BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:        Audio Engineering II

Course #:               AET 3190.04       Credit Hrs:  3        Semester:  Spring 06

Class Location:    MBC CMB – B-07              Meeting Time(s):  Wed. 3:30  PM – 5:30 PM

Final Exam:          May  TBA

Lab Sessions:       Tuesday / Thursday  4PM – 4:50 PM

Instructor:             Mr. Billy W. Prince

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

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

AET 3190. Audio Engineering II (3). Prerequisite: AET 3090 and permission of instructor. A continuation of AET 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  by Stanley R. Alten (Wadsworth Publishing Co.). OR your text from Survey of Recording Technology.

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; 2 blank CD-R; 2 blank DVD-R disks; 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.

 

(#1) (By Spring Break) 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 )  Save on the Nuendo Record Only  Drive. You will combine this with Pjt.#2  and turn in on a single CD Using Toast software on the Mac.   

During your tracking sessions for both projects, before breaking down, record your  board mix (rough)  direct to a CD.  Turn this in first class period after your tracking session.

 

(#2) (Immediately after Spring Break)  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.  Mixing in Studio A on the NEVE Console, in and to ProTools and ‘bounced to disk’  (16 bit 44.1 kHz stereo interleaved) to be burned to CD using Toast software, combined with Project 1.  Projdect 1 will be the first song, Pjt. 2 the second song.  (Due May 1st)

 

 

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. In order to receive an A for the assisting component of your grade, you must assist on 3 sessions (12 hours) Bonus credit may be earned by completion of more than 12 assistant hours up to a maximum of 110 points. Bonus points will be accrued @ 2.5 points per hour above 12 hours. 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. Pjt 1Tracking sessions are required to use AE2  student assistant engineers, with the option to use 1 AE1 student as an additional assistant. Project 2 is required to use an AE 1 assistant for tracking and overdubs. An additional assistant from AE2 may be used as well.  Pjt  2 overdubs, and project 1 & 2 mixing will use AE2 for assisting.

 

**Current AE2 students will receive first opportunity to assist non-class projects.

 

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, 5 bonus  points may be earned for each lab above 12, to a maximum of 10 bonus  points. Lab sessions are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 4pm   4:50 for AE2.04.  The class must be split, half on Tuesday, and half on Thursday.

 

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 on the

following page.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Basis of final grade evaluation:  Scale as per current Undergraduate Bulletin, (Vol. 50).

 

Item

Credit Percentile  (%)

1. Class attendance

15

0 days absent = 100 points credit.   1 day absent = 90 points credit.  2 days absent = 80 points credit.   3 days absent = 70 points credit.  4 days absent = 60 points  5 days = Dropped from class with F

2. Mid-Term exam         March 15

15

3. Final exam                   TBA

20

4. Recording project

(Grade based on technical aspects of the project, not the music or musical performance)

15

5. Labs

20

6. Assistant Sessions

15

 

 

 

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 Topics

           

 

Introduction, class overview. CMB studios A & B overview.  Tour  of A & B wiring & equipment.

Console Operations /Patrchbay

 

Console Operations:  The ins and outs of The NEVE VR- Legend console.

 

 

Console Operations Comparisons Neve / SSL

 

 Console Operations  / SSL

 

Condenser Microphone design and listening comparison of condenser microphone performance

Miking Techniques. The Mid-Side technique Phase considerations

 

Digital Recording: Various Formats: Sony PCM-3348 digital recorder--advance, assemble, and insert modes.;     RADAR operations. A/D and D/D Transfers.. 

 

 

Nuendo / Protools

 

Pro Tools; Smpte; Time code synchronization

 

Computer automation .  SMPTE, Read, Write, and Update ..  NEVE Flying Faders

 

 

Computer automation   SSL Ultimation 

 

Mixing Techniques – setting up the mix – headroom – effects – gates – expanders - compressors Compressing or limiting the mix Dynamic Processing – Compressors / Gates / Expanders External Keying / Ducking/ d-essing

 

Practical use of multiple effects Creating Space with effects 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..

 

Mixing Techniques  –  Spacial Effects

14

Apr 19

 Listen to projects in class

15

Apr 26

Review For Final Exam

 

Audio Engineering Lab Schedule             Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 4 PM

 

LAB

SCHEDULE

CREDIT

 

 

 

 

1

 Large Session Set-up

Tuesday    Jan 17

 

 

Studios A & B

Thursday   Jan 19

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

              

 

1

 Large Session Set-up

          Jan 24   

 

 

Studios A & B

                  Jan 26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 Analog – Protools  / Nuendo Transfers

Jan 31

 

 

 Radar Transfers

Feb 2

 

 

 

           

 

 

 Analog – Protools / Nuendo Transfers

 

 

2

 Radar Transfers

Feb 7

 

 

 

 Feb 9

 

 

 

           

 

 

Spacial Effects Processing

 

 

3

Studios A & B

Feb 14

 

 

 

Feb 16

 

 

 

           

 

3

Spacial Effects Processing

Feb 21

 

 

            Studios A & B

Feb 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Advanced Dynamic Processing

Feb 28

 

 

Studios A & B

Mar 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Advanced Dynamic Processing

Mar 14

 

 

Studios A & B

Mar 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Computer Automation

Mar 21

 

 

Studios A & B

Mar 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Computer Automation

Mar 28

 

 

Studios A & B

Mar 30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

Analog Tape Machine

Apr 4

 

 

Calibration

Apr 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

Analog Tape Machine

Apr 11

 

 

Calibration

Apr 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

Bonus Lab #1

Apr 18

 

 

 

Apr 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

Bonus Lab #2

Apr 25

 

 

 

Apr 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

I.  Before your session:

     1.  Meet with your session personell before your first session. And complete a Pre-Production/Work Order and planned studio layout sheet to be turned in 1 week before date of session.  Include a list of the mics that you plan to use for each instrument, with planned mic lines and track assignments.

 

At and After your session:

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.  Complete an actual studio layout sheet of your tracking and overdub sessions.   Floor layouts will be provided for Studio A & B. (Make a sketch of your overdub session in C on the back of your studio A layout for Pjt. 2) 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. (The actual session)

 

4.  A sheet containing dynamics, and effects processing for each mix – (2 provided. For 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.  (This should be obtained

during your pre-production meeting.)

 

6.  A Chord chart (preferably the Nashville number system) of each song.  Ask your session leader to provide this at the beginning of your session)

 

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” You will have to furnish your own label, or if you wish, you may use a printable CD.

 

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

 

Recording:

 

We will lislten to our projects in class. Please follow these and the directions in you syllabus exactly, as  Any deviation from this procedure will result in points deducted..