Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC 4840
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New MediaDepartment: Music
Title: Live Sound Reinforcement
Semester Approved: Summer 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2025
End Semester: Spring 2026
Catalog Description: This course covers the technical aspects and artistic sensibilities involved in providing live sound reinforcement from a simple PA system to a large arena touring rig. It focuses on first covering information and then quickly applying it with hands-on labs as well as practicum hours spent assisting with real events. This course is required for all students pursuing a ‘Bachelors of Music with an Emphasis in Commercial Music’.
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 1; Lab: 2
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Justification: Developing skills and knowledge of the technical aspects of live sound reinforcement are useful for any career path in music from performers to technicians to music educators. Courses of this type are typically offered as part of commercial music degrees at other institutions across the US.
General Education Outcomes:
5: A student who completes the GE curriculum can communicate effectively through writing and speaking. Live Sound Reinforcement covers knowledge and concepts from multiple disciplines including music, theater, physics, and audio production.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Be able to setup a simple to moderate-sized live sound system. Demonstrate knowledge of live sound systems and components through objective written examinations.
Understand the steps to take in order to avoid feedback as both a technician and a performer. Demonstrate knowledge of techniques used in live sound reinforcement (steps to avoid feedback, mixing, etc.) through objective written examinations.
Be able to perform basic tasks on any digital or analog console that they may encounter.
Demonstrate the ability to perform basic tasks on any digital or analog console that they may encounter through participation in labs and completion of practicum hours.
Understand common microphone choice and placement for their focus instrument. Demonstrate knowledge of common microphone choice and placement for their focus instrument through objective written examinations.
Be able to troubleshoot any problem encountered in a Live Sound situation. Demonstrate the ability to follow directions, troubleshoot problems, and assist with a live sound system through completion of practicum hours.
Be able to describe and use the components and cables in a Live Sound system. Demonstrate knowledge of components and cables in a Live Sound system through objective written examinations.
Develop a respect and basic understanding for lighting systems and theater/stage craft. Demonstrate knowledge of lighting systems and stage craft through objective written examinations.
Understand the technical information connected to live sound reinforcement (Impedance, Measurement, etc.) Demonstrate knowledge of technical information connected to live sound reinforcement (Impedance, Measurement, etc.) through objective written examinations.
Be able to record, edit, and deliver audio captured during a live performance. Demonstrate the ability to record and later edit and deliver the audio form a live performance through completion of projects.
Content:
• 4 Parts of any Live Sound System
• Steps to Avoiding Feedback
• Troubleshooting
• Signal Flow and Routing
• Sound Measurement Tools
• Cable Wrapping
• Wiring and Connectors
• Power Concerns
• Impedance and Ohms Law
• Inverse Square Law
• Amplifiers
• Speakers
• Crossovers
• Microphones in Live Sound
• Stage Plots
• Reinforcement vs. Amplification
• Speech and PA Systems
• Music Reinforcement
• Professional Etiquette
• Lighting Systems
• Stage Craft
• Live Event Recording
Key Performance Indicators:
Student performance will be assessed through the completion of projects, participation in labs, completion of practicum hours and scores on examinations.
Projects 10 to 20%
Examinations 20 to 40%
Labs 20 to 40%
Practicum Hours 20 to 40%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Boyce, Teddy. Introduction to Live Sound Reinforcement: The Science, the Art, and the Practice. FriesenPress. 2018. Current edition
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be delivered in a class room equipped with a white board, projector screen, and sound system for the lecture portions. The labs will take place in both the classroom and in actual live sound venues (concert hall, recital hall, etc.). The instructor will employ a combination of lecture and hands-on demonstration to cover the concepts and demonstrate the techniques necessary to know the information contained on the examinations and to complete the projects. During labs, students will physically use the live sound equipment while the instructor directs them.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 30
Optimum Class Size: 20