STUDY PROGRAMME
Creative Technologies

AFAM CODE
ABTEC44

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Sound design

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Audio and mixing

CREDITS
6

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

This course introduces the students to the complex world of sounds, critical listening and audio in the media. Through practical exercise and theoretical-practical contents, the students will study the main steps of the audio production process for video: production, sound design, editing, mixing and mastering. Special attention will be paid to the design method and workflow, in order to create professional-quality audio products, and lay the foundation for good sound management in future projects.

The programme grants 6 credits, divided as follows:

• SOUND THEORIES: 2 CFA

• SOUND DESIGN FOUNDATIONS: 4 CFA

Successful students will be able to:

• Assess the quality of complex sounds

• Explain workflow and professional roles in the audio production industry

• Effectively use sound processing tools

• Use sound as a narrative element

• Discuss personal Sound Design choices

• Record professional quality audio

• Finalise audio for different supports of professional quality

SOUND THEORIES:

• Sound and its acoustic and psychoacoustic features

• Critical listening

SOUND DESIGN FOUNDATIONS:

• Recording tools: microphones, mixers, cables and connectors

• Recording techniques

• Editing and cutting

• Processing tools: equalizers, dynamic processors, reverberations and effects

• Mixing techniques

• Mastering and final supports

This is a theoretical/project based course.

Students will take part in the following activities, which may vary depending on the development of different projects:

• Classroom lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Exercises and revisions

• Workshops

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

Assessment tools may include:

• Graded exercises

• Completion of a project

Further details about the exams will be provided by the professors.

The final grade will result from the weighted average of the programme modules.

• Mithen, S. J. (2011) The singing Neanderthals: the origins of music, language, mind, and body, Orion.

• Shafer, R (1977) The tuning of the world, A.A. Knopf. (Italian version: “il Paesaggio Sonoro”).

• For non-attending students, in addition to what above:

• Huber, M. D., Runstein, R. E. Modern Recording Techniques, CRC Press.

• Or (in Italian)

• Bartlett, B., Bartlett, J. (2006) Tecniche di registrazione del suono, Milano: Apogeo.

Many of the recommended sources, together with additional material, are also available online on MyNaba, in the Library section.

Books and resources might be requested or suggested by the professors.