Coming this fall...live sound and VENUE!

Starting this fall, TRAC will be offering classes and certification in VENUE. Pro Tools 110V and Pro Tools 210V will focus on the essential skills required to operate a VENUE system in a live sound environment through comprehensive, hands-on training on a VENUE D-Show or Profile control surface and cover system hardware as well as software configuration. Stay tuned for dates!

The Tuesday Tutor Series

February's "Tuesday Tutor" was a success! Caleb helped the group break Elastic Audio down into its basic components, and explained how to use it in everyday sessions. They learned how to fix the timing of drums, match loops to a session’s tempo, align vocal tracks, and change the phrasing of audio sections, all non-destructively with Elastic Audio.

Interested in joining us for the next meeting? Head over to sdptug.org and sign up!

New Music From The Latest Audio Recording Techniques Course

We just recently finished up our most recent Audio Recording Techniques (ART) course which meant we brought in a local band for the students to record. Once loaded into Studio A at Studio West, the boys from Echo Revolution wasted no time laying down the basic tracks for their song "Spring Time". The students did a fantastic job of tracking the band through the SSL 4000 series console into Pro Tools HD. Here is the rough mix of the song. You can check out the band on their website at www.echorevolution.com or on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/echorevolution.

Spring Time by Echo Revolution

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.