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Winter Quarter 2023  
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what we will do

This course provides a foundation in the techniques of sound design, recording, production, and editing, for digital audio media. Students will understand the physics of sound, audio and audio editing terminology, and the digital processes used to transform sound. Students will both create and record sound files, and edit and produce a variety of multimedia audio elements using typical digital technology. Applicable uses include sound tracks for video/film, multimedia products for promotion and learning, musical entertainment products, web site enhancements, games, and virtual worlds.

Students will understand what makes a professional recording sound good, what to do if it sounds bad, and how to record sound correctly and eliminate noise, distortions and nasty room-effects.

Students will also create, or "design",sounds in software, apply processing effects such as EQ and compression, mix multi-track recordings, and produce audio products using current digital hardware and software.

Academic Integrity Policy. Academic integrity is the cornerstone of the university. Any student who attempts to gain unfair advantage over other students by violating the Academic Integrity Policy, may be reported to the university, and may receive serious sanctions.

 
 

 

No textbook is required. Web resource links are provided, along with weekly study/review questions. (An excellent text to accompany the course is: Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles and Robert E Runstein.)

Note that the weekly links below are likely to change or be updated, week to week. So please check the current links each week.

week 1 module 1
Actual ocean storm sound (included only as an interesting reference.)  
Ocean Storm Captain's Dialog

Examples of well-recorded and mixed music to help you try out your headphones.

assigned web resource reading links (the same as found on the left menu and in Canvas)

week 2 module 2
Assignment 1 dialog audio track   
And notice the sound library links in the left menu, for doors, footfalls, etc.
Example sample of Assignment 1

Goulet Tracks
Sinatra Tracks

week 3 module 3
Possible assignment files
1. Congas with fan noise
2. New Zealand Birds noise 
3. Waitress #1 recording
4. Classical guitar with noises   
5. Rough ad AppApp dialog to edit

examples: clipping
examples: formants Female
examples: formants Male
example: OneTwoDecibelChanges -1+1-2+2+3 dB

tracks used for demonstration:
Drum Track,
Silent Sound With Latch

week 4 Module 4
Musical background pads for assignment 2
Web resource links
Demo moving the mic around
Demo close or far mic location
Room Reflection Examples
Examples of Clipping Distortion

week 5
qwerty keyboard recording with
  Studio One
Example of assigned screenshot
tracks for assignments #1 #2 #3
Lullaby of Birdland Tracks #1
Don't Sing Aloha Tracks
Cinimatic Trailer Loops #3
Cinematic Mood Loops for Trailers #3


week 6
Starwars sound effects
Foley artists video

week 7
voiceover demos
voiceover background music pads
on-line resource link

possible songs for tempo assignment - check assignment for which of these songs to use
  Wagon Wheel
  Sucker For You
  Youngblood
  She Had Me At Heads
  Springtime
  kick drum 16 beats

week 8
blues loops to use (with no key change)
blank sound map in pdf, Excel
example movie scene analysis

meter examples
  4/4 Blues E   4/4 3/4 Waltz
  5/4 Ebm
  blues in minor key

music theory quick notes

week 9 - 10
Saudade Do Teu Beijo Sample
Can't Let You Go Sample
Mixing style examples:
Nora Jones Sunrise Nashville style
Chase Bank commercial example
Urban pop mix examples
music cookbook notes
pp MIDI notes
Recording a software instrument in Studio one
qwerty keyboardin Studio One

Tracks for story demo lecture
John Henry narration MP3 WAV
1850 Hits O Suzanna-Camptown

assignment options
1- You Can't Get Out MP3, WAV
1- You Can't Get Out script
1- You Can't Get Out extra voices
2- Potted Cactus script
3- Bedroom Canoe script
4- Rumplestiltskin script

moody background music:
  Classical music   Modern music

MIDI files to paste into Presence
MIDI music building blocks

blank soundmap PDF or Excel
recording log sheet
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