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Fall 2020 Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC-1327- Section: 71 Audio Engineering I |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||||
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| Instructor | Kenneth Turner | ||||||||||
| turnerkq@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6547 | ||||||||||
| Office |
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| Department |
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| COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||||
| Course Information | |||||||||||
| Description | Overview of the recording studio. Includes basic studio electronics and acoustic principles, waveform properties, microphone concepts and placement techniques, studio set up and signal flow, console theory, signal processing concepts, multi-track principles and operation, and an overview of mixing and editing. | ||||||||||
| Prerequisites | This course does not have any prerequisites, other than some basic understanding of working with a PC or Mac computer. | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes |
1. Identify acoustic and electronic concepts (PSLO 1) 2. Describe waveform properties (PSLO 1) 3. Explain microphone characteristics and placement (PSLO 1) 4. Describe studio set-up and signal routing (PSLO 1) 5. Explain console and recording operation techniques (PSLO 1) 6. Identify basic recording studio procedures (PSLO 1) 7. Demonstrates comprehension of content-reading area material and vocabulary (PSLO Alpha) |
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| Core Objectives |
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. * Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. * Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts. * Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view. * Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. * Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making. |
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| Program Student Learning Outcomes |
PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material. PSLO 1: Applies commercial music sound technology to professional practice. SLO 1: Students will apply commercial music sound technology to professional practice. PSLO 2: Applies commercial music performance skill to support sound engineering practice. SLO 2: Students will apply commercial music performance skill to support sound engineering practice. PSLO 3: Applies basic music industry principles to professional practice. SLO 3: Students will apply basic music industry principles to professional practice. PSLO 4: Demonstrates professional behavior as characterized by a commitment to the profession. SLO 4: Students will demonstrate professional behavior as characterized by a commitment to the profession. (Recording Arts Technology/Technician) |
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| Textbooks |
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Modern Recording Techniques, 9th ed., by David Miles Huber (ISBN: 978-1138954373) Blackbird Academy Foundations, Must Know Audio Recording Principles, by Kevin Becka (ISBN: 978-1495069345) |
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| Lecture Topics Outline |
Week 1: Course Overview; Syllabus Review; Basics of Sound; Pro Tools Intro; Supersaas Week 2: Waveforms; Fundamentals of Sound / Transduction; Pro Tools (contd.) Week 3: Fundamentals of Sound, Part 2 / The Recording Chain - Preamps Gain Staging Week 4: Fundamentals of Sound, Part 3 / TRC - Compression; More Signal Flow Week 5: Fundamentals of Sound, Part 4 / TRC - Equalization; Decibels; 0 dB References Week 6: RC - Recording Studio; Patch Bays; Critical Listening 1; Mac Lab Usage Week 7: RC - The Drum Kit; Stereo Microphone Techniques 1; Phase Week 8: Test Review; Impedance - The Highs and Lows; RC - Guitars; Project 1 Due "Pro Tools Session - One" Week 9: Compression Revisited Week 10: Advanced Signal Flow - Outside the Box, Again Week 11: Critical Listening 2 Week 12: Spatial Effects 1; Yet, More Compression Week 13: Putting it All Together - The Basic Rough Mix Week 14: Student TBA Week 15: Project 2 Due "4 Track Recording" Please be advised, all course topics and examination schedules are subject to change. No late student projects will be accepted. |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
Week 1 Meet and Greet/ Survey Week 2 Quiz; Discussion Week 3 Quiz; Discussion Week 4 Quiz; Assignment Week 5 Quiz; Discussion Week 6 Quiz; Lab Assignment Week 7 Quiz; Discussion Week 8 Quiz; Lab Assignment Week 9 Test; Discussion Week 10 Quiz; Lab Assignment Week 11 Quiz; Discussion Week 12 Quiz; Lab Assignment Week 13 Quiz; Discussion Week 14 Quiz; Lab Assignment Week 15 TBA Student Projects Due Weeks 8 and 15 Please be advised, all course topics and examination schedules are subject to change. No late student projects will be accepted. |
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| Final Exam Date | December 3, 2020 - 11:00 AM Through December 11, 2020 - 4:00 PM | ||||||||||
