BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:          Audio Engineering II

Course #:               AET 3190            Credit Hrs: 3      Semester: Summer I 2005

Class Location:      MBC CMB – B-07           Meeting Time(s): Mon. - Thur. 7:30 – 9:15 AM

Final Exam:           Thursday July 7

Lab Sessions:        Tue / Thur 2:30 & 4 PM

Instructor:          Mr. Billy W. Prince

Contacts:               Phone:    460-5553               Email:     princeb@mail.belmont.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

AET 3190. Audio Engineering II (3). Prerequisite: MBU 3090 and permission of instructor. A continuation of MBU 3090, this course is an advanced study of the technical characteristics and performance of each component of the recording studio. Topics include advanced studio electronics and signal flow, computer-based digital recording and editing, analog and digital tape machine operations, automated console operations, condenser microphones, spatial signal processing, and the role of the audio engineer. The development of audio perception skills for recording engineers is emphasized. Lab hours required. ($30.00 course fee)

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

To provide students with instruction and hands on experience in the setting of the modern recording studio, building on the foundation of their experience in their pre-requisite classes.

 

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:

 

As members of the Belmont community, students, faculty, staff, and administrators are all responsible for ensuring that their experiences will be free of behaviors, which compromise value. In order to uphold academic integrity, the University has adopted an Honor System. Students and faculty will work together to establish the optimal conditions for honorable academic work. Following is the Student Honor Pledge that guides academic behavior:

 

“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.

 

2. Supplies/Materials: You will need two texts and recording supplies.

 

(1) Current edition of the Audio Engineering 2 Workbook (New Frontier Publishing).

(2) Current edition of Audio in Media (6th Ed.) by Stanley R. Alten (Wadsworth Publishing Co.).

You will be responsible for all information contained in the Workbook and other readings as assigned.

(3) Recording supplies comprising: 2-inch analog master tape (furnished); an exabyte data storage tape for backup of RADAR recording; a blank CD-R; and misc. 3.5 inch computer disk(s) as needed. A CD label for burning your final project.

 

3. Participation and Prepared assignments:

You are expected to: show a sincere effort of co-operation, participation, and self application during this course of study; read assigned and recommended text and handouts; and fully complete ALL class, lab, homework, and project assignments.

 

You are required to engineer two recording projects.

 

(A) Three sessions comprising a 2-inch 30 ips analog Tracking Session in Studio A, Transferred to PRO TOOLS (24bit 48kHz) for overdubs to be done on the PRO TOOLS TDM in Studio C* and mixing in and to ProTools, using NEVE Flying Faders Automation, and ‘bounced to disk’ (16 bit 44.1 kHz stereo interleaved) to be burned to CD using Toast software. (Due Jul 5)

 

(B) Three sessions comprising Tracking on RADAR in studio A, Overdubs in Studio B, and Mixed on the SSL console to NUENDO bounced to disk (stereo interleaved 16 bit 44.1 KHz) Using Toast CD Burning software, make a CD containing project 1 and project 2 respectively. (Due Jul 5)

 

Projects "A" tracking, and "B" Tracking and overdubs, are required to use Audio Engineering 1 students (MBU 3090) assistant engineers. The other sessions may use Audio 2 assistants. (Pjt 1 overdubs & mixing, Pjt 2 mixing)

 

4. Assistant Sessions: In order to gain hands-on experience, you are required to serve as assistant engineer for recording sessions in the CMB studios. Credit for assisting is based on an hourly basis. Every assistant hour will receive a credit of 10 points. Bonus credit may be earned by completion of more than 10 assistant hours up to a maximum of 125 points. Credit hours will be logged via the CMB Studio Invoice database system. You must be properly booked on the session and sign the invoice at the end of the session in order to receive credit. If two (2) assistants serve one session, each assistant will receive 1/2 credit. Audio 2 students will receive first 3 calls to assist on all non-class projects. Also, AE2 students may serve as an additional assistant on AE2 Project tracking sessions.

 

 

5. Lab Sessions: In order to gain experience with specific tasks, you are required to participate in various lab sessions. Credit for lab participation is based on lab hours completed. Each lab session will earn 8 points. Bonus credit may be earned by completion of more than 12 labs, points may be earned. Each bonus lab session will receive 5 bonus points on lab grade. Lab sessions are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 2pm – 3:30 for AE2.01. The class must be split, half on Tuesday (6 students), and half on Thursday (6 students).

 

6. Testing: There will be a Mid-Term and a Final Exam. Each will be comprehensive and inclusive of all class content and assigned reading material covered to that date. NO "MAKE-UP" TESTs.

 

7. Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Participation credits are listed below:

 

9. Audit Students:

As per the current Belmont University Bulletin (catalog), students who audit are allowed to attend classes as a "non-participant in a non-credit, non-degree seeking status." However, audit students are encouraged to participate in class discussions and labs and to attend and observe recording sessions in the Center for Music Business studios. Students who audit will not be given a report topic, recording project, or allowed to assist as second engineer on project recording sessions. In addition, since auditing is a non-credit status, participation as an audit will not meet the minimum qualifications for booking and participating in recording sessions held in the Center for Music Business Studios.

