THE ABC PROGRAM (next session TBA, 2012)
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL
| Travel to Chicago | New recruits arrive for boot camp in Freddie's Chicago studio. |
| Welcome (Evening) | Welcome to ABC! Meet your fellow recruits, have a drink, and get prepared for boot camp. Discuss your goals for the week and receive your ABC Survival Kit. |
DAY 2 - BASIC TRAINING
| Plan of Attack | Introduction to the recording process. What are we trying to accomplish? What are YOU trying to accomplish? |
| Campaign Management | Together we'll mentally walk through what it takes to make a successful recording. We'll dispel common misconceptions, and give you instant money-saving tips. Discussions will flow from experience, and follow along with Freddie's book On-Time and On-Budget. |
| Liability Avoidance | Making an album always involves some legal considerations. Dave walks you through copyright, arrangements, licensing, Harry Fox, and beyond. |
| Marketing, PR, and Distribution | Once you have an album, then what? Freddie walks through the world of physical and digital distribution, while Dave shares professional insights on frequently overlooked marketing and publicity. |
| Tour of Duty | Get a personal tour of Freddie's state-of-the-art a cappella recording studio. |
| Your Own Gear | Not everyone has a world-class studio at their disposal. We'll show you how to select the right pieces of equipment, setup an actual small recording setup, and then show you how to use it. |
| First Drills | We'll set up a new tracking session, set up guide tracks, and start making some music! |
DAY 3 - FIELD TRIP & PHASE I
| Visit Shure Headquarters | Take a brief recording-focused tour the Shure microphones facility. Learn about the technology that makes you sound good, and how you can best use it. |
| Fundamentals | Return to the studio to continue tracking our project song. Learn how to get energetic takes from your singers. The recording process will be ultra interactive. Any question is fair. |
DAY 4 - PHASE II
| Aim & Shoot | Now that you know your gear and how to handle the artillery, you'll finish tracking the project song. |
| Precision | With your parts now tracked, it's time to learn about editing. |
| Advanced Training | We'll discuss all you need to know about the mixing process. What can you do on your own? How do you pick a mixer? What goes into mastering? |
| Active Duty | The studio is all yours! Freddie and Dave leave you alone to make your own music. |
DAY 5 - FINAL DISCHARGE
| Evaluation | Freddie and Dave return to help edit and mix your studio creation. Final Q&A session. |
| Graduation | Now armed and prepared, you'll be honorably discharged. |
| Travel Home | After a final lunch, the soldiers return home to take their skills into the field. |