The Experience
What to expect
During our 4-day song production masterclass, you’ll have unparalleled access to the skills and expertise of our team in the most iconic recording studio in the world. You’ll follow Haydn as he leads you through the different stages of producing and recording a song. The first 3 days will be spent in Studio Three where Florence and the Machine, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Frank Ocean and Liam Gallagher have all recorded. On the last day, you’ll move to Room 5 for mastering with Christian Wright, followed by a debrief in our Institute classroom to review and digest what you’ve learnt throughout the masterclass. The four days will cover:
Day 1 – Recording
- Introductions & meet the team
- Recording session set up – studio signal flow and patching, the recording path, console considerations.
- Lester Smith presents Abbey Road legendary microphone collection.
- Microphone selection, positioning, the recording path.
- Session management – Pro Tools templates
- Production considerations (tempo / use of click track / song mood, arrangement & dynamics)
- The recording path – console settings, EQ, dynamics, outboard, plug-ins
- Recording technique – drums, bass, guitar (acoustic and electric), keyboards (grand piano, synths, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes).
Day 2 – Recording
- String orchestration/arrangement workshop
- Percussion recording workshop
- Recording technique – lead vocals, backing vocals, strings (violin, cello), percussion.
- Session review
- The importance of the monitor mix
- Mix preparation
Day 3 – Mixing
- Session management / workstation (DAW) & desk configuration / project settings.
- Artistic considerations
- Gain staging & level balancing
- Monitoring
- Panning
- EQ (desk, plug-ins & outboard)
- Dynamics (compressors, gates, expanders, limiters, desk, plug-ins & outboard)
- Time-based effects (delay, reverb, chorus, phase, flange)
- Grouping/bussing
- Session automation
- Bus / mix-bus compression
- Mastering preparation
Day 4 – Mastering & Review
- Session preparation
- Expectation management
- Artistic considerations
- Technical considerations
- Mastering workflows
- Tools (monitors, eq, dynamics, limiting, converters)
- Technique
- Software v Hardware
- Vinyl mastering
- Deliverables
- Session review
- Q&A
The curriculum is fantastic, extremely comprehensive, contemporary and relevant to today’s industry.
Andrea Mastroiacovo, Graduate 2018
Applying for the diploma was the best thing I could have done for my career. I'm really amazed at how much I learnt in one year.
Lizzie Arnold, Graduate 2019
There is some real visionary foresight in Abbey Road Institute being established to preserve the cultural legacy of Abbey Road.
Youth (Paul McCartney, The Verve, Killing Joke)
I had an incredible experience. The staff have so much to offer and cover so many different areas of music.
Luke Glazewski, Graduate 2019
The course taught me what it means to be a producer and engineer in the industry, I learned things I couldn’t have learned anywhere else.
Marta Di Nozzi, Graduate 2019
It’s a unique experience in so many ways, the location, the calibre of guest lecturers and access to Abbey Road Studios for classes is pretty amazing. There aren't many places you get to record a full orchestra!
Jason O’Bryan, Lecturer
Come with an open mind and a voracious appetite to soak up the magic! Be prepared to work hard - you’ll get out what you put in.