MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course # / Title / Credit: AET 4560.01 / Advanced Sound Reinforcement Techniques / 3 hours

Instructor: Anthony Cottrill  Contacts: 615-460-6144, cottrillt@mail.belmont.edu

Semester:  Spring 2007; Class Location:  Massey Building, Room B19

Meeting Time: Section 01 TR 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

Final Exam: Final Exam - Friday Dec 7, 11:00am

 

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1) to provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.  2) To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

 

Course Description: AET 4560 - Advanced Sound Reinforcement Techniques. Prerequisite: MBU 3560. The objective of this course will be to enhance the technical communication and understanding of sound-related topics and environments. Students will be required to think critically and make enlightened judgments about their acoustical environment. Students will have hands-on experience with different sound systems, live mixing, monitor equalization, and areas related to management of a live sound system in a professional concert situation. ($30.00 course fee)

 

Learning Outcomes:

1- To introduce student to the advanced principles of audio engineering for sound reinforcement.

2- Emphasis will be placed on the student’s leadership abilities and working together as a team on the sound reinforcement crew.   

 

Performance Criteria:

1- The student is required to attend and role-play in Belmont University Music Business Showcases.

 

2- During campus events where sound reinforcement is necessary, Students from 3560 and 4560 will work together at other relevant live sound and live recording functions.

 

3- Participate in the classroom/lab environment with the Instructor, gaining “hands-on” experience with the equipment and tools necessary for effective sound reinforcement.

 

4- The Instructor will also attempt to provide off-campus sound reinforcement or related activities and/or observations.

 

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.”

 

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.

 

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance:

Your participation in this class is of the utmost importance. By missing even one lecture, you are missing a piece of a very big puzzle. I do, however, recognize that there are certain circumstances that may require you to miss a class. These include, but are not limited to:

·         Absence to attend an official campus activity (as designated by the Dean’s Office)

·         Absences for personal or family emergencies (as verified by the Dean’s Office)

·         Absences for medical reasons (as discussed with instructor)

 

If you miss a class, please see me about missed lectures and/or assignments.  Please try to get any missed notes from a classmate.

 

Your participation and attendance in the “Showcase” series of concerts is also important. You will be required to attend/participate in three showcases.

 

The attendance policies will be the same as in the current catalog. (Policy for a course meeting twice a week,  >8 absences = F.)

 

2. Materials:        Davis & Jones; Sound Reinforcement Handbook ISBN: 0881889008.

 

3. Assignments:

Events hosted in Curb Cafe are required labs for this course; your grade is dependent upon your presence and participation at these events.

In addition, other labs scheduled by the Coordinator of Sound Reinforcement throughout the semester will be considered required events/projects.

These events will be posted on the Sound Reinforcement Event Calendar @ http://forum.belmont.edu/livesound.  It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed as to the nature and scheduling of required events.

 

4.  Testing:  

There will be 4 tests given during the semester: two quizzes, one mid-term, and one final exam.  Absolutely NO “MAKE-UP” TESTS ARE ALLOWED.  The final exam will be comprehensive.

 

5.  Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. 

For this class, I will use a basic letter grade system. For testing purposes the points will convert into grades based on the following:

A+ = 97-100       B+ = 87-89                   C+ = 77-79                   D+ = 67-69                       F = 50-0

 

A  = 93-96           B = 83-86            C   = 73-76          D   = 63-66         

 

A- = 90-92          B- = 80-82           C- = 70-72           D-  = 60-62

 

Your final grade will be based on an average of the following:

1. Class Attendance:                                                            10%

2. Event Participation/Attendance:                                     20%

3. Mixdown Project:                                                            15%

4. Quizzes:                                                                            5%

5. Mid-Term Exam:                                                              25%

6. Final Exam:                                                                      25%

 

 

6.  Class Schedule: 

Although my goal is to keep as close as possible to the schedule below, inevitably it will change on occasion.

 

Week Of                     Tuesday                                               Thursday                                

8/20/07                                                                                    Introduction

8/27/07                        Signal Flow                                         Signal Flow    

9/03/07                        Documentation                                   Low Frequency Enclosures

9/10/07                        Low Frequency Enclosures                 Horns

9/17/07                        Series/Parallel review                          Showcase Preparation

9/24/07                        Digital Crossovers                               Ohms Law     

10/01/07                      Inverse Square Law                            Mixdown Project Review

10/08/07                      Mid Term                                            Fall Break

10/15/07                      Operating Levels                                 Amplifiers

10/22/07                      Digital Signal Flow                             Flow Chart Identification      

10/29/07                      SMAART                                          Flow Chart Identification

11/05/07                      Line Array Theory                              Line Array Theory

11/12/07                      Rigging                                               Line Array Calculators

11/19/07                      Trouble Shooting                                Thanksgiving Break

11/26/07                      Wireless Systems                                System Interface

12/03/07                      Power / Transformers/ 70volt              No Classes

Final Exam: Final Exam - Friday Dec 7, 11:00am