BELMONT UNIVERSITY
MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Audio
Engineering I
Course #: AET 3090
Credit Hours: 3
Semester: Fall 2007
Class Location: RCA Studio B, 30 Music Square West, Nashville
TN, 37203 (615) 242-5167
Meeting Time(s): Section
1. TR 8:00AM – 9:15AM
Section 2. TR 9:30AM – 10:45AM
Labs: Section 1. MW 12:00PM - 12:50PM – one day per week as assigned in class.
Section 2. MW 1:00PM – 1:50PM – one day per week as assigned in class.
Final Exam: Section 1. Thursday, 6 December 2007, 8:00 AM
Section 2. Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 8:00 AM
Instructor: Mr.
Ken Landers Phone: (615) 460-6174 Email: landersk@mail.belmont.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisites: AET 1380 and permission
of instructor. A detailed study of the technical characteristics and
performance of each component of the recording studio. Topics include basic
studio electronics and signal flow, dynamic processing, basic microphone
design, studio acoustics, basic session procedures, and the role of the
assistant engineer. Emphasis is placed on developing logistical as well as
audio perception skills for recording engineers. Lab hours required. ($30.00
course fee)
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will:
· Demonstrate their knowledge, comprehension, and abilities to analyze and synthesize information presented during classroom lectures, demonstrations, labs, and assigned readings through testing, papers, and projects.
· Demonstrate their knowledge and comprehension of audio engineering and apply developed knowledge and skills in the recording studio by recording and mixing multiple studio projects.
· Assemble relevant project data and organize it into a cohesive project while engineering and assisting on student recording projects. Students will also evaluate the session experience and project data in a session journal.
· Develop the applicable skills and knowledge to become a competent assistant engineer on a professional recording project.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:
Students will:
GOALS OF THE MIKE
CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS:
The following objectives will
be applied toward course completion:
· To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.
HONOR CODE: It is the responsibility of each student to abide
by the Belmont University Honor Code.
“In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement
of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I
will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the
preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the
instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud.
Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by
the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance: As per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Students are encouraged to attend all class sessions. This class moves very fast and covers lots of material. There will be no make-up exams given. If a student has an excused absence (official notice from the provost) and misses an exam, the other exam grades will be averaged without that test.
2.
Textbooks:
a. Audio in Media, 7th Edition by Stanley Alten. Wadsworth 2004.
b.
Make Mine Music by Bruce
Swedien. MIA Press 2004.
c.
Audio Engineering I Lab Book
3. Participation and Prepared Assignments: All projects are due at the beginning of
class on the date stated below in the class schedule.
a.
Assistant Engineering
Assignment.
i.
Song Chart. This involves
charting song structure, identifying instruments and parts performed, and
matching timings to a CD or downloaded recording.
ii.
Lyric Sheet. Using a word processor, format the song
lyrics to match exactly what is on the recording. Provide boxes to the right of the lyric for
marking takes.
b.
RCA Studio B Song
Analysis. Students
will select a song that was recorded at historic RCA Studio B in its commercially
operational years 1957-1977. Students
must verify that the selected song was actually recorded at RCA-B with Mr.
Landers or Mr. Janas to be accepted for credit.
i.
Paper. Students will research the recording and
include the following information in a well thought out and executed short
paper (2 pages minimum). Students must provide the following
information: label, album song was released on, song title, writer(s), engineer(s),
producer(s), player(s) , and, if possible, recording format and anecdotes
regarding the session. Citations must be
in MLA form.
ii.
Song Chart. As above, in the Assistant Engineering
Assignment.
iii.
Lyric Sheet.
As above, in the Assistant Engineering Assignment.
c.
Historic Song
Analysis. Students
will select a popular song (charted song in pop, country, rock, or similar
charts) recorded and released prior to 1980.
Otherwise, this assignment is identical to the RCA Studio B Song
Analysis. The elements to be turned in
include:
i.
Paper. As above, see RCA Studio B Song Analysis
ii.
Song Chart. As
above, see RCA Studio B Song Analysis
iii.
Lyric Sheet. As
above, see RCA Studio B Song Analysis
d.
Additional
Assignments. The instructor reserves the
right to add assignments as he deems fit or necessary. Any additional assignments will be averaged
into the Additional Projects/Papers section of the grade evaluations.
4.
Studio Team Recording Projects.
These
projects give you practical, hands-on recording experience, and require you to
work together as a team to organize and coordinate sessions as well as record
the music. If you have any questions
after reading these requirements, please see your instructor.
a.
Basic Mix Project. Students get initial hands-on mixing time by
mixing a lab tape song on the channel and monitor sides of the console. Dates:
19-26 Sept; due 27 Sept.
b.
Demo Recording/Mix – Simple vocal &
instrument demo recording. Dates: 27 Sept. – 8 Oct; due 9 Oct.
c.
Full Band Tracking – Dates: 15 – 31 Sept; due 1 Nov.
d.
Full Band Mix – Dates: 5 – 28 Nov; due 29
Nov.
5.
Assistant Engineering. For full assisting credit (5% of total
grade), students must assist on a minimum of 5 sessions (20 hours) for AE1 and
AE2 students.
6.
Labs. Students must attend lab one time per
week. Lab attendance is worth 5% of the
total grade.