 

10.          Class Schedule:                                                                    Class Topic

Meeting #:                

1 Jun 6	Introduction, class overview. CMB studios A & B overview. Tour of A & B wiring & equipment. Microphone design and listening comparison of condenser microphone performance..
2 Jun 7	Miking Techniques. The Mid-Side technique & Phase considerations
3 Jun 8	Console Operations: The ins and outs of The NEVE VR- Legend console. Signal Flow Console Status selector. (Assigned Reading: Neve Console Operations in Lab Workbook)
4 Jun 9	More Console Operations: NEVE VR Cont’d
5 Jun 13	More Console Operations: SSL
6 Jun 14	Digital Recording: Various Formats: Sony PCM-3348 digital recorder--advance, assemble, and insert modes. DAT mixing operations; RADAR operations. A/D and D/D Transfers..
7 Jun 15	Pro Tools; SMPTE Lock & Chase; (Sync I/O) mixing and bouncing to disk, transfers..
8 Jun 16	Intro to Computer automation. SMPTE, Read, Write, and Update. NEVE Flying Faders
9 Jun 20	Mid Term Exam More Automation Flying Faders
10 Jun 21	More Automation – SSL Ultimation
11 June 22	Automation and console operations
12 June 23	Flexible – Review / Catch up
13 Jun 27	Sound localization in 3-D through the use of head-related transfer. (HRTF).. Spatial processing and binaural hearing: Jeffress's neural model of auditory Psychoacoustics: Sound in an enclosed space, the precedence effect and echo suppression processing, the duplex theory, and Mill's minimum audible angle (MAA. ). units
14 Jun 28	Mixing Techniques – Practical use of multiple effects Creating Space with effects
15 Jun 29	Dynamic Processing – Compressors / Gates / Expanders External Keying / Ducking/ d-essing
16 Jun 30	Mixing Techniques – setting up the mix – headroom – effects – gates – expanders - compressors Compressing or limiting the mix
17 Jul 5	Project 2 due Listen to projects in class all materials with supporting paperwork.
18 Jul 6	Review for Final Exam
19 Jul 7	Final Exam

 

Audio Engineering 2 Lab Schedule

 

	LAB	SCHEDULE	CREDIT
		Studio A & B
1	Large Session Set -up	Jun 7 2:30 & 4pm
	“” “” “”	Jun 9 2:30 & 4 pm
2	Transfers a/d d/d PTOOLS & Nuendo	Jun 14
	“”””””	Jun 16
3	Computer Automation	Jun 21
	“” “”	Jun 23
4	Spacial Effects Processingf	Jun 28
		Jun 30
5	Dynamic Processing	Tue - Jul 5
	“	Wed Jul 6

 

 

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 Tammye Tanksley, Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of the Dean of Students (460-6407) as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

AE 2 Project Criteria Detail

 

Paperwork: Each project session will be booked in advance on the schedule in RED. A Work order will be submitted containing pre-production information, and other vital information about your session. This must be done at least one week in advance of your first project session in order to get confirmed status (GREEN) Your project will be graded using this criteria sheet and your syllabus as the standard. Paperwork will consist of 60%

of your project, and your recording will be 40%. Procedure and organization will be exemplified in your work.

 

Paperwork will be as follows:

 

1. Obtain the yellow copy of each session invoice from the studio staff person at the end of each session. This will be turned in with other project materials.

 

2. Make a detailed studio layout of your tracking and overdub sessions. A floor layout will be provided for Studio A & B. (Make a sketch of you overdub session in C) Indicate the position of each instrument you record and the microphones that you use.

 

3. Turn in a completed Track Sheet of each project. Include notes such as effects and locate numbers. Be sure to fill out the back of the track sheet with mics, lines, and channels assigned to.

 

4. A sheet containing dynamics, and effects processing for each mix – 2 provided. (Projects 1 and 2).

 

5. A lyric sheet of each song recorded. At the beginning of every line write the locate number of the recorder. Be careful to indicate the writer of music and words and the publisher and PRO if applicable.

 

6. A Chord chart (preferably the Nashville number system) of each song.

 

7. A separately typed credit sheet listing all musicians, writers, engineer, producer, assistant engineer, and staff engineer, Song title, length of song, Publisher, and PRO, info. (If none, so state)

 

8. A properly labeled CD containing two songs, Project 1 & 2 respectively.

You may use the software, printer, and PC at the desk in the CMB to make your CD label. The software is called

“Click ‘N Design”

 

*The neatness and organization of your documentation and paperwork will comprise 60% of your project grade.

 

Recording:

 

Project #1: Will consist of (1) Analog 30 IPS Tracking Session in Studio A, (Transfer to PRO-TOOLS for overdubs and mixing) (1) Overdub Session Studio C, and (1) Mix Session Studio A. These sessions will be performed in CMB Studio A in order to gain experience on the Neve console. Project #1 will be mixed to two tracks in protocols and bounced to disk 44.1 kHz 16 bit stereo interleaved. Make sure to Normalize before bouncing to disk.

 

Project #2 Will consist of (1) Tracking Session In Studio A Radar . (1) Overdub Session, and (1) Mix Session in Studio B (SSL Console). Project 2 will be mixed to stereo tracks into Nuendo, saved on the Firewire record drive on the Mac G4 and “bounced to disk” stereo interleaved, 16 bit, 44.1 kHz. The bounce data from Project #1 will be combined with the bounce data from Project #2 and “burned” to CD using the Toast CD software. Song 1, (pjt. 1) and Song 2, (pjt. 2.) Your CD must be clearly labeled with printed label. Be careful to use the grade sheet as a guide and check list for your paperwork..

 

** Any deviation from this procedure will result in points deducted..