Jeff Crawford
Jeff Crawford is an associate professor of practice in the recording arts and music technology. Affectionately known by his students as Prof Jeff, he teaches at the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California. He is the Studio Manager for the Owen Hall Recording Studio and serves as chief audio engineer for the conservatory's record label, Pac Avenue Records.
Music, Production & Instruction
Music Synthesis
With over 45-years of electronic music experience, Prof Jeff’s collection of vintage analog synthesizers such as the ARP2600, Mini Moog Model D, Synton Modular System 3000, and Mini Moog Voyager XL, forms the foundation for his direction in electronic music composition.
Audio Recording
From stereo sound-on-sound to multi-track reel-to-reel recording, Prof Jeff’s time in the recording studio is extensive. Although the magnetic tape is gone, advanced recording and microphone techniques play a crucial component to his audio production style.
Digital Audio Workstations
Prof Jeff uses a wide array of digital audio tools. The MIDI and audio sequencing program, Logic Pro X is his digital workstation of choice. He is also an accomplished teacher of Pro Tools. He creates ambient and soundscape music with Reason Studio and beats with Ableton Live.
Plug-ins
Prof Jeff uses many plug-in instruments and effects to shape the sound for his original compositions. These are “plug-ins” which are inserted directly into the audio signal path, offering a wide range of synthesized instruments and stereo-sonic textures.
Synthesizer Gallery
Musical Spaces
The Owen Hall Recording Studio (OHRS)
In the Owen Hall Recording Studio at the University of the Pacific in Stockton California where Prof. Jeff teaches and works, at his fingertips is the state of the art in audio recording hardware and software. From a mixing control surface such as the Avid C/24 and HD192 digital audio interface, to rather old-school analog 2-track tape machine and hardware MIDI synthesizers, the OHRS offers University students, faculty and staff, a professional recording environment for learning, recording and research.
Grand Piano Room
At the heart of a professional recording studio is a full size acoustic grand piano. Of course, nowadays the sound of the best pianos in the world are packaged into finite digitally sampled libraries. However, a real. live, acoustic grand piano is infinite in its sonic nature. Each time a key is pressed and a note sounds, that event is exclusive and will never occur again. The piano performance is one of a kind and unless it is recorded, it is gone forever.
Drum Studio
The foundation to pop music culture, from Benny Goodman to Lady Gaga, is the beat. Recording drums takes many hands and years of audio engineering experience. Knowing what mics to place on the drums, where to place them, and how many to even use, are crucial decisions to make as you consider the genre of music you are about to record. As the mics define the listeners perspective and not the musicians, balancing the sound heard in the control room’s studio monitors with that of the drummer’s performance concept is the art of recording drums.
My Own Home Studio
At home late at night, Prof. Jeff works in his home studio. His hardware tools are unique and their capability, endless. From the traditional piano style MIDI keyboards to advanced touch pad controllers, the hardware is only overshadowed by the powerful computer music software Prof. Jeff uses to design sound for poetry, videos, games, podcasts, and his personal music compositions.