Dub Studio offers lectures and seminars to academic institutions and private event organisers. They can be tailored for a specific group and can be as in-depth or light-hearted as they need to be. They include practical demos using a variety of media, including pictures and films, as well as software and of course, vinyl. Recent work includes a seminar for Confetti studios in Nottingham, a lecture for ATM in Bristol and a guest spot for Beat Clinic in London.A lecture usually takes 45-90 minutes and includes photos, videos and practical demonstrations of various aspects of dubplate cutting, mastering and vinyl pressing. The topics can be arranged in advance, but a typical lecture would include:
- the job of a cutting engineer
- vinyl today
- facts, figures and formats
- two channels from one groove
- preparing a vinyl pre-master
- tools of the trade
- how a mastering lathe works
- M/S mastering (elliptical EQing)
- de-essing
- metering and monitoring
- how vinyl is made
- processing (metalwork)
- pressing
Areas not covered in this list can be added by request, and there is usually a Q&A at the end. Lectures can also be tailored to the specific needs of a group, and students can submit material to be cut to dub prior to the lecture at a favourable rate.
Seminars cover many of the same topics as the lectures but last 2-3 hours (with breaks). The aim is to give room for discussion with students, going into greater depth about the technical, practical and commercial aspects of vinyl. There is more of a focus on engaging students in problem solving, decision making and best practices while taking a closer look at the tools of the cutting engineer's trade and the role of vinyl in today's record label.
