Sound Engineering Arts: Courses

Sound Engineering Arts students

MUSI 1510 Survey of Audio Recording: This course is an online course designed to provide an overview of the concepts, practices, history, and equipment used by both home and professional recording studios and engineers. Topics will include: acoustics fundamentals, microphones, tape recorders, loudspeakers, computers in audio, control room and studio acoustics, amplifiers, synchronization, and audio over the internet. (3 Credit Hours)

MUSI 2510 Sound Engineering Arts 1: Fundamentals and Transducers Introduction to the Physics of sound and waves, introduction to electricity concepts, microphone theory, microphone technique, magnetic domain theory, recording tape media, analog tape recorders, tape recorder practices and maintenance, introduction to equalization, audio console components, console signal flow, comparison of "split" and "inline" design, digital consoles, console automation, loudspeaker theory, loudspeaker type, indirect radiators, crossovers, passive verses active crossovers, classical production techniques, and employment options in the audio industry. (3 Credit hours) Prerequisite: Permission of the department This is a revision of the currently offered SEA 1. It will be offered only in the fall semester each year.

MUSI 2520 Sound Engineering Arts 1 Lab: This course is designed to familiarize the student with basic audio studio recording practices. Topics will mainly parallel the material in SEA 1. This is a course which requires time in the recording studio. Topics will include: introduction to policies and procedures of the Sound Engineering Arts program, introduction to microphone technique, monophonic recording, stereo recording, analog tape editing. tape recording maintenance, the use of DAT recorders, and introduction to multitrack recording. Students will be required to participate in recital and ensemble performance recording. (2 Credit hours) Corequisite: MUS 251, permission of the department. This course will be offered every fall semester each year.

MUSI 2530 Sound Engineering Arts 2: Signal Processing A continuation of SEA 1. Topics will include: the theory of equalization, equalization use and misuse, types of equalization, dynamic range, voltage controlled amplifiers, compressor and expander theory and practice, introduction to room acoustics, reverberation theory, the theory and use of analog and digital reverb and delay, modulation effects, analog noise reduction, and album mastering. (3 Credit hours) Prerequisite: Sound Engineering Arts 1 This is a revision of the currently offered SEA 2. It will be offered only in the spring semester each year.

MUSI 2540 Sound Engineering Arts 2 Lab: Topics will mainly parallel the material in SEA 2. Multitrack theory and practice, popular music recording and mixing, deconstruction of popular selections for the purpose of illustration and critique. Assignments will gradually lead the student to feel confident to effectively administer an 8-track recording session, overdub sessions, and mix sessions. Use of signal processing will be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on process and not the product. Students will be required to record a number of student recitals. (2 Credit hours) Prerequisite: SEA 1 Lab Corequisite: SEA 2 This course will be offered only in the spring semester each year.

MUSI 3500 - The Art and Practice of the Music Producer: This course offers a complete perspective on the history and practice of the art of the music producer in contemporary popular music from the 1950’s to the present. Included in this course will be discussions and examples of the responsibilities of the producer, the art of mixing, trouble shooting the production, playback systems, the creative tools used in production, client relations, self-producing, and budgeting. A wide range of musical and video examples will be used to demonstrate production techniques.

MUSI 3510 Sound Engineering Arts 3: Current Practices and Techniques of the Audio Industry A continuation of SEA 2. Topics will include: Advanced microphone techniques, inline audio console signal flow, surround sound theory and practice, audio post-production, AC wiring, interconnection principles, synchronization in the studio, and audio amplifier design. (3 Credit hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director) Prerequisite: SEA 2 This is a revision of the currently offered SEA 3. It will be offered only in the fall semester each year.

MUSI 3520 Sound Engineering Arts 3 Lab: Continuation of multitrack production. Introduction to 24-track recording practices and techniques. Topics will include: maintenance and alignment of the 24-track recorder, signal flow of the inline console, recording in the new studio, advanced studio signal processing, digital workstation editing, and synchronization. Students will be required to record a number of faculty recitals. (2 Credit hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director) Prerequisite: SEA 2 Lab Corequisite: SEA 3 This is a revision of the currently offered SEA 3. It will be offered only in the fall semester each year.

MUSI 3530 Sound Engineering Arts 4: Digital Audio Principles and Techniques An in depth exploration of digital audio as it relates to the audio professional. Topics will include: the Nyquist theorem, analog to digital conversion, digital to analog conversion, oversampling, noise shaping, digital recording media, digital recording devices, digital editing systems, error correction/detection, simple digital signal processing, digital delivery systems, the internet, fiber optics, the compact disc, DVD, film sound formats, high bit and sample rates, and data compression. (3 Credit hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director) Prerequisite: SEA 3 This course will only be offered in the spring semester each year.

MUSI 3540 Sound Engineering Arts 4 Lab: Topics will include: a comparison of sample rates/word lengths, digital editing assignments, introduction to the digital console, multitrack recording and editing projects, and integration of the analog and digital control rooms. students will be required to record a number of ensemble performances. Students will be required to successfully complete a Junior Practical exam in order to advance to the Sound Engineering Arts Seminar. Prerequisite: SEA 3 Lab. (2 Credit hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director) Prerequisite: SEA Lab 4 Corequisite: SEA 4 This course will only be offered in the spring semester each year.

MUSI 3591 - Audio Post-Production and Surround Sound: This course introduces the SEA student to the area of synchronized sound. A history of sound for image will be presented. The elements discussed will include: dialog, dialog editing, automatic dialog replacement (ADR), sound design, sound effects, foley, music composition, and underscore. Analysis and emulation of master works will be integral to the learning process. Projects will include the creation of all audio and musical elements used to create complete soundtracks. Multi-channel mixing techniques and projects will also be included.

MUSI 4520 Senior Seminar in Sound Engineering Arts: A capstone course for Sound Engineering Arts majors. This course is designed to give Sound Engineering Arts majors the chance to pursue advanced levels of research and to complete a large-scale recording project which will be submitted as part of a complete portfolio. Each student will present one audio related research paper to the class and additionally submit the work in formal document form. The recording project will be monitored by the instructor to insure adequate progress on the part of the student. A document detailing the recording and mixing process will be submitted. This document will also include a self-critique of the project. (2 Credit hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director) Prerequisite: SEA 4 Lab. This course will only be offered in the fall semester each year.

MUSI 4510 Internship: In order to bring full meaning to their audio education, students will be required to participate in an audio related internship prior to graduation. Internships will be secured with the assistance of the Director of Sound Engineering Arts and may be completed during the regular school year or during the summer. (3 Credit hours) Sound Engineering Arts Electives MUS xxx Independent Study For students who wish to pursue further learning in audio related areas either not covered in the Sound Engineering Arts course work or to explore topics in greater depth. (1 or 3 Credit hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director)

MUSI 3550 Studio Supervision: Each student enrolled in an Sound Engineering Arts course will be required to act as a "Desk Monitor" as part of the studios' security system. Overseeing the Desk Monitors are students elected each year to be Audio Association officers. The primary function of the officers includes: scheduling of the studios, general upkeep of the studio's appearances, administering Sound Engineering Arts student's studio accounts, reporting to the director of Sound Engineering Arts, and to act as an advocated for the Sound Engineering Arts students. (2 Credit Hours) (Restricted to Sound Engineering Arts majors or by permission of director) By permission of the department. This course will be offered each semester.

Special Topics: TBA (Surround Sound Techniques, etc)