Fall 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC-1327 (Section: 2, CRN: 93044)
Audio Engineering I
LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Robert Sterling
Email sterlingra@lamarpa.edu
Phone 4099846209
Office
Office Hours Monday & Wednesday
11:45am - 1:00pm
3:30pm - 4:00pm
Additional Contact Information
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.
Required 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.

 

 

Audio Engineering 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Music Production

Second edition published 2018

By Tim Ditmer 

Routlege Publishing

 

ISBN: 978-1-138-65876-9 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-138-65877-6 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-315-61817-3 (ebk)

Additional Materials/Resources

32GB or higher capacity Flash Drive 

7200 RPM external hard drive or SSD 128GB or higher capacity 

 

Audio Interface 

Studio headphones: HD280, DT770 PRO, HPH-MT8, ATH-M50x

ILok

Corequisites/Prerequisites course does not have any prerequisites other than some basic understanding of working with a PC or Mac computer. 
 
 

 
">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 operation and recording techniques (PSLO 1)
  6. Identify basic recording studio procedures (PSLO 1) 
  7. Demonstrates comprehension of content-reading area material and vocabulary (PSLO Alpha)
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.

PSLO 2: Applies commercial music performance skill to support sound engineering practice. 

PSLO 3: Applies basic music industry principals to professional practice.

PSLO 4: Demonstrates professional behavior as characterized by a commitment to the profession.

Lecture Topics Outline
  1. Course Introduction: Syllabus review, basics of sound, Pro Tools intro, Supersaas
  2. Fundamentals of Sound 1: Sine waves and basic waveforms, transduction, Pro Tools
  3. Fundamentals of Sound 2: Recording chain, preamps & gain staging 
  4. Fundamentals of Sound 3: TRC compression, more signal flow 
  5. Fundamentals of Sound 4: TRC Equalization, decibels, 0dB references 
  6. History of Sound Recording, RC: Intro to microphones, patch bays, Mac Lab 
  7. RC: The Drum Kit; Stereo microphone techniques, Phase
  8. RC: Impedance - the highs & lows, drum micing techniques continued
  9. RC: Phase, Compression and drum micing techniques continued. 
  10. RC: Recording bass guitar, intro to DI’s, cabinet micing techniques. 
  11. RC: Recording electric guitar, cabinet micing techniques continued, modulation effects 
  12. RC: Pedal effects: family of sounds, power isolation, pedal chain order, gain staging 
  13. RC: Acoustic guitar micing techniques, spacial effects, virtual instruments 
  14. Putting It All Together: The Basic Rough Mix and mixing concepts, last project introduced 
  15. Introduction to recording vocals, continued mixing concepts 
  16. Continued mixing concepts, two-track processing 
Major Assignments Schedule

Week 1 -  None 
Week 2 -  Quiz 1 

Week 3 -  Quiz 2, Project 1 Due 

Week 4 -  Test 1 

Week 5 -  Quiz 3 

Week 6 -  Quiz 4 

Week 7 -  Quiz 5, Project 2 Due 

Week 8 -  Midterm (Test 2) 

Week 9 -  Quiz 6

Week 10 - None

Week 11 - Quiz 7

Week 12 - Project 3 Due

Week 13 - Test 3 

Week 14 - Quiz 8 

Week 15 - Quiz 9

Week 16 - Quiz 10, Project 4 Due, Final (Test 4)

Final Exam Date December 11, 2024 - 1:0 PM   Through  December 11, 2024 - 3:30 PM
Grading Scale
Determination of
Final Grade
Tests - 50%
Quizzes - 10%
Projects - 20%
Final Exam/Project - 20%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies Students can email me at any time and I will be available during my office hours if an in-person discussion is desired. 
All grades will be available on blackboard.
No late work will be accepted.

Cell Phone Policy - Please put cell phones out of sight and on mute during all class times. Using cell phones during class times is distracting to other students, if you must take a call or make a call, please go into hallway to do so. If there are repeated violations you will be dismissed from class for that day and counted as absent.
Attendance Policy After TWO unexcused absences, each unexcused absence will result in a reduction of one letter grade. 
THREE unexcused absences means the highest letter grade acheiveable will be a B
FOUR unexcused absences means the highest letter grade achievable will be a C.
FIVE
unexcused absences means the highest letter grade achievable will be a D.

Any excused absences must be communicated to the instructor via email BEFORE the missed class, or in case of an emergency ASAP.

Anyone arriving later than 10 minutes will be listed as tardy. Two tardies = absent.
Anyone arriving later than 20 minutes will be listed as absent. 

Unexcused Absence = Anything within the students control; doctor appointments, traffic etc.
Excused Absence = Anything outside of the students control communicated in advance to the instructor and accepted at the instructor's discretion. 
Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
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.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts
Chair:Dr. Blas Canedo Gonzalez
Email:canedoba@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6547