Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC 4440
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Audio Fundamentals
Semester Approved: Spring 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2024
End Semester: Fall 2024
Catalog Description: This course focuses on the study of the fundamentals of sound and how it can be captured, manipulated, and reproduced. It includes the study of the history of recording and studio equipment, digital recording and other audio processing tools, as well as techniques for mixing and mastering. This course also begins the development of technical aural perception skills needed when making decisions pertaining to recorded or live music or audio.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 2; Lab: 1
Corequisites: MUSC 3350 Music Technology I – suggested corequisite
Justification: In order to be prepared for any career in music or audio, students (especially those studying Commercial Music) should have an understanding of the fundamentals of sound as well as how to capture and manipulate it. The timeless concepts covered in this course compliment the computer skills covered in MUSC 3350 and 3352 Music Technology I&II.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Be knowledgeable of the fundamentals of sound, acoustics, and psychoacoustics. Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamentals of sound, acoustics, and psychoacoustics through objective written examinations.
Be able to use technical aural perception skills to identify audio problems and solutions. Demonstrate technical aural perception skills to identify audio problems and solutions through completion of various projects.
Be familiar with the history of audio recording. Demonstrate a familiarity of the history of audio recording through objective written examinations.
Be familiar with the basic design layouts and equipment used in recording studios. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic design layouts and equipment used in recording studios through completion of various projects.
Be knowledgeable of digital audio, tracking, signal flow and routing, and mixer function. Demonstrate knowledge of digital audio, tracking, signal flow and routing, and mixer function through completion of various projects and through objective written examinations.
Be knowledgeable of microphones including types, polar patterns, and methods for use. Demonstrate knowledge of microphones including types, polar patterns, and methods for use through completion of various projects and through objective written examinations.
Be knowledgeable of equalization, dynamics processors, reverb, delay, time-based effects and how they are used in mixing. Demonstrate knowledge of equalization, dynamics processors, reverb, delay, time-based effects and how they are used in mixing through objective written examinations.
Be able to use equalization, dynamics processors, reverb and delay to complete a balanced mix of a multi-track recording. Demonstrate the ability to use equalization, dynamics processors, reverb and delay to complete a balanced mix of a multi-track recording through completion of various projects.
Be knowledgeable of mastering and its role in the audio production process. Demonstrate knowledge of mastering and its role in the audio production process through objective written examinations.
Content:
• Basics of Sound• Auditory Function• Acoustics• Psychoacoustics• History of Recording• Studio Design• Studio Equipment• Audio Production Process• Digital Audio • Tracking (Audio Recording)• Signal Flow and Routing• Mixer Function• Microphones• Equalization• Dynamics• Reverb• Delay• Time-Based Effects• Mixing• Mastering
Key Performance Indicators:
Student performance will be assessed through the completion of lab assignments, projects, and scores on examinations.
Lab Assignments 10 to 30%
Projects 20 to 40%
Examinations 40 to 60%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Modern Recording Techniques (Current Edition) by David Miles Huber,
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be delivered in a class room for the lecture portion and a recording studio facility for the lab portion. The instructor will employ a combination of lecture and hands-on demonstration to cover the concepts and show the techniques necessary for the students to know the information contained in the examinations and to complete the assignments and projects. Students will attend a one hour lab once per week in a recording studio facility that has the capability to record elements with microphones, demonstrate mixing techniques, and play back auditory examples over quality speakers and/or headphones.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 30
Optimum Class Size: 20
