Introduction to Audio Recording

Curriculum guideline

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Course
MUSC 1282
Discontinued
No
Course code
MUSC 1282
Descriptive
Introduction to Audio Recording
Department
Music
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
20
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week

and

Lab: 2 hours/week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning activities

Lecture/demonstrations and hands-on lab and studio work.

Course description
This course is an introduction to audio recording, critical listening skills, audio processing and signal flow. Students will learn and apply the fundamental theories and techniques of contemporary audio recording, editing and mixing.
Course content
  1. A brief history of audio recording
  2. Analog and digital audio concepts
  3. Audio parameters: frequency, amplitude, phase 
  4. The signal chain
  5. Mixing environments: headphones, amplifiers, speakers and acoustic treatment
  6. Recording techniques: microphone types, choice, configuration and position, recording environments
  7. Working with consoles: signal flow and routing
  8. Editing and manipulating digital audio: clip gain, editing, automation
  9. Signal processing: compression, EQ, time-frequency domain effects, harmonic distortion
  10. MIDI functionality: time bases, sample replacement and sequencing
  11. Mixing techniques: gain structure, compression, frequency balance and reverb
  12. Working with visual media in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Explain basic analog and digital audio theory;
  2. Identify changes to audio parameters by ear;
  3. Capture a clean audio signal from microphones and other electronic sources;
  4. Critically assess recording and monitoring environments;
  5. Critically appraise recordings and suggest problems and remedies;
  6. Edit and manipulate digital audio using Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software;
  7. Exploit MIDI functionality in a DAW as appropriate;
  8. Mix a multi-track audio project;
  9. Edit to visual media in a DAW;
  10. Critically distinguish common audio codecs and file formats used in multimedia and audio industries;
  11. Route signals through an audio console.
Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An example evaluation scheme is provided below.

Listening Exercises (minimum of 4): 20%
Project 1: Recording a voice 15%
Project 2: Mixing a multitrack project 20%
Project 3: Creating and synchronizing dialogue replacement, sound effects and backgrounds for a video short  25%
Midterm Exam 10%
Final Exam 10%
Total   100%
Textbook materials

No texts or materials are required. All required hardware and software for the completion of assignments and projects is available on campus. Students may wish to purchase software licences enabling them to work on assignments off campus. A complete list of recommended software will be available at the first class session.

Prerequisites

MUSC 1182