7.
Testing:
a.
Test dates
i.
Exam 1 – 13 September 2007
ii.
Exam 2 – 9 October 2007
iii.
Exam 3 – 8 November 2007
iv.
Final Exam – either 6 December
2007 or 11 December 2007 according to section.
b.
The instructor reserves the
right to add unplanned or “pop” quizzes as he sees fit. Any “pop” quiz will be averaged with Exams
1-3 and will not be worth more than 5% of the Exam 1-3 grade.
c.
No make—up exams will be
given. Students can only be excused from
an exam with proper notification from the provost. In the case of excused, missed exams; the
other exams percentages will be adjusted accordingly.
d.
The mid-term exam (exam 2) and
the final have a practical component as well as a written component. The practical exams count for 50% of the test
grade.
8.
Basis of grade
evaluation: Grading scale as per the
current Undergraduate Bulletin.
a.
Itemized Credit
i.
Attendance & Participation 10%
ii.
Lab Attendance &
Participation 5%
iii.
Exams 45% (Exams 1-3 = 25%, Final = 20%)
iv.
Recording Projects 25%
v.
Assisting Hours 5%
vi.
Additional Projects/Papers 10% (Asst Engineering
Assignment = 2%; RCA-B Assignment = 4%; Historic Song = 4%)
b.
Total Points (%) 100%
9.
Class Schedule:
|
Day |
Class Topic |
Readings/Assignments |
|
23 Aug |
Intro to
Class, Tour, Assistant Engineering |
Assistant
Engineering Assignment Assigned. Readings:
AiM 1-42; MMM 18-27; Lab Book – assistant engineering |
|
28 Aug |
Lines,
Balanced v. Unbalanced, Physics of Electrical Signals, Levels |
Lab Book;
AiM 14-15 |
|
30 Aug |
Decibels
& Level Relationships |
Lab Book;
AiM 14-15 |
|
4 Sept |
Microphones;
Physics of Sound in Air |
Readings: AiM
Mics 43-78; MMM 174-190 |
|
6 Sept |
Microphones
(cont) Recording Basics |
Readings: MMM
30-35; 194-233; http://www.dpamicrophones.com,
click the tab for “Application Guide” for placement ideas. |
|
11 Sept |
Microphones
(cont), Stereo Mic Techniques |
Assistant
Engineering Assignment Due. Readings:
MMM 38-43; http://www.dpamicrophones.com,
click tab for “Microphone University” and select “Stereo Techniques”; |
|
13 Sept |
Exam 1 |
|
|
18 Sept |
Basics of
Signal Flow, Patchbay Usage |
RCA Studio B Song Analysis Assigned. Lab Book; AiM Consoles
(79-100) |
|
20 Sept |
Signal Flow
– Aux systems |
Lab Book; AiM Consoles (79-100) |
|
25 Sept |
Analog Tape
Recording Theory |
AiM: Analog Recording 101-112 |
|
27 Sept |
Analog Tape
Recorders – Usage |
Lab Book; Basic Mix Project Due. |
|
2 Oct |
Recording
Techniques - Drums |
|
|
4 Oct |
Recording
Techniques – Guitars |
|
|
9 Oct |
Exam II – Mid Term, Recording Signal Flow Practical |
RCA Studio B Song
Analysis Due. Demo Recording/Mix Due. |
|
11 Oct |
Fall Break |
|
|
16 Oct |
Recording Techniques – Keys & Organ |
|
|
18 Oct |
Recording
Techniques - Vocals & Horns |
Historic Song
Analysis Assigned. Project 2 Begins.
(3/12/07) |
|
23 Oct |
Dynamics |
AiM 11-22; MMM 160-170 |
|
25 Oct |
Dynamics |
AiM Dynamics (155 – 164) |
|
30 Oct |
Equalization |
MMM 144-156; AiM EQ 146-150 |
|
1 Nov |
Equalization |
Lab Book; Full Band Tracking Due. |
|
6 Nov |
Delay &
Reverb |
AiM 150-155; Lab Book |
|
8 Nov |
Exam III |
.Project 2 Tracking Due. |
|
13 Nov |
Mixing
Techniques |
Historic Song Analysis
Due. Project 2 Mixing Begins (4/9/07).
AiM 398-440; MMM 233-249 |
|
15 Nov |
Mixing
Techniques |
|
|
20 Nov |
Analog Tape
Editing |
AiM Analog Recorders 104-111 |
|
22 Nov |
Thanksgiving Break |
|
|
27 Nov |
Digital
Recording |
AiM: Digital Recording 112-134 |
|
29 Nov |
Digital
Editing |
AiM DAWS 372-397; Full Band
Mix Due. |
|
4 Dec |
The Future
of Audio |
|
|
Section .01 Final Exam, Thursday, 6 December 2007 @ 8:00 AM |
||
|
Section .02 Final Exam,
Tuesday, 11 December 2007 @ 8:00 AM |
||
AiM = Audio in Media, 7th
Edition. MMM = Make Mine Music
ACCOMMODATION OF
DISABILITIES:
In compliance with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University
will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented
disabilities. If you have a disability and would like the university to
provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please
notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center
(460-6407) as soon as possible.