Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC 4160
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Advanced Mixing and Mastering
Semester Approved: Spring 2023
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2027
End Semester: Fall 2028
Catalog Description: This course is an advanced study of the science and art of both mixing and mastering audio; covering mixing for different regions and genres as well as the history and current trends and practices of both mixing and mastering.
Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 1; Lab: 1
Repeatable: Yes.
Prerequisites: MUSC 3352 Audio Fundamentals II
Justification: Mixing and Mastering are topics that are covered in multiple of the Audio Fundamentals and Audio Production courses, but an advanced study of the complex blend of science and art that goes into both mixing and mastering is necessary to become a skilled mixing or mastering engineer.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Be knowledgeable of the history and techniques of mixing and mastering. Demonstrate knowledge of the history and techniques of mixing and mastering through objective written examinations.
Be knowledgeable of advanced EQ, Dynamics Processing, Time-Based Effects, and Reverb techniques. Demonstrate knowledge of advanced EQ, Dynamics Processing, Time-Based Effects, and Reverb techniques through lab participation and completion of various projects.
Be able to mix songs of different styles and genres. Demonstrate knowledge of mixing songs of different styles and genres through lab participation and completion of various projects.
Be familiar with various mixing techniques. Demonstrate knowledge of various mixing techniques through lab participation and completion of various projects.
Be familiar with various mastering techniques. Demonstrate knowledge of various mastering techniques through lab participation and completion of various projects.
Be able to do mastering for a single as well as a collection of songs. Demonstrate knowledge of mastering for a single versus a collection of songs through lab participation completion of various projects.
Be knowledgeable of advanced concepts such as dither, special processing, and summing. Demonstrate knowledge of advanced concepts such as dither, special processing, and summing through objective written examinations.
Content:
This course takes a deep dive into all of the specific aspects and areas of mixing and mastering. It covers the history, common practices and tried and true techniques. The topics covered apply and can be used in diverse musical styles, genres, and regional traditions. The projects are variable in order to cater to the diverse backgrounds and musical tastes of students, but additional projects may be presented to push students out of their comfort zones and into new and exotic styles and genres.• History of Mixing• Advanced EQ Techniques• Advanced Dynamics Techniques• Advanced Time-Based Effects Techniques• Advanced Reverb Techniques• Advanced Mixing Techniques• Submixes, Stems and Stacking• History of Mastering• Science vs Art• Summing and Gain Staging• Spatial Processing• Mastering a Single• Mastering an LP/Album• Advanced Mastering Techniques• Dither
Key Performance Indicators:
Student performance will be assessed through the participation in labs, completion of projects, and scores on examinations.
Lab Participation 20 to 40%
Projects 40 to 60%
Examinations 20 to 40%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Owsinski, Bobby. The Mixing Engineer's Handbook. Bobby Owsinski Media Group. 5th Edition
Pedagogy Statement:
Students will attend a one hour lecture each week in a classroom/computer lab and subsequently a one hour lab each week in a recording studio facility that has a quiet and acoustically treated control room optimized for mixing and mastering. The instructor will assign reading or video preparation for students to supplement or prepare for lectures. Students will be engaged with hands on labs to experience the concepts covered in the lectures. Information for the course will be presented in multiple overlapping methods including lecture, video, online content and hands-on labs to accommodate various learning styles.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 10
