Journal article
Primary Sources in Music Production Research and Education: Using the Drexel University Audio Archives as an Institutional Model
Journal on the art of record production, (5)
01 Jul 2011
Abstract
With Drexel University in Philadelphia acquiring the Sigma Sound Studios Collection in June 2005, an opportunity arose to establish this resource as a basis for research into modern music production techniques, recording technology and archival techniques as they relate to multi-track audio recordings. Sigma Sound Studios was the paramount recording studio in Philadelphia from 1968 to 2003 and was instrumental in the creation of what became known as the 'Sound of Philadelphia'. Using this example as a model, this paper will outline how an educational institution can best preserve and use multi-track collections for music production research and will include examples from the collection as well as discuss the complications of keeping a commercial recording collection. The Sigma Sound Studios Collection consists of 6119 magnetic tape-based recordings in twelve different recording formats. These differing formats represent the evolution of modern music production. The collection starts in the late 1960's with analog 4-track and progresses through the 1990's to digital 48-track. With this breadth of formats, it is possible to study how advances in technology may have influenced the creative process of musicians, engineers and producers as they performed and adapted their art. Researchers of musicology and popular music will find having access to such a collection a valuable resource for the study of music, music technology and culture. With changes in the music industry and recording media, this paper will show how having primary sources for research can enhance the connection between music production and music technology. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
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Details
- Title
- Primary Sources in Music Production Research and Education: Using the Drexel University Audio Archives as an Institutional Model
- Creators
- Toby Seay
- Publication Details
- Journal on the art of record production, (5)
- Publisher
- Association for the Study of the Art of Record Production
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Arts and Entertainment Enterprise
- Identifiers
- 991022018781004721