A class for music lovers

Every Friday morning, Professor Devin Measom spends his time teaching his TVR 103A and 103B classes, not from behind a desk at PCC, but from a state-of-the-art recording studio in Sierra Madre. His students are part of a hands-on intensive course that teaches advanced audio recording techniques in a very "out of the classroom" environment.

Professor Measom, a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, instructs students on multi-channel recording techniques, studio set-ups, multi-track mixing systems and editing.

The unique setting provides an unmatched learning environment that actually puts students in a real studio to learn the skills used in the industry today, according to Measom.

The studio itself is fully equipped with the most modern technology that provides many of the music-loving students an opportunity to use professional equipment that they could otherwise only dream of.

All the equipment used by students in the class is the most modern and Measom explains that the technology is new and has not been in use that long. "When I was in school this technology wasn't there," he said.

Students master important basics, such as microphone placement, before developing more complicated skills and learning the standard computer software.

Using a program called Digital Performer and an Apple computer, Measom is able to play a variety of different types of music tracks to demonstrate the different editing effects.

In a seemingly effortless manner, he masterfully creates perfect sound for his students to hear.

Nick Arreguin, a music engineering major said that the advanced audio recording techniques class "teaches you everything you need to know about studio work."

With a class size of only nine, the teacher is easily able to work one-on-one with his students.

Although Measom teaches students about modern recording equipment, he believes that his students should also be aware of the history of how the present world of recording equipment came to be.

"I try to show a little of how analog technology has transformed into digital technology," he said.

"It is even more difficult now to jump into [studio recording] because the digital technology is based on the analog technology," Measom said

According to Measom, "The music industry is always changing, and although there might not be the same types of jobs there once were with record companies, there are still people producing music and sound for movie tracks, video games, and even commercials.