Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduction to theory and practice of sound design. Explores sound's relationship to moving images, installation, performance, video games, user interfaces and Web sites. Includes audio production, post-production, mixing and mastering, beginning programming for digital signal processing, sound synthesis and sound interaction.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description: This course introduces the theory and practice of sound design. Beyond sound as a medium (music and audio art), we will explore the plasticity of sound and its relationship to other media, including moving images, installation, performance, video games, user interfaces and Web sites.  Students will develop their skills and aesthetic sensibilities through course projects, while gaining a conceptual and historical understanding of the role of sound as a media.

Course Objectives: The overall goal of the course is to give students the tools and skills to develop their own sound design projects; whether it is a pure sonic project, a sound track for video or sound design for an interactive media. Through experiential learning, students will gain proficiency in audio production, post-production, mixing and mastering and will be introduced to programming for digital signal processing, sound synthesis and sound interaction in MAX. While doing so, students will learn about the historical and theoretical underpinnings of contemporary sound design practice.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Outcomes:
Students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to develop their own sound design projects. In particular, students will learn basic but operational knowledge in:
-       Sound recording using solid state recorders and a variety of microphones
-       Sound editing using ProTools
-       Sound project sequencing and mixing using ProTools
-       Sound project mastering using ProTools
-       Sound synthesis programming using the MAX visual programming language
-       Sample manipulations and digital audio signal processing using MAX
-       Interface design and prototyping for interactive sound project using MAX

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Computer Lab (Mac Os), ProTools, MAX, M-audio interfaces, solid state recorders, microphones, mini discs and headphones.  

Headphones - Each student should acquire and bring to the laboratory, a pair of monitoring headphones. By monitoring, we mean with a neutral frequency response. Ask the retailer for monitoring headphones. These are not more expensive. These headphones should be circumaural headphones, that is having circular or ellipsoid ear pads that fit around the ears. It would have the choice, preferably closed rather than semi-open to minimize the interference of background noise. Earplugs are not acceptable (no in-ear technology) in this class as they have been shown to damage the ears and do not allow for goof sound design work.

REQUIRED READING: