MUS 510A / CSC 510A
Digital Audio Techniques (3 hours)
Syllabus, Fall 2008, Monday evenings, 4:50 p.m. – 8:20 p.m.
Dr. Sonny Burnette; Office: NMB 12
Office phone: 8112; Home phone: 863-4152
E-mail:
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to digital audio file creation, manipulation and storage
with respect to applications in web environments, multimedia presentations, and for
other professional purposes. Topics will include converting analog media to digital
formats, noise reduction, multi-track recording, crossfading, editing, and other related
subjects.
TEXTBOOK: No textbook is required.Resource materials will be placed on Reserve in the
EnsorLearningResourceCenter.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Please acquire an ample supply of CD-R (Recordable) CDs for portable
file storage, or, acquire a large-capacity USB drive ... a so-called removable flash drive or jump drive.. (You may experience difficulty playing a music CD made on a CD-RW [ReWritable] disc in home or car stereo CD players.) You may also save to your Y: drive. (Audio files will ordinarily be too large to be stored on a floppy disk.) Please bring to class any personal audio files/recordings with which you wish to work.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to: (1)Record and
save digital audio files in various file formats, (2) Burn analog or digital audio to CD,
(3) Decrease or increase the amplitude of sound waves, (4) Incorporate a variety of
delay and other effects, (5) Use filters appropriately, (6) Clean up recordings by
reducing undesirable noise, (7) Use a variety of editing techniques, including reverse
and crossfade, (8) Produce a successful mixdown of multitrack audio files, (9) Import
sound files into web and multimedia presentation environments, (10) Define commonly encountered audio terms.
This course emphasizes the following competencies of the GeorgetownCollege
Teacher Education Program Conceptual Framework Standards: 1. Professional Skills and Competencies, 1.1: a) have breadth and depth of knowledge, b) emphasize
problem-solving and inquiry, d) tap into a variety of resources, f) make connections
and integrate ideas across disciplines, g) connect content knowledge to the real world.
1.3: c) provide effective demonstrations and explanations, using effectively many
explicit teaching techniques that facilitate student learning, e) use a variety of resources in implementing instruction, f) use technology to support, enhance, and motivate student learning.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE: Outlined on Contract for Grade form: (1) Research Paper,
if contracted, (2) Two tests, (3) Four Digital Audio Projects: (a) 10- 15-second
Voice-Mail Message, (b) Audio clips for Web or PowerPoint environments, (c) 60-second, multitrack, broadcast-quality Radio Commercial, (d) 3- to 5-minute,
DIGITAL AUDIO TECHNIQUES Page 2
multitrack, broadcast-quality,old-time radio mystery theatre script (or children’s story) with sound effects.
Regarding Digital Audio Projects: It is your responsibility to adhere to applicable copyright laws and fair-use guidelines.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Week OneAugust 25 / SHORT COURSE IN DIGITAL AUDIO.
SOUND RECORDER: Volume Control settings, Sounds and Audio Devices Properties, Recording Control; File, Edit, Effects; Microphone Test.
WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER: Copy from CD, Copy to CD or Device
Lab Assignment Number One: Sound Recorder and Windows Media Player tasks (handout / CD).
Week Two
September 1 / **LABOR DAY, NO CLASS**
Week Three
September 8 / COPYRIGHT AND "FAIR USE" ISSUES.
ROXIO EASY CD CREATOR Project Selector: (1) Make a music CD: SoundStream (Equalizer, Effects: Sound Cleaning & Pop Remover; Spin Doctor, Sound Editor), Music CD project, mp3 CD project, (2) Make a data CD: direct CD, data CD, data DVD, (3)[Make a photo or video CD: photo album, video postcard, video impression, video CD], (4) Disc copier, (5) CD label creator.
Lab Assignment Number Two: Roxio Easy CD Creator (handout /CD). (Review for Test One.)
Week Four
September 15 / **TEST ONE:Sound Recorder, Windows Media Player, Roxio Easy CD Creator, Terms
ADOBE AUDITION: Familiarization with icons & menu options.
Lab Assignment Number Three: Getting Familiar with the Adobe Audition Basic Layout (handout / CD).
ADOBE AUDITION TUTORIALS:
1. Recording Set-Up & Basics (WERecord.exe) (3:00)
2. Device Order (DevOrder.exe) (5:30)
3. Edit View (WEInterf.exe) (3:30)
4. Multitrack Sessions (MTSess.exe) (3:30)
5. Multitrack View (MTInterf.exe) (3:15)
6. Multitrack Recording (MTRecord.exe) (3:00)
7. Noise Reduction (NoiseRedux.exe) (3:00)
8. Splitting Tracks (tracksplit.exe) (4:30)
9. Recording-Turntable.htm
Lab Assignment Number Four: Adobe AuditionTutorials; Splitting Tracks; Noise Reduction (handout / CD).
DIGITAL AUDIO TECHNIQUES Page 3
Week FiveSeptember 22 / LAB: Create a sound file library.
