Course Syllabus

MUSC 4700 Audio Production II

Course Description

This course focuses on the study of advanced techniques involved in audio production that build on the concepts covered in Audio Fundamentals I and II. It is the second of two course that comprise the Production Track core. Audio Production II focuses on production and mixing, which includes the study of various production and mixing techniques, both classic and contemporary.

Justification

There is audio in every aspect of our world from public service announcements to recorded music to sound effects in a video game. Someone has to record and produce that audio information. Audio Production I and II provide the opportunity for students to develop the core skills necessary to record and manipulate audio content on a professional level preparing them for jobs as audio engineers, music producers, sound designers, voice artists, sound effects editors, etc. These courses are the core of the Production Track for students pursuing the Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Commercial Music degree, which helps them to build technical knowledge that supplements the musical skills developed this degree.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Be knowledgeable of and familiar with various editing techniques of both one track at a time and multiple tracks at a time.
2. Be familiar with time compression/expansion editing techniques with tools such as Elastic Audio in Pro Tools and Flex Time in Logic Pro.
3. Be able to use a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to tune or pitch correct vocals/instruments.
4. Be familiar with various production techniques including tape stop, glitch, reverse, breaks, stacking, double tracking, etc.
5. Be able to use various EQ, delay, dynamics, reverb, and time-based effects tools and techniques.
6. Be familiar with advanced mixing techniques such as automation, sidechain processing, and spatial field manipulation.
7. Be familiar with Mastering techniques and proper use of limiting.
8. Be able to record and produce a professional quality multitrack audio production of a band or ensemble.

Course Content

This course provides students with opportunities to develop audio and music production skills by studying how to record and by recording acoustic and live electronic instruments. The projects are variable in order to cater to the diverse backgrounds and musical tastes of students, but some projects will be presented to push students out of their comfort zones and into new and exotic styles and genres.Production – Single-Track Editing Production – Multi-Track EditingProduction – Time Compression/ExpansionProduction – TuningProduction – Tape Stop/Glitch/Reverse/BreaksProduction – Stacking/Double TrackingMixing – EQ TechniquesMixing – Delay TechniquesMixing – Compression Tone ShapingMixing – Parallel and Multiband CompressionMixing – Automation/SidechainMixing – Spatial Width/Phase/Vocal RemovalMixing – Reverb/Effects/Panning TechniquesMastering – Techniques/Limiting