Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC 4700
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Audio Production II (Formerly Audio Recording Techniques II)
Semester Approved: Spring 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2025
End Semester: Fall 2025
Catalog Description: This course focuses on the study of advanced techniques involved in audio production that build on the concepts covered in Audio Fundamentals I and II. It is the second of two course that comprise the Production Track core. Audio Production II focuses on production and mixing, which includes the study of various production and mixing techniques, both classic and contemporary.
Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 2; Lab: 1
Prerequisites: MUSC 4450 or permission of instructor
Justification: There is audio in every aspect of our world from public service announcements to recorded music to sound effects in a video game. Someone has to record and produce that audio information. Audio Production I and II provide the opportunity for students to develop the core skills necessary to record and manipulate audio content on a professional level preparing them for jobs as audio engineers, music producers, sound designers, voice artists, sound effects editors, etc. These courses are the core of the Production Track for students pursuing the Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Commercial Music degree, which helps them to build technical knowledge that supplements the musical skills developed this degree.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Be knowledgeable of and familiar with various editing techniques of both one track at a time and multiple tracks at a time. Demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with various editing techniques of both one track at a time and multiple tracks at a time through participation in labs and objective written examinations.
Be familiar with time compression/expansion editing techniques with tools such as Elastic Audio in Pro Tools and Flex Time in Logic Pro. Demonstrate familiarity with time compression/expansion editing techniques with tools such as Elastic Audio in Pro Tools and Flex Time in Logic Pro through participation in labs and completion of various projects.
Be able to use a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to tune or pitch correct vocals/instruments. Demonstrate the ability to use a DAW to tune or pitch correct vocals/instruments through participation in labs and completion of various projects.
Be familiar with various production techniques including tape stop, glitch, reverse, breaks, stacking, double tracking, etc. Demonstrate familiarity with through participation in labs and completion of various projects.
Be able to use various EQ, delay, dynamics, reverb, and time-based effects tools and techniques. Demonstrate the ability to use various EQ, delay, dynamics, reverb, and time-based effects tools and techniques through participation in labs and completion of various projects.
Be familiar with advanced mixing techniques such as automation, sidechain processing, and spatial field manipulation Demonstrate familiarity with through participation in labs and completion of various projects.
Be familiar with Mastering techniques and proper use of limiting. Demonstrate familiarity with through participation in labs and objective written examinations.
Be able to record and produce a professional quality multitrack audio production of a band or ensemble. Demonstrate the ability to record and produce a professional quality multitrack audio production of a band or ensemble through participation in labs and completion of various projects.
Content:
• Production – Single-Track Editing • Production – Multi-Track Editing• Production – Time Compression/Expansion• Production – Tuning• Production – Tape Stop/Glitch/Reverse/Breaks• Production – Stacking/Double Tracking• Mixing – EQ Techniques• Mixing – Delay Techniques• Mixing – Compression Tone Shaping• Mixing – Parallel and Multiband Compression• Mixing – Automation/Sidechain• Mixing – Spatial Width/Phase/Vocal Removal• Mixing – Reverb/Effects/Panning Techniques• Mastering – Techniques/Limiting
Key Performance Indicators:
Students will be assessed using the following methods:
Exams 30 to 40%
Projects 30 to 50%
Labs 30 to 40%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Huber, David Miles. Modern Recording Techniques. Current edition.
Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio (Current Edition) by Mike Senior
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be delivered via direct instruction, class discussion and teacher directed, hands on work.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 12
