Syllabus_Template

Course # / Title:	AET4400 Post Production Techniques
Course Credit Hours:	3 hrs.
Semester:	Fall 2008
Instructor:	Ken Landers, B.M., M.A.
Instructor Contacts:	615.460.6174 landersk@,mail.belmont.edu
Instructor Office Hours:	Monday 12pm-3pm, Tuesday 11am-1pm, Wednesday 12pm-3pm 34 Music Square E, Nashville TN 37203
Class Location:	Ocean Way Studio C
Meeting Time(s):	Tuesday 2.30pm-5.15pm
Final Exam:	Thursday, 11 December 2008 @ 2PM

Course Description:

Prerequisites: AET 3090, AET 3190, and permission of instructor. Application of audio/studio technology in the production of video sound design, CD mastering, and post-mix / re-mix sweetening techniques used in music production.

Course Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

ú describe the development of sound for picture technology and the requisite techniques and workflows used.

ú demonstrate the use of the digital audio workstation in modern sound for picture methodology.

identify techniques used in the creation of audio for motion picture, television, and video games.

Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:

ú apply traditional and modern techniques of sound design, foley, automated dialogue replacement, music editing, and film & television mixing.

ú write three analyses of sound techniques used in representative film, television, and video game segments.

ú interview a professional working in the field of audio post-production and write a report.

ú complete two recording projects demonstrating the use of Pro Tools digital audio workstation as a post-production tool.

ú create, edit, and mix an audio sound track for a motion picture or television show segment as part of a collaborative class project.

Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes mastery will be evaluated by:

ú written exams consisting of essay, short answer, and multiple choices questions

ú a written summary describing the work of a professional in the field of audio post production

ú (3) written analyses of segments from commercially produced movies, television shows, and video games.

ú (3) editing & mixing projects demonstrating acquired skills and understanding of working in a DAW environment.

ú a collaborative final class project

Testing & Assignments:

Activity	Credit	Purpose/Description
1. Exams	40%	Based on reading, lecture materials, and experience gained via class and personal assignments.
2. Papers	10%	(3) analyses and the interview project. Analyses include a movie sound analysis (MSA), a television sound anaylsis (TSA), and a video game sound anaylsis (VGSA). Students explore professionally produced products and identify professional workflows and techniques. The interview project provides a one-on-one opportunity to discuss post techniques with an expert in the field.
3. Edit Project	5%	Provides hands-on practice with the ProTools workstation & studio[DU1] hardware.
4. Mix Project	10%	Provides hands-on practice with the ProTools workstation & studio[DU2] hardware[DU3] .
5. Surround Mix Project	10%	Provides hands-on practice with the ProTools workstation & studio[DU4] hardware[DU5] .
6. Class Project	25%	Students, work as a “mock” audio post company and replace all audio on a 4-7 minute segment of a movie or television release. Includes dialogue, live sound effects, designed effects, ambiance beds, and music. Synchronized audio for supplied video with full documentation of the project is required. Industry standard practices are followed[DU6] .

Course & Classroom Policies:

Attendance & Participation: Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted. Deductions will be made from the students final grade regarding excessive attendance. As this course meets once per week, two unexcused absences will result in a 5% final grade reduction. Four unexcused absences will result in a 10% final grade reduction. Absences beyond 4 will be considered excessive and the student will be dropped from the class with a grade of ‘WF’.

Materials:

a. Textbook(s):

i. Sound for Film and Television, 2^nd Edition by Thomlinson Holman. Focal Press 2001.

~~ii.~~ Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound, 3^rd Edition by David Yewdall. Focal Press 2007.

~~iii.~~ Digidesign Pro Tools Reference Guide – free download from http://www.digidesign.com.

1. You will have to create a myDigi account – free. Download Pro Tools Mac OS X or Win XP documentation. You will get an installer for your system that is OS X or XP specific. Remember that our class will be based on an OS X systemDocumentation is available on the OWN-C system.

~~iv.~~ (Optional - highly recommended) Surround Sound: Up and Running by Thomlinson Holman. Elsevier 2007. This is a terrific guide to surround sound from one of the renowned masters of motion picture surround. It appears to be out of print except as a kindle file for the Amazon reader, but I suggest checking it out of the Belmont library for the readings.

v. Readings through Blackboard, online, or on reserve in the library.

b. CD-Rs and DVD-Rs as needed (for backup and turning in projects)

c. Web Access. Students will be required to access various informational sources on the Internet. Blackboard access (via BIC) will also be necessary.

(Optional – highly recommended) A Firewire/IEEE-1394 (7200 rpm or better) or USB 2.0 drive will allow project portability and speedy methods of backup.

Grade Evaluation: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:

Grade	Percent (GPA)
A	94 (4.0)
A-	90 (3.7)
B+	87 (3.3)
B	84 (3.0)
B-	80 (2.7)
C+	77 (2.3)
C	74 (2.0)
C-	70 (1.7)
Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major.
D+	67
D	64
D-	60
F	< 60

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.

Class Schedule:

Date	Class Topic	Readings	Assignments
Sept 2	Class Intro; History of DAWs; Pro Tools Intro	PA Ch. 17 PTG Ch. 2 - 4, 6 – 8
Sept 9	Advanced Editing – Pro Tools Mixing	PTG Ch. 15 – 20, 26 – 28	Edit Project Assigned.
Sept 16	Exam 1 – DAWs - Pro Tools History/How it works - Film Audio	PTG Ch. 9 – 14; SFT Appendix I & III	Mix Project Assigned.
Sept 23	History/How it works - Television Audio	PA Ch. 20	Edit Project Due.
Sept 30	History/How it works - Surround Sound	PA Ch. 7 - 9; PTG Ch. 29 – 33; (Optional SS Ch. 2, 5)	TSA Assigned.
Oct 14	Location Synchronization; Assets Management – Project Management	PA Ch. 4 & 11; SFT Ch. 6-8	Mix Project Due. Post Interview Assigned.
Oct 21	Exam 2 – Film & Television, Assets & Project Management Techniques for Location Recording (Dialogue)	PA Ch. 5, 6, & 10; SFT Ch. 4 & 5 (Optional: SS Ch. 3) PTG Ch. 33 – 35	TSA Due. Start Class Project. MSA Assigned.
Oct 28	Automated Dialogue Replacement	PA Ch. 14 –15	MSA Due.
Nov 4	Sound Design Techniques	PA Ch. 12 & 13
Nov 11	Foley Techniques	PA Ch. 16	VGSA Assigned.
Nov 18	Exam 3 – Film Audio Techniques Music Recording	PA Ch. 18
Nov 25	Mixing Dialogue & Effects	PA Ch. 19; (Optional SS Ch 4 & 6)	Post Interview Due.
Dec 2	Music Mixing & Editing for Film	SFT Ch. 10 – 11
Dec 9	Video Games and New Media		Class Project Due. VGSA Due.
Dec 11	Final Exam @ 2PM – Covers Entire Class

SFT = Sound for Film & Television

PA = Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound

SS = 5.1 Surround Sound: Up & Running (Optional)

TSA = Television Sound Analysis

MSA = Movie Sound Analysis

VGSA = Video Game Sound Analysis

PTG = Digidesign Pro Tools Reference Guide