Course Syllabus

MUSC 3350 Audio Fundamentals I

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 3350 Music Technology I to cover non-computer aspects of sound and recording. This course is the first of two laboratory courses and 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 3351 (Audio Fundamentals Lab II), fulfills that requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Be knowledgeable of the fundamentals of how sound travels through and interacts with spaces.
2. Be knowledgeable of how sound is described and measured in acoustical, electrical, and digital systems.
3. Be familiar with the basic rules of mixing and the psychoacoustic concepts that pertain to mixing.
4. Be knowledgeable of an analog console and be able to use an analog mixing console to mix a 16-24 track multitrack audio project.
5. Be familiar with various audio processors and tools used in mixing such as equalizers, dynamics processors, and reverb and delay processors.

Course Content

Content: (Topics, ideas and skills covered in the course)• Introduction – History of Recording• Acoustics – Frequency & Amplitude/Measurement• Acoustics – Behavior/Acoustics/Ear Anatomy• Processing – Analog Audio/Mixer Function• Processing – Signal Flow and Routing• Psychoacoustics – Masking/Fletcher-Munson Curve• Mixing – Basics/Rules• Mixing – Leveling/Panning• Mixing – Equalization• Mixing – Dynamics Processors• Mixing – Reverb• Mixing – Delay/Time-Based Effects• Mixing – Automation/Mixdown