Recital Recordings

Classical recital recordings are made with an install stereo pair, jazz with multi-microphones, using high quality preamps and converters, and operated by professional staff and trained student workers.

DMA and masters degree recitals must be recorded for accreditation.

Events are automatically imported from Roomview to this site about 30 days out. You can now check our calendar a month out to see if your recording request is on our schedule.

• The event type (DMA, Ensemble...etc) is what determines if the event will be automatically scheduled for recording, or require a $75 payment to be scheduled. In both situations an email notification will sent or you can check your site account.
• If the event is not paid within 2 weeks ahead of the event, the recording is cancelled.
• Event requets under 2 weeks are no longer recorded (no more late fee).

Automatically Recorded and do not require additional fees:

• Ensemble
• Faculty
• DMA
• Masters
• Senior

Require Roomview Recording Checkbox, and a $75 Fee

• Guest Artsts (with recording release)
• Non Degree
• Junior
• ...Anything else.

2-Week Deadline

1. We will not schedule new recitals with less than 2 weeks before a concert a recording.
2. Cancelling or no-show under 2 weeks will forfit any payments, including degree recital fees, and will be required to be paid before the next recital. A new recital event that requires this fee will not be scheduled until the fee has been paid.

Available Recording Spaces:

• Voertman (254)
• Recital (301) Pending Install
• Kenton (282)
• Organ Recital (253)
• MEIT (1001) Pending Install
• Choir Room (230) Pending Install
• MU 258
• MU 232
• MU 263
• - Winspear [organ & ensembles only]
• - Lyric [opera only]
• *Main Aud [organ]

These are the rooms with connectivity to our control room. If the room you would like is not on this list, please send us an email beforehand. We do not record outside of Main Music & MPAC.

*Main Aud is available, though we need advanced notice since we have to transport gear to the space, and a limited amount of staff know how do this.

After your Concert

Turn Around Time is within the week and will show online through the Archive portion of this site. You should receive an email when the recording is posted.

Check the recording for any technical issues, and please let us know as soon as possible. We hold the raw recording materials to re-edit from for only the current semester.

Missed Concert Policy

We have a killer 99.99% success rate. On average we miss 1 concert of about 500 a year due to scheduling or student worker mistakes, and with our automation systems we shouldn't ever miss one. However if a recital is missed due to a mistake on our end we offer a refund for any added services and credit towards a future recital or session. We always recommend running a recorder in the hall, both for redundancy and practice for the future.

Faculty Access to Degree Recitals

Faculty have unrestricted access to this archive and all the recordings we make.

Jazz Recital Recording

Jazz recitals are recorded using a variety of studio-grade microphones, direct boxes, pre-amplifiers and digital converters. With the available time before the recital we ensure all microphones are placed correctly, to capture the instrument accurately, and discreetly so as not to disturb the audience or musicians sight-lines. We record between 8 and 16 channels depending on the ensemble. After, the recital is mixed and edited by a professional staff engineer. The fee is the standard $75 recital charge, or otherwise covered through course fees for degree recitals.

Before Your Recital

The more information we have about a recital the easier it is for us to plan and staff the event. We like to know:

• Who is performing? A jazz arranging student showcasing music for multiple ensembles requires a different set-up than a trio or quartet.
• What is the stage layout? Is the rhythm section stage left or right? Do performers from the horn section walk up front to take solos?
• Any special considerations?

Recording Services does not provide live sound reinforcement. Please contact Ermir Bejo for support for the Music Building and Derek Miller for the MPAC.

Direct Boxes

In addition to miking the instrument or amplifier, in most cases it is helpful to capture a direct feed from certain instruments; these include upright and electric bass, electric keyboards and electric guitars. This direct feed gives us a “clean” track of the instrument free of bleed from the rest of the ensemble. In post this allows us to boost these instruments without affecting the rest of the band, producing a tighter rhythm section and a cleaner mix. In your career you will be asked to use direct boxes for live and studio work so it’s beneficial to be familiar with them and comfortable with their use. Here we use the Rupert Neve DI. A studio-grade direct injection box designed to accurately capture a wide range of sources. You can read more about it here.

If your amplifier has a direct out line or you have a DI of your own and you would prefer to capture that instead, let us know as early as possible.

Remember this is a live recording and not a studio session. It captures what happens during the live concert and there are more limited of what can be done afterwards than in a studio. We can adjust some balance between mics, but mics will hear other sources ("bleed") and limit how much adjustment can be made before it becomes noticeable.

After Your Recital

Mixing and editing is completed two to three business days after your event and tracks will be available for download from the archive after that. Multi-track files are available upon request through Dropbox.

Student Recording Sessions

There are three steps to booking a session with us: #1 book the hall, #2 pick a service and #3 let us know about it (recordingservices@unt.edu).

1. Book Hall Time

Find a time on Roomview and reserve it with the scheduling office.

It must:

• Be within building hours.
• Minimum of 1 hour.
• Work within the hall rules below.

When the event request is reviewed by Laura in the Scheduling Office, she will confirm with Recording Services if we are recording that session. For us to answer Yes, complete the next two steps.

2. Select a Recording Service Type

We offer different types of services for recording sessions.

3. Contact Us

recordingservices@unt.edu is the fastest way to get in touch.

We charge only for tracking time, and payment is due before the files are released.

Archive Policies and Retention

Recitals and ensemble events are made available for download and streaming only through this online archive.

Anyone with an EUID (university ID) can access the archive. The login is required both for keeping usage limited to academic use for copyrighted musical works, and as a college policy. Parents, family, employers...etc can not be given a login. Students should not give their login out per UNT policy.

Ensemble performances may be posted on Youtube publicly after a copyright review for the musical work, and approval from the ensemble director for performance quality. We take requests!

Materials in the archive are kept for about 5 years depending on storage, and upgrade requirements. All degree and ensemble material is archived in the Willis Library and their online system. Their system likewise requires an EUID to access recording material, however their web portal does not provide a download option and the Library does not make duplications.

I Graduated Many Years Ago, How Do I Get A Copy of My Recital?

First try your EUID if you have one.

If your recital was within the last 5 years or so we may have a local copy to put on Dropbox for you. This is only for your recital, and we can not distribute ensemble material this way.

If your recital was more than 5 years ago you have to visit the Willis Library. We do not have a copy of it local at the College. They may or may not be allowed to distribute the event you are looking for. Recitals recorded to hard media like discs and tape may need to be converted first. To search their database, head here.

We do not have the equipment to make digital transfers like analog reel to reel tape.

Copyrights

UNT retains ownership of the master recording for recordings we make. Our license and policies to use those recoridngs are divided up between ensemble recordings, and recital/session recordings.

Ensemble Recordings

The College of Music's policy on ensemble recordings is that clips be posted on the official Youtube channel, or any other official account, and pass through a set of approvals and permissions. For example, ensemble directors approve, and any guest artists must approve with a formal release given prior to the performance. Some exceptions are made, such as students performing concertos or conductor cameras. Always ask us prior to posting ensemble concert footage or run the risk of takedowns.

Paid downloads of an ensemble performance gives you the license to keep and watch the recording for personal use, but not to redistribute the recording publicly.

Recital Recording

If you are the primary musician in the recital you have permission from the department to post and distribute your recital recording, audio and video, as you wish. We advise you to follow all musical copyrights and artist permissions before posting recordings. Please keep in mind that musical copyrights for publicly posting or distributing recordings are not covered by the university.