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Art

CA-132: Digital Sound Production


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Course Description:

Digital Sound Production is a course designed to introduce students to the craft of sound recording and post-production in a digital based workflow and environment. Student will be given ample opportunities to experience sound recording and editing utilizing multitrack Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) based on the Pro Tools and Adobe Audition software packages and professional-level microphone and recording techniques. A wide variety of production exercises will be conducted to demonstrate the applications of digital sound production in diverse fields such as advertising, radio production, film production and music production.

Objectives:
The course aims to:
1) Provide the necessary background on and mastery of sound recording fundamentals,
2) Provide the necessary technical skills necessary in creating recordings using Digital Audio Workstations,
3) Provide an opportunity to experience digital sound production in different forms,
4) To showcase the artistic and creative talents of the students through a music festival and album launch at the end of the course

COURSE OUTLINE

I.    Fundamentals of Sound Recording

A.    Fundamentals of Sound and Hearing

B.    The Physics of Sound and Recording

C.    The Basic Sound Recording Workflow

D.    Basic Microphone Technique

i.    Microphone Types

ii.    Microphone Placement and Use

II.    Introduction to Digital Sound Production

A.    Introduction to Digital Audio Workflow and Digital Audio Workstations

B.    Approaches to Digital Audio Recording

i.    Live / Single Track

ii.    Multitrack Recording

C.    Production Exercise: Public Service Announcement

III.    Advanced Recording Techniques

A.    Multitrack Audio Recording and Post-Production

i.    Tracking

ii.    Overdubbing

iii.    Mixdown and Mastering

B.    Advanced Microphone Technique

i.    Instrument microphone techniques

ii.    Advanced vocal recording techniques

iii.    Live (On-the-spot) recording

C.    Production Exercise: Musical Ensemble Exercise

IV.    Field Production and Recording Techniques

A.    Field sound recording for Film and Video

i.    Microphone technique

ii.    Live mixing

B.    Audio post-production for Film and Video

i.    Sound Design

ii.    Foley and Sound Effects

iii.    Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR)

C.    Production Exercise: Sound Re-Design and Appropriation for Film

SCHEDULE

Week

Topic

Strategy/

Methodology

Skills

Values

Student Output

1

Introduction to the Course

Class Discussion

 

Listening Skills

 

 

2-4

Fundamentals of Sound Recording

Lecture

Film Viewing

Listening Skills

 

 

5-6

Introduction to Digital Sound Recording

Lecture

Equipment Familiarization

Listening Skills

 

 

 

7

Production of PSA Exercise

Hands-On Exercise

Listening Skills

Recording

Respect

Teamwork

Sound Design for PSA

8-9

Multi-track Recording

Lecture

Hands-on Exercise

Listening

Computer Literacy

 

 

10

Advanced Microphone Technique

Lecture

Masterclass

Listening

Comprehension

 

 

11-12

Music Production Exercise

Hands-On

Exercise

Listening

Recording

Respect

Teamwork

Music Recording

13

Field Sound Recording

Lecture

Hands-On Exercise

Listening

 

 

14

Introduction to Audio Postproduction

Lecture

Film Viewing

 

Listening

Computer Literacy

 

 

15-17

Production of Film Sound Design Exercise

Hands-On

Exercise

Writing

Recording

Editing

Mixing

Respect Teamwork

Complete Sound Design for 1 Scene

 

COURSE ACTIVITIES:

Throughout the course, lectures will be conducted to equip the students with the requisite skills and knowledge needed to come up with an understanding of the application and impact of digital technology in the process of sound production. In addition, in-class demonstrations and masterclasses will be conducted to provide the students an opportunity to be exposed to and to have hands-on experiences in the use of actual technologies that are being utilized in digital sound recording. f possible, exposure trips to actual digital recording studios will be conducted to enhance the learning experience. Production exercises will be given at the end of each module to enable the students to creatively apply the skills and knowledge gained from the lectures and demonstrations. Whenever possible, collaborative production exercises will be conducted with other digital media production classes such as Digital Filmmaking.