MUSA152-15S2 (C) Semester Two 2015

Acoustics and Recording Techniques

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2015
End Date: Sunday, 15 November 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 October 2015

Description

This course provides an introduction to the principles and vocabulary of acoustics, an appreciation of how acoustic signals are converted to digital, familiarisation with the common vocabulary of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and recording terminology, and understanding of the principles of microphone placement, and of how to work with a recording engineer.

Topics covered in this course are:
Term 3
   Practical sound and wave theory
   Studio design
   EQ - An understanding of audio frequencies and practical applications in manipulating them
   Sound design for productions and sound effect creation
   Sound in various acoustic spaces
   Reverb and audio reflections
   ProTools software:  recording, editing, mixing and exporting
   Referencing audio
Term 4
   Recording and mixing strings
   Acoustic space design
   Setting up and operating a small to medium PA and mixer
   Setting up speakers in a theatre, hall or studio, zone control, delays, steering
   Practical soundscape creation

Learning Outcomes

Students who pass this course will have developed;
*  knowledge of principles and vocabulary of acoustics;
*  knowledge of how acoustic signals are converted to digital;
*  familiarisation with the common vocabulary of Digital Work Stations (DAWs);
*  knowledge of recording terminology;
*  knowledge of recording techniques including microphones and their placement;
*  basic knowledge of recording engineering.

Restrictions

MUSI 180

Timetable Note

Workload

Student workload (150) hours will be allocated to:
*  24 hours attending lectures;
*  12 hours attending laboratories;
*  46 hours preparing for in-class assessments;
*  68 hours creating portfolio of works/remixes.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Stephen Compton

Lecturer

Hamish Oliver

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Presentation 5% 3-5 minute presentation, 24 and 31 July 2015
Audio Manipulation Assignment 06 Aug 2015 10%
Video No Music 28 Aug 2015 25%
Referencing Assignment 10 Sep 2015 10%
Recording, Mixing, Editing Assignment 17 Sep 2015 20%
Sound Design/Soundscape Assignment 19 Oct 2015 30% With written component

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

F.Alton Everest & Ken Pohlmann; Master Handbook of Acoustics ; 5th ed;

Stavrou, Michael Paul; Mixing with your mind : closely guarded secrets of sound balance engineering ; 1st ed; Flux Research, 2003.

Notes

Use of Technology
This course assumes that you have sufficient information and technology skills to confidently use a computer to access material for your course.  Your written work should be submitted typed, using standard word-processor software.  The School of Music has iMacs you are able to use which have all standard software required for the course.
You will be required to access our learning management system–Learn–and to become familiar with its tools.  Learn provides easily-accessible information about the course and assessments, topics and deadlines, and supports the learning you will gain from attending all lectures and tutorials.  For help using Learn, refer to: http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/

Additional Course Outline Information

Assessment and grading system

The following shows how to translate grades to numerical scores:

A+  90–100;    A   85–89;    A-  80–84;    B+   75–79;    B 70–74;    B-   65–69;     C+  60–64;     C  55–59;     C- 50–54;     D  40–49;   E  0–39
In a course at 100- or 200-level examiners may grant restricted credit (R) which will be equivalent to a pass for all purposes except as a prerequisite.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $778.00

International fee $3,450.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All MUSA152 Occurrences

  • MUSA152-15S2 (C) Semester Two 2015