MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course # / Title:	AET 2560.01 / Sound Reinforcement
Course Credit Hours:	3 Hours
Semester:	Spring  2009
Instructor:	Frank Baird, M.Ed., B.A.
Instructor Contacts:	615-460-6905, bairdf@mail.belmont.edu
Instructor Office Hours:	By appointment.  MPAC  19
Class Location:	Massey Building, Room B19
Meeting Time(s):	Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM
Final Exam:	Thursday May 7^th, 2009, 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM

Course Description:

AET 2560 - 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.

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

· design, assemble, trouble-shoot and operate small venue sound systems with a knowledge base of large concert venue sound systems.

· identify and analyze live acoustic and audio system technical problems.

· apply analog console live signal routing and signal flow charts.

Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:

· recognize and use basic terms/definitions, techniques, skills, and modern tools of the disciplines within practical sound reinforcement applications through classroom theory/shop/laboratory and small venue application.

· be required to attend and role-play in Belmont University Music Business showcases.

· participate in the classroom/lab environment with the instructor.

· work with students from AET 4560 Advanced Sound Reinforcement students at on campus events employing live sound and live recording techniques as per assignments delegated by the Coordinator of Live Sound department.

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

• Written responses comprising short answers.
• Multiple choice, and true and false questions.
• Mixing prerecorded live performances on to CD. 

Testing & Assignments:

There will be four quizzes, one mid-term, and one final exam.  No makeup quizzes will be permitted.  Along with mandatory testing you will be required to complete homework assignments. An analog Mixdown Project due at the end of semester is also included.

Activity	Credit	Purpose/Description
1. Event Participation/Attendance	20 %	Based on attending and taking part in AET Live Sound events including, but not limited to Curb Café events, CEMB Showcases, and other events as booked.
2. Quizzes/Homework	15 %	Based on reading assignments, quizzes will assess the student’s knowledge base of the topic.
3. Mixdown Project	15 %	Based on a team collaboration of two students, the mixdown project will assess the student’s ability to mix a prerecorded live recording to a CD.
4. Mid-Term Exam	25%	Based on reading assignments and lectures, comprehensive tests will assess the depth of the student’s knowledge base of the topic.  Each test is comprised of a series of short-answer essay questions supplemented with multiple-choice questions.
5. Final Exam	25%	Based on reading assignments and lectures, comprehensive tests will assess the depth of the student’s knowledge base of the topic.  Each test is comprised of a series of short-answer essay questions supplemented with multiple-choice questions.

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Attendance & Participation:  Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin.  Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.

Materials:

Davis & Jones; Sound Reinforcement Handbook ISBN: 0881889008.

CDR’s for mixdown project. 

Calculator

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

Date	Topic	Section	Misc Info
January 15	Introduction
January 20	Curb Café Training		Meet @ Curb Cafe
January 22	History of LSR
January 26			Shows start in Curb Cafe
January 27	Simple Sound/dB	1 & 2
January 29	Showcase Preparation
January 30 & 31			Rock Showcase
February 3	Waveform/dB	3
February 5	dB/OSHA	3
February 10	Microphones	10
February 12	Microphones	10
February 17	Microphones	10
February 19	Graphic EQ/Consoles	14,7, & 11
February 20 & 21			Country Showcase
February 24	Consoles	11
February 26	Midterm Review
March 3	Midterm
March 5	Consoles	11
March 10 & 12	Spring Break
March 17	Mixdown Project Review
March 19	Consoles	11
March 24	Consoles	11
March 26	Consoles	11
March 31	Connectors	15
April 2	Amplifiers	12
April 7	Amplifiers	12
April 9	Easter Break
April 14	Speakers	13
April 16	Speakers	13
April 21	Speakers	13
April 23	Speakers	13
April 24 & 25			Best of the Best
April 28	Crossovers	13
April 30	Crossovers	13
May 5	Final Exam Review
May 7	Final