Digital Audio I

MUS 382

MWF 11:00-11:50, Spring 2003

Instructor: Dr. James Harley
office: CA 138; telephone 236-2001; email harleyja@mnstate.edu

Course Outline:

Digital Audio I is designed to introduce you to the world of sound, audio, digital audio, recording, editing, mixing, and processing. You will have assigned readings, explaining audio concepts and the various stages and elements involved in digital audio production. You will be evaluated on these readings through take-home quizzes and summaries.

Lab assignments will cover the range of techniques required to gain facility in workstation-oriented audio production. Due approximately every other week, this applied work will cover topics such as: recording to computer, soundfile editing, MIDI tracking and editing, sound synthesis, sound processing, mastering and burning to disc, encoding, and basic integration of audio into web design.

The other main element of the course involves directed listening. There will be a number of assigned listening tasks in which you will be asked to listen for particular qualities or production techniques. The selections will be drawn partially from specific recordings, and partially from sources you will research on your own. The criteria for evaluating or analyzing these selections will be provided. The intention of this component of the course is to guide you toward more focused, production-oriented listening, to develop your critical skills on the basis of what you hear.

Consistent attendance is critical in order gain familiarity with the equipment in the studio and the concepts introduced. You will be allowed three absences (excused or unexcused). After that, you will lose 5% of your grade for every class missed. After three late arrivals, you will lose 2.5% of your grade for each subsequent late arrival to class. You are also expected to participate in the classes, to demonstrate your understanding of the readings, and your grasp of the tools and techniques. It is important to make sure you are clear on procedures that are demonstrated in class, in order to make your own lab time most efficient.

Assignments must be completed on time. Late work will be penalized 10% per day (not per class) unless you have been granted an extension. To obtain an extension you need to contact the instructor by the classtime of the due date at the latest.

You are expected to spend at least 2 hours per week in the Lab, in addition to keeping up with assigned readings and listening. We will not schedule lab time unless it becomes necessary, but it is strongly recommended that you build a regular lab time into your own weekly routine. It will be possible to sign up for additional time to a limit of 6 hours in any given week. It is of course always possible to check the lab to see if there is a workstation open for you to use.

Textbook:

The Computer Music Tutorial, by Curtis Roads.

Required Equipment:

• notebook
• Zip disk(s)
• CD-Rs
• headphones (with mini-jack adaptor)

Evaluation:

Schedule (tentative):

Jan 15

• begin reading Chapter 1

Jan 17

• send email message to harleyja@mnstate.edu and include the policy statement from the syllabus on late assignments, and, if you have any audio equipment that you already work with, let me know what it is and the computer platform you use

Jan 20

• no class

Jan 22

Jan 24

Jan 27

Jan 29

Jan 31

Feb 3

Feb 5

Feb 7

Feb 10

Feb 12

Feb 14

Feb 17

Feb 19

Feb 21

Feb 24

Feb 26

Feb 28

Mar 3

Mar 5

Mar 7

Mar 10

Mar 12

Mar 14

SPRING BREAK

Mar 24

Mar 26

Mar 28

Mar 31

Apr 2

Apr 4

Apr 7

Apr 9

Apr 11

Apr 14

Apr 16

Apr 18

Apr 21

Apr 23

Apr 25

Apr 28

Apr 30

May 2

May 5

May 7

Final Exam: 12 noon, May 14