| Grading Scale | 90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D Below 59 = F | ||||||||||
| Determination of Final Grade |
Attendance/ Class Participation 20% Discussions/ Assignments 30% Quizzes/ Tests 20% Projects 30% |
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| Course Policies | |||||||||||
| Instructor Policies |
Students can email me at turnerkq@lamarpa.edu, and I will respond as soon as possible. Grades will be available on BLACKBOARD. However, I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, extra credit, etc., you must schedule an online meeting for advising. No late work will be accepted. |
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| Attendance Policy |
Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance, timeliness, and overall college success. Prompt and regular online participation is required to complete all LSCPA courses successfully. The weekly lessons are cumulative; therefore, it is imperative that students stay current with their coursework and assignments. In addition, students who fall behind in their course work miss out on the cumulative curriculum, as a whole. It is recommended that students begin their course(s) promptly when the semester begins. If a student does need to start the course a few days late, they should contact the instructor via the e-mail listed above as soon as possible, after the course has opened. If students plan to be away from their courses, they should inform their instructors via e-mail, and make every effort to continue working on the courses while away. If this is not possible, they should make a plan with their instructors to catch up upon returning. Note that failure to submit required work in courses for two weeks or more will result in the 7.5% reduction with each weekly posted assignment per week and an automatic failing grade for lab assignments and projects, eventual academic penalty, and recommendation for student withdrawal. Students should contact their instructors as soon as possible to determine what, if any, arrangements can be made for the specific situation. Instructors may issue a failing grade for failure to submit required work in a course. The grade of F will be recorded for failure to complete or properly withdraw from courses. |
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| Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||||
| Facility Policies |
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| Important Information | |||||||||||
| ADA Considerations | The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. | ||||||||||
| MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA. | ||||||||||
| Other |
Course Description: The tools, personnel and standard workflow of a recording studio. Topics include fundamentals of sound and overview of tracking, editing, and mixing audio. Your End-of-Course Outcomes: Identify properties of sound and electronic signals; explain microphone characteristics and placement; describe studio set-up and signal routing; explain console and recording operation techniques; and identify basic recording studio procedures. Here are some of my recommendations for this course for remote use and study: Hardware/ Software External Firewire/USB 3.0/ Thunderbolt Hard Drive with Minimum 7,200 RPM and Oxford Chip Set (Preferably Avid Certified for use with Pro Tools.) Recommendations: Glyph, Lacie, Western Digital or OWC Hard Drive (500 GB or better) Recommended: Pro Tools 11 or higher (You may qualify for monthly Pro Tools Academic subscription. Please note: Pro Tools First is not supported in this course). Any current audio interface that supports Core Audio (Mac OS) or ASIO (Windows) such as the Avid Mbox 3, Focusrite Scarlett, Presonus AudioBox 96, etc. An iLok Smart Key is required for authorization of all Pro Tools Academic systems Pair of Stereo headphones (AKG K240MkII, Sennheiser HD 280 PRO, Sony MDR7506, Audio Technica ATH-M50x, or Beyerdynamic DT 660 (Earbuds can be substituted for use, if needed). Although not necessary for this course, a MIDI keyboard controller, microphone or instrument (electric guitar, bass) is recommended, will eventually be needed, and may be provided. Course Journaling: Google Docs Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment at Blackboard. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements sections above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course. Mac Users OS X 10.10 Yosemite or higher PC Users Windows 7 or higher All Users Latest version of Google Chrome Zoom meeting software Webcam Speakers or headphones External or internal Microphone Broadband Internet connection We will go over all of the aforementioned materials listed above, well before you need to acquire any gear or materials. Questions? Please ask. MY JOB IS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS. I CARE. IT MATTERS. I NEED YOU TO DO THE SAME. WHEN IN DOUBT, COMMUNICATE WITH ME! KQT |
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| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||||