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Course # / Title: |
AET 2090.50 Audio Engineering 1 |
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Course Credit Hours: |
3 |
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Semester: |
Summer 2008 |
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Instructor: |
Luke Gilfeather, B.M. |
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Instructor Contacts: |
615-242-5167;
gilfeathera@mail.belmont.edu |
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Instructor Office Hours: |
Monday – Friday
10AM – 3:30PM |
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Class Location: |
RCA Studio B, 1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203 RCA-B Office: 615-242-5167 http://campus.belmont.edu/rcastudiob/ |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Class: Mon and Wed, 9:30am – 10:50am Lab: Tue and Thu: 9:30am – 11:00am |
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Final Exam: |
Monday, 8/4/08, 9:30am |
Course Description:
Prerequisites:
AET 1380 and permission of instructor. A detailed study of the technical
characteristics and performance of each component of the recording studio.
Topics include basic studio electronics and signal flow, dynamic processing,
basic microphone design, studio acoustics, basic session procedures, and the
role of the assistant engineer. Emphasis is placed on developing logistical as
well as audio perception skills for recording engineers. Lab hours required.
Course
Outcomes: At the
end of this course, the student will be able to:
Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:
ú
prepare a recording studio
for a recording, overdub, and mix session.
ú
assist and observe sessions
and complete individual session logs.
ú
organize relevant session
data into industry standard project documentation
ú
describe the audio
presentation of a professionally recorded song through a written report.
ú
assess the quality of audio
and recording techniques by using critical listening skills
ú
synthesize outcomes by
completing assigned recording projects.
ú
complete practical
examinations demonstrating applied knowledge and skills in the recording
studio.
ú
complete written
examinations demonstrating knowledge gained from lectures, readings, and
assignments.
Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes
mastery will be evaluated by:
ú
Written exams -
Written responses comprising short answer and original short- and long-form
essays and/or multiple choice responses.
ú
Practical exams
– Common studio procedures are assigned and student proficiency is evaluated by
instructor via a timed examination
ú
Assignments–
assignments and recording projects are evaluated by the instructor measuring
student proficiency.
Testing & Assignments:
|
Activity |
Credit |
Purpose/Description |
|
1. Assistant
Engineer Assignments (2) |
10
% |
Students
translate details of recording sessions to industry standard documentation
within a specified time. |
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2. Recording Projects (4) |
35% |
Provide
practical application of course content outside class and lab. Includes two recording sessions and
two mixing sessions. |
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3. Assistant Engineer Sessions |
10% |
Students are
required to serve as an Assistant Engineer in any Belmont University studio
completing a minimum of twenty (20) hours. Credit is given on an hourly
basis. Each assistant hour will
receive a credit of 5 points. Credit hours are logged via the CMB Studio
Invoice database system. Students
must be properly booked on the session and sign the invoice at the end of the
session to receive credit. If two
(2) assistants serve one session, each assistant will receive 1/2 credit. |
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4. Lab
Participation |
10% |
Provide
hands-on application of specific class content. |
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5. Comprehensive Written Tests (3) |
15
% |
Based on
current reading assignments and lectures, the written tests measure the
knowledge base attained during the course. Each test includes short-answer essay
and multiple-choice questions. |
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6.
Comprehensive Practical Exams |
10% |
Assess the
demonstration of functional ability using equipment in the RCA Studio B
control room. Includes completing tasks within a specified amount of time in
the presence of the instructor. |
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7. Final Exam |
10
% |
Based on all
reading assignments and lectures, the written test measures the comprehensive
knowledge attained by the end of the course. Test includes short-answer essay and
multiple-choice questions. |
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.
After four total
absences, a student’s final grade will be reduced by 5%. After six total absences, the student’s
final grade will be reduced 10%.
After eight total absences (7 combined absences of class meetings and
labs during Summer term), the student will be removed from the class roster and
withdrawn from the class with a grade of WF. Absences are excused at the discretion
of the instructor.
