Curb College Syllabus Templet

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:

Serve as an assistant engineer in the recording studio for a minimum of 20 hours.
Engineer 4 recording & mixing projects.
Complete 3 written assignments, the assistant engineering assignment, the RCA-B song analysis, and a historic song analysis.
Complete 2 practical examinations demonstrating their knowledge of the recording studio
Complete 4 exams demonstrating knowledge gained from lectures, readings, and assignments.

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.

To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments.
To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

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, 7^th 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”;