Course Syllabus

MUSC 3352 Audio Fundamentals II

Course Description

This course focuses on the study of the fundamentals of sound and how it can be captured, manipulated, and reproduced. It functions as an Audio Lab for MUSC 3352 Music Technology II to cover non-computer aspects of sound and recording. This course is the second of two laboratory courses that cover aspects of sound, acoustics, psychoacoustics, recording, audio processing, mixing, and mastering.

Justification

Although the personal computer has revolutionized the study, production and distribution of music, the basic concepts of sound remain unchanged. An understanding of how sound travels through the air and reacts in a room, how a microphone works, and what compression and equalization are remain paramount for anyone who produces music and records audio. This type of course is offered for music majors at four-year institutions in the State of Utah, and is a regular course offering around the country. The Horne School of Music at Snow College is an accredited member of The National Association of Schools of Music, and NASM requires that its member schools prepare students by teaching them the purpose and use of audio technology in various forms as part of undergraduate music training. This course, in conjunction with MUSC 3353 (Audio Fundamentals Lab II), fulfills that requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Be knowledgeable of and familiar with the production process and basic recording techniques.
2. Be knowledgeable of and familiar with recording studio equipment including microphones, cables, audio interfaces, studio monitors, etc.
3. Be familiar with microphone types, patterns, and technique including coincidental microphone placement.
4. Be knowledgeable of and familiar with common acoustics problems and how to negate them with Control and Isolation techniques.
5. Be knowledgeable of and familiar with the basic concepts of digital audio including resolution, data compression, etc.
6. Be able to use a recording studio to capture one audio track at a time in synchronization with other recorded tracks.
7. Be knowledgeable of rules, concepts, and common practices of Mastering.
8. Be knowledgeable of the basic concepts and common practices of Live Sound Reinforcement.

Course Content

• Introduction – Production Process
• Recording – Studio Equipment
• Recording – Digital Audio/One Mic Production
• Microphones – Types/Patterns
• Microphones – Technique
• Psychoacoustics – Directionality/Stereo Mic’ing
• Acoustics – Room Modes/Flutter/Problems
• Acoustics – Control
• Acoustics – Isolation
• Mastering – Basics/Rules
• Digital Audio – Data Compression
• Other – Studio Maintenance/Troubleshooting
• Other – Simple Live Sound System