Cell Phones: Cell phones
must be powered off during class and lab. Any use of a cell phone during class
will result in an unexcused absence for that day.
Materials:
Audio
Engineering 1 Workbook by Bulla, Janas, and Prince (latest
edition)
Audio in Media by Stanley R. Alten (8th Edition)
Understanding
Audio: Getting the Most Out of Your Project or Professional Recording Studio by Daniel Thompson
6 Blank CD-rs,6
jewel cases
Grade Evaluation: As
per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:
|
Grade |
Percent (GPA) |
|
A |
94 (4.0) |
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A- |
90 (3.7) |
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B+ |
87 (3.3) |
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B |
84 (3.0) |
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B- |
80 (2.7) |
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C+ |
77 (2.3) |
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C |
74 (2.0) |
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C- |
70 (1.7) |
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Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major. |
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D+ |
67 |
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D |
64 |
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D- |
60 |
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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 |
Lab Topic |
Assignments |
|
6/2 |
Class Overview, Studio
Components & Basic Signal Flow |
Lab: pp1-5.3, 36 UA: Ch 1-2 |
Tracking Session
Setup |
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6/4 |
Signal Flow:
Symbols Console Signal Flow
& Architecture |
UA: Ch 3, Ch 4,
p261 Lab: pp17-18, 35-37 AIM: pp95-108 |
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6/9 |
Session
Documentation for Projects 1-3 Basic Acoustics |
UA: Ch 5 AIM: Ch 1 Lab: pp 9-15.8 |
Mix Session Signal
Flow, Pro Tools |
Start: Asst Engr 1 |
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6/11 |
Basic Audio &
Electrical Theory |
UA: Ch 6 |
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6/16 |
Advanced Audio
& Electrical Theory |
UA: Ch 7 Lab: pp 18-22,
27-34 |
Micing: Voc, Agt,
Pno |
Due: Asst Engr 1 Start: Project 1 |
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6/18 |
Written Test 1; Practical
Exam 1 |
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6/23 |
Microphone Design
& Operating Principles |
UA: pp14-22 AIM: pp 58-66,
84-94 Lab: pp 71-87 |
Micing: Amps &
Drums |
Due: Project 1 |
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6/25 |
Mic Techniques:
Vocals, Acoustic Gtr, Piano |
AIM: Ch 15 UA: pp 218-221 |
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Start: Project 2 |
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6/30 |
Mic Techniques:
Amplified Inst & Drums |
Same as 2/19 |
Equalization |
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7/2 |
Session
Documentation for Projects 4-5 Spectral Processing |
AIM: pp 151-154 Lab: pp 101-112 |
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Due: Project 2 |
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7/7 |
Dynamic Processing
– Compression & Limiting |
UA: pp 24-25 AIM: pp 161-165 Lab: pp 112-129 |
Dynamic Processing |
Start: Asst Engr 2 |
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7/9 |
Dynamic Processing
– Expansion & Gating; Time Processing |
UA: pp 24-25 AIM: pp 161-165,
154-160 Lab: pp 112-129,
130-134 |
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7/14 |
Written Test 2; Loudspeakers
& Monitoring |
AIM: Ch 3 Lab: p135 UA: Ch 10 |
Time Processing;
Tape Editing |
Due: Asst Engr 2 Start: Project 3 |
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7/16 |
Decibels &
Operating Level |
UA: Ch 8-9 AIM:pp 4-6, 11-13 Lab: pp 22-26 |
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7/21 |
Operating Level
& Gain Stage |
UA: Ch 11-12 |
Mixing, Tape Editing |
Due: Project 3 |
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7/23 |
Analog Recording; Digital
Recording |
UA: Ch 13, 14 Lab: pp 88-91 |
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Start: Project 4 |
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7/28 |
Written Test 3,
Practical Exam 2 |
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Analog Tape Cal |
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7/30 |
Course Recap -
Final Exam Review |
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Due: Project 4 |
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8/4 |
Final Exam |
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No lab |
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