what you will learn:

- Control surface basics: configuring the control surface, track display control and dedicatedcontrols for Pro Tools functions
- Track basics: track elements and controls, Digidesign PRE and the control surface
- Displays/scribble scripst, encoders, pans, sends and inserts: pan contraols, assigning inserts, sends and I/Os, send control
- Controlling plug-ins: viewing and editing plug-ins, plug-in mapping
- Automation: enabling automation modes with the control surface, writing autiomation with the control surface
- Advanced operation and editing: creating and adjusting selections with the control surface, edit functions, soft keys
- Groups and VCAs: grouping tracks, VCA control, VCA Master Track attributes
- Custom faders: Custom Fader Groups mode, Mix/Edit Groups mode, Masters (Tracks) mode
- Advanced automation techniques: Preview and Capture modes
- Monitor controls: inputs and outputs, cue section, monitor control switches and indicators, talkback section

Coming soon...ICON certification!

From the Digidesign website:

The Digidesign® ICON integrated console environment has become the most in-demand mixing platform at major post-production and music recording facilities around the world, and if you’re looking to move your ICON skills way ahead of the pack, now’s the perfect time to become a Certified ICON Mixer.

Digidesign is introducing a new educational program that offers in-depth, hands-on ICON D-Control™ training by Digidesign-certified ICON instructors (that's us! :). Pro Tools® 310I: Advanced ICON Mixing Techniques provides proper comprehensive training, allowing you to gain invaluable insight and knowledge of ICON, the D-Control worksurface, and its integration with Pro Tools. It will also quickly elevate your ICON skills to a level that typically takes much longer when self taught. Plus, you’ll acquire all of the expertise necessary to unleash the creative power of ICON as you shape and sharpen your skills for prime time in the industry.

Stay current with industry trends and technologies by signing up for ICON training today.

Check the schedule at tracsd.com for course dates!