MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course # / Title / Credit: AET 3560.01 / Sound Reinforcement / 3 hours

Instructor: Frank Baird Contacts: 615-460-6905, bairdf@pop.belmont.edu

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

Meeting Time(s): TR 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Final Exam:  Thursday, May 3rd, 8:00 AM

 

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 3560 - Sound Reinforcement. Prerequisites: MBU 1110, MBU 1380. A practicum based study of equipment, systems concepts, design, and acoustical problems involved in sound reinforcement for live performances and touring as related to professional concert situations. Lab hours required.

($30.00 course fee)

 

Learning Outcomes:

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

2- Emphasis is placed on practical sound reinforcement applications, terms and definitions.

 

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 one showcase.

 

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. Practical Exam                                                          10%

4. Quizzes:                                                                             10%

5. Mixdown Project                                                               10%

6. Mid-Term Exam:                                                               20%

7. Final Exam:                                                                        20%

 

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                                 

1/8/07                                                                                      Introduction

1/15/07                        Curb Café Training                               Microphone Identification        

1/22/07                        Loudspeakers                                       Loudspeakers

1/29/07                        Horns                                                   Enclosures

2/05/07                        Crossovers                                           Showcase Preparation

2/12/07                        Bi-amp / Tri-amp                                  Loudspeaker Connections       

2/19/07                        Mixdown Project Review                     Parallel/Series

2/26/07                        Mid Term Review                                 Mid Term Exam

3/05/07                        Spring Break                                        Spring Break

3/12/07                        Crossover points / Pin-outs                   Amplifiers

3/19/07                        Loudspeaker Specifications                  Flow Chart Identification

3/26/07                        Signal Flow                                          Signal Flow

4/02/07                        Test Equipment                         Connectors

4/09/07                        Wire                                                     System Interfacing

 4/16/07                       Microphones                                        Amplitude Based Processors   

4/23/07                        Time Based Processors                        Sound Theory

4/30/07                        Final Exam Review                               Final Exam