1. Download and Save sound files from the web
2. Import sound files from Sound Effects CDs
3. Acquire sound files from analog sources, if available. (I will
plan to bring some basic patch cords and a cassette deck, if
needed. If you care to bring some other analog device, that
would be fine.
4. Create digital sound files via computer mic or portable mini-
disc recorder, etc.
Lab Assignment Number Five: Building a Sound Effects Library, and Making your own Sound Effects. Refer to “Making .Wavs” link on main page. Also, at the bottom, under Helpful Digital Audio Links, are links to sites that explain how to make particular sound effects. Bring to class anything you may need for this purpose. (handout)
Week Six
September 29 / LAB: Multitrack Recording & Editing.
Create sample audio sessions and experiment with:
1. Multitrack Recording
2. Effects: Reverse, Amplitude, Delay Effects, Filters, Noise
Reduction, Time/Pitch
3. Panning, Crossfading Tracks
4. Mixdown; Saving
Lab Assignment Number Six: Fading/Crossfading Tracks, Effects, Panning, How to Save (handout / CD). (Review for Test Two.)
Week Seven
October 6 / **TEST TWO:Short Course in Digital Audio, Audition, Copyright / Fair Use, Terms (an “open-computer” test)
LAB TIME: Create 10- 15-second Voice-Mail Message
Week Eight
October 13 / **Fall Break, No Class**
Week Nine
October 20 / *Class Presentations: Voice-Mail Message Projects
LAB TIME:Web or PowerPoint Project. Create audio clips for Web or PowerPoint environments.
Week Ten
October 27 / LAB TIME: Web/PowerPoint Project
Week Eleven
November 3 / *Class Presentations: Web/PowerPoint Projects
LAB TIME:Radio Commercial Project. Create 60-second, multitrack, broadcast-quality Radio Commercial with voice-over, sound effects, music, etc.
Week Twelve
November 10 / LAB TIME: Radio Commercial continued
Week Thirteen
November 17 / *Class Presentations: Radio Commercial Projects
LAB TIME: Old-Time Radio Mystery Theatre Script Project
Research Paper due(if contracted)
DIGITAL AUDIO TECHNIQUES Page 4
Week FourteenNovember 24 / LAB TIME:Old-Time Radio Mystery Theatre Script Project
Week Fifteen
December 1 / LAB TIME:Old-Time Radio Mystery Theatre Script Project
Week Sixteen
December 8 / *Class Presentations: Old-Time Radio Mystery Theatre Script Projects (or children’s story)
EVALUATION: Each graduate student will contract for a grade. See form on last page. Also,
see Attendance.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance at all class meetings is strongly encouraged; however, you will be allowed one excusedpersonal absence.(If you should have a professional conflict, I will need a written excuse/e-mail from your principal.) A second, unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your contracted grade by one letter for each additional absence beyond the one excused absence. Should an emergency situation arise, individual arrangements should be made with the professor.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Derry, Roger.PC Audio Editing, 2nd ed. Publication information not available. ISBN 0-24051-697-4.
Huber, David.Modern Recording Techniques, 5th ed. Publication information not available. ISBN 0-24080-456-2.
Kefauver, Alan P.Fundamentals of Digital Audio.Madison, Wisconsin: A-R Editions, Inc., 1999. ISBN 0-89579-405-5. LRC: TK, 7881.4, .K4323, 1998.
William, David Brian and Webster, Peter Richard.Experiencing Music Technology, 2nd ed.Belmont, California:Wadsworth Group/Thomson Learning, 1999. ISBN 0-02-865324-6.
Digital Audio TechniquesCONTRACT FOR GRADE FORM
Requirements for a grade of A:
- Write a research paper of appropriate length to fully discuss your chosen subject on an approved topic relating to technology. The paper must be turned in on the due date, or please feel free to keep it. The paper should ideally involve some topic relating to technology that is of interest to you and will be of potential benefit to you in your particular professional area. See "Research Paper" guidelines on main 510 web page. DO READ THE GUIDELINES if you want your paper to be accepted. (The paper is due @ Week Thirteen to allow time for repairs, if necessary.)
- Earn a mean score of at least 93 points on the two tests.
- Satisfactorily complete the four Digital Audio Projects: (1) 10- 15-second Voice-Mail Message, (2) Audio clips for web or PowerPoint environments, (3) 60-second, multitrack, broadcast-quality Radio Commercial.(4) 3- to 5-minute multitrack, broadcast-quality, old-time radio mystery theatre script (or children’s story) with sound effects.
- See "Digital Audio Projects" on main 510A web page for guidelines.
Requirements for a grade of B:
- Earn a mean score of at least 85 points on the two tests.
- Satisfactorily complete the four Digital Audio Projects.
Requirements for a grade of C:
- Earn a mean score of at least 75 points on the two tests.
- Satisfactorily complete the four Digital Audio Projects.
If you do not meet the requirements of the grade for which you contract, you may expect to receive a grade equivalent to the work which you have satisfactorily completed. Please return this form to me on or before the third class meeting.
I contract for a grade of: ____.
______
(Signature) (Date)