Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC-1327 (Section: 1, CRN: 93429)
Audio Engineering I 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Robert Sterling
Email sterlingra@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6547
Office Performing Arts Center - Room: 142
Office Hours M  12:00pm - 1:00pm
T   12:30pm - 1:30pm
W  12:00pm - 1:00pm
T   12:30pm - 1:30pm
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

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

Studio headphones: HD280, DT770 PRO, HPH-MT8, ATH-M50x (all closed-back models)
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
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. What is Sound?: Sine waves and basic waveforms, transduction, Pro Tools
  3. How To Listen : How the ear works, The Frequency Pyramid, Routing
  4. Mixing Consoles 3: Consoles, Mixers and the Signal Path, the Patch Bay 
  5. Fundamentals of Sound 4:  Metering and the various types
  6. History of Sound Recording, RC: Intro to Microphones, Mac Lab 
  7. RC: The Drum Kit; Stereo microphone techniques, Phase
  8. RC: Impedance - the highs & lows, drum micing techniques continued
  9. RC: Phase 
  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: Quiz 1 Syllabus/Blackboard 
Week 2: None
Week 3: Project 1 Issued
Week 4: Quiz 2 Chapters 1 & 2 
Week 5: None
Week 6: Project 1 Due / Physical Test 1 (Patching & Routing)
Week 7; Quiz 3 Chapters 4 & 5 / Project 2 Issued
Week 8: None
Week 9: Quiz 4 Chapter 6
Week 10: None
Week 11: Project 2 Due / Quiz 5 Chapter 3
Week 12: Project 3 Issued
Week 13: Test 2 Aural Exam Drum Mic Positions
Week 14: None
Week 15: Quiz 6 Chapter 7 
Week 16: Project 3 Due / Final Exam 
Final Exam Date December 8, 2025 - 1:0 PM   Through  December 8, 2025 - 3:30 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Quizes - 20%
Tests - 30%
Projects - 20%
Final Exam - 30%
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.

Artificial Intelligence Policy - No artificial intelligence has been or will be used in the preparation, assembly or the execution of this course, and in accordance with teacher policy the students will not be allowed to use it in the classroom. All reports must be typed in the student's own words. Spell check and grammar tools are an accepted form of computer-aided workflow. All photos taken and included in reports must also be student-generated i.e. a photo/video captured in real time. AI in the recording and music industry will be addressed in future courses. 
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 Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. 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:CASP
Email:CASP
Phone:(409) 983-4921