MADT 216: Introduction to Digital Audio in Media
MADT 216: Introduction to Digital Audio in Media
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Course Description
Course Description
The course explores technical (craft) and aesthetic (artistry) aspects of digital audio recording, design and re-record mixing for visual media as applied to a production timeline and work flow (professionalism). The course begins with basic sound terminology and concepts. This knowledge is then applied to recording and sound design exercises in the Digital Audio Workstation or DAW (Pro Tools). Exercises focus on professional audio workflow, ending with the students synthesizing this workflow and craft into the creation of an original sound design project of their choosing.
This course is required for Media Arts majors, an elective for Broadcasting minors and an interdisciplinary elective for Computer Animation and Game Development majors.
*Note that the synchronous or in-person sessions at the start of each module mentioned in the video are now optional only. The class is now fully asynchronous.
Course Modality
Course Modality
This course meets fully online asynchronously. Optional in-person sessions in the MADT labs may be available upon request for those needing additional hands-on assistance. (This course is approved for blended, but there are no required in-person meetings.) The course uses both recording gear and software applications. Recording gear is available through the MADT Department’s contactless check out system, or students may opt to use smart phone recording apps and accessories (multiple free options covered in the class).
Students will work with Pro Tools from home using personal computers (or University loaned computers, as needed) via floating cloud licenses or by remote controlling the department lab computers using Splashtop. Access to Pro Tools, via any of these paths, is available at no cost to students. The course is organized into weekly folders with guided video instruction, samples, tutorials, quizzes and assignments on Blackboard. Weekly folders go live on Monday, and student work (exercises, quizzes, etc.) is due on Sunday by midnight.
Elements of Course Design
Elements of Course Design
Regardless of the access paths chosen by students, the course design focuses on consistent goals (craft, professional workflow and artistry) across three modules: 1. Introduction to Course & Sound Basics, including terminology and concepts, e.g., recording; 2. The DAW workflows, including recording, editing and re-recording mixing; and 3. Audio Project. In this final Audio Project module, students synthesize the craft and professional workflows learned in the first two modules into a creative sound project. Students choose the media content, but follow detailed rubrics to complete the recording, editing/sound design and re-record mixing for the commercial or short scene of their choosing.
video lecture excerpt: Spotting Sound for Video
Student Engagement & Feedback
Student Engagement & Feedback
Interactive rubrics and in-depth equipment and software video tutorials guide students through the craft and professional workflow for each audio exercise and project. Students and the instructor interact through these pre-grade feedback rubrics prior to turning in work for points. Numerous short videos covering the history, theory and artistry of sound for visual media accompany the craft and workflow instruction. Student participation and comprehension are tracked through weekly and module quizzes.
Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment of Student Learning
Course Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of audio terminology and concepts (craft).
Students will able to demonstrate basic audio recording proficiency: equipment and technique (craft).
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of audio post-production workflows, including DAW’s and time management workflows (professionalism).
Students will able to demonstrate basic audio sound design aesthetic techniques (artistry).
Sample excerpt Pro Tools Video tutorial
Sample slide from PPT instructions
Challenges
Challenges
This lab-intensive course centers around sound design using a professional DAW, recorders and microphones for sound recording, sound design and re-record mixing. The major challenge moving the course includes moving the technology to students for remote learning outside of the F2F environment
Software installers and instructor-created digital media course packs are available for download from our server or via flash drives (available through our contactless check-out system). Students may then access licenses on our server to run the software. Students whose computers do not meet the software specifications may either request University loaded computers or use provided Splashtop accounts to remote control lab computers. These optional paths to use Pro Tools are free for students. Digital instructor-created course packs are also available to students for free from the server or via the check-out flash drives.
Go Virtual Course Design
Go Virtual Course Design
In addition to moving our DAW software online we have added smart phone recording work flows and reallocated smart phone mic kits to supplement our professional recording gear to the class which is accessible via our contactless equipment check out system. Because students will now train and use recording gear alone from home individually instead of in groups this assures that all students will be able to get equipment to record the location sounds needed to complete their sound designs inside the DAW. Guided video tutorials for every workflow are included in Black Board.
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