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:

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This course is entirely offered 100% online, but Lab sessions are synchronous (you need to be able to attend online at the posted times). 


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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 (video, cinema), art installation, 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. They will gain substantial knowledge of the historical and theoretical underpinnings of contemporary sound design practice.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Outcomes

Students will acquire the knowledge and skills to develop their 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 Reaper
• Sound project sequencing and mixing using Reaper 
• Sound project mastering using Reaper
• Interactive sound design
• Sound synthesis and digital audio signal processing
• Interface design and prototyping for an interactive sound project 

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

SIAT/SFU provides the following resources for this class (subject to accessibility, i.e. COVID): Computer Lab (Mac Os), ProTools, M-audio interfaces, Reaper, Max, solid-state recorders, microphones, mini discs. For online offering, it is also possible to proceed with your own computer with Reaper and your own gears or that of our Library.

The students have to acquire their own headphones - Each student should acquire, and work with a pair of monitoring headphones. By monitoring, we mean with as neutral a frequency response as possible. Ask the retailer for monitoring headphones. These are not more expensive than other types of headphones and can be used beside the class. These headphones should be circumaural headphones, that is having circular or ellipsoid earpads that fit around the ears (preferably closed rather than semi-open to minimize the interference of background noise). Earplugs are not acceptable are they have been shown to be more likely to damage hearing (so, no in-ear technology).

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: