Course+Outline

= CCT421H- ADVANCED AUDIO PRODUCTION – WINTER 2010 = University of Toronto at Mississauga Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning Professor Jason Johnston – revaudio@gmail.com

Required attendance each week at: 3-hour lecture/lab weekly, HB08, Tuesdays 5-8pm
__Course Description:__ This course studies the history, theory and current application of digital audio, film and internet video. Students will explore how the modern world is accessing their media over the internet and practical lab exercises that would help the students understand the processes involved in creating and delivering digital audio and video content. Practical exercises will include: use of a loop library for the creating of a music form, voice recording, audio mixing, sound effects and design, sound editing, file conversions and digital distribution methods. __Learning outcomes:__ The purpose is to start the student with a foundation of history and theory in sound technologies and gain understanding of the current uses and applications of specific audio software and techniques. The student will also gain proficiency in audio mixing and basic post-production audio using the most commonly used Audio and Post-Production Audio software “Pro Tools.” __Evaluations:__ - Find and compare three online video delivery services (eg. Youtube vs. Google Video vs. Blip.tv, etc.) - Write a one to two page evaluation. Write one introductory paragraph summarizing the three delivery services you are comparing, one paragraph for each delivery service with observations on usability and a final paragraph commenting on which delivery service you would use or continue to use and why. (a total of 5 paragraphs) Read or summarize your final paragraph before the class showing an indicative link to the online delivery service of your choice.
 * Oral / Written Presentation 10%**

Mix three different song forms into a 4-5 minute song, matching audio levels, watching clipping, with fades between each form. Assignment details and final mix formats will be explained in class.
 * Audio Song Form and Mixing Assignment 10%**

Multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks and short answers from class notes, lectures and readings.
 * Audio Test 10%**

Export a final demo reel of the assignment footage with your added sound effects and music score using Pro Tools.
 * Moving Pictures Assignment 10%**

Multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks and short answers from class notes, lectures and readings.
 * Moving Pictures Test 10%**

Student will create a final video and audio assignment employing all the practical knowledge gained from this course including: - Importing a supplied video clip - adding any needed sound effects - creating an original score as needed - recording and editing dialog - Uploading the final video to a website for distribution
 * Final Assignment 30%**

Student will prepare a reading log for each week that will track completion of printed and web based reading assignments in the following format for each week:
 * Final Reading Log 10%**

//Today’s Date:// //Percentage of Reading completed: (0-100%)// //2 or 3 main points from the readings:// //2 or 3 questions from the readings:// //1 Real life application://


 * Attendance and Tardiness 5%**
 * Class Participation, Online Participation and Attitude 5%**
 * Total = 100%**

__The class is divided into four parts:__


 * 1) Intro and history of Advanced Audio Production Techniques
 * 2) Audio Sourcing, Recording and Mixing
 * 3) Sound and the Moving Picture Show
 * 4) Digital Applications and Distribution

Semester Outline

Online discussion and reading links found at ** [|http://] [|cct421-2010.wikispaces.com]**

(P: Print O: Online) || **Evaluation** || - Syllabus and Schedule - Calling All Digital Renaissance Women and Men - History of Audio Recording || [|Class 1 Slides] || Wiki intro - Computer Workstation Intro || Join the discussion at the wiki: ||  || - Shuffle, spot, slip - Using the SFX server and other sources of sound || P: Modern Recording Techniques Ch. 2 "Sound and Hearing" O: Psychoacoustics @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacoustics ||  || ||  || - Editing - Mixing - Fades - 30 Shortcuts || P: MRT Ch. 6 "Digital Audio Technology O: Compressed Audio Listening Assignment ||  || - Target Audio Levels - The Art of Mixing || O: Two Articles from Mix Magazine: 1. Who Cares about Quality? 2. The Consumer Conundrum
 * **Week** || **Date** || **Lecture** || **Download Notes or Slides** || **Lab** || **Reading**
 * 1 || Jan.5 || Class Introduction
 * 2 || Jan.12 || - Sound : The reality and our perception || [|Class 2 Sides] || Pro Tools intro Navigating, playing demo, importing and exporting audio.
 * 3 || Jan.19 || - Digital Audio Technologies: How Do Your Bits Rate?
 * 4 || Jan.26 || - Does Quality Matter? ||  || - Automation

One Article from Rolling Stone: Death of High Fidelity || Digital Audio Assignment 10% || Approaches to Audio Mixing - Audio vs/and Video sound mixing - Intro of Moving Pictures assignment and final assignment ||  || - Sources of video - Importing Video - Syncing || P: MRT Ch. 12 Signal Processing O: Audio Glossary (right click to download) || Digital Audio Test 10% || Intro to Moving Pictures - History of sound and pictures to the current age - Intro to the Soundscape ||  || - Adding special effects and sounds in Pro Tools - Intro of Moving Pictures assignment || O: Roger Nichols Mixing advice || Oral Presentation 10% || ||  || - Dialog and ADR - Post Production glossary and process ||  || - Recording Audio and Dialog - Exporting || P: The Filmmaker’s Handbook Chp. 16 ||  || - Special Effects ||  || - Hands on recording Foley sounds || O: History of Jack Foley ||   || - score vs. source, etc. - Musical styles ||  || - More functions in Pro Tools || O: History of Silent Film online PDF. O: Three Regimes || Moving Pictures Assignment 10% || - the title cue - pacing, defining action - Spotting Sheeting for final assignment ||  || Putting it all together: - Bussing - Master track - Exporting Cueing the Silent Film || O: The Aesthetics of Film Music ||   || - Copyright and the new Digital Copyright Laws - Synchro and Mechanical Licenses
 * 5 || Feb.2 || Digital Audio Test
 * 6 || Feb.9 || Class Presentations: Online Digital Delivery
 * || Feb.16 || NO CLASS READING WEEK ||  ||   || Movie Watching from Sound Oscar list and review on the wiki discussion
 * 7 || Feb.23 || Moving Pictures II
 * 8 || Mar.2 || - Foley Sounds
 * 9 || Mar.9 || Music in Film
 * 10 || Mar.16 || Music in Film 2
 * 11 || Mar.23 || Music Legalities

||  || File conversions and uploading step by steps || no reading - study for the test! || Moving Pictures Test 10% || - Music & Video Distribution in a Digital World - Your future in Digital Audio - What to do with what you have learned - Looking to the future ||  || Lab Time || none || Final Reading Log 10% Final Assignment 30% ||
 * 12 || Mar.30 || Final Class Wrap-up and application

Topic schedule is subject to change at the Teacher’s discretion.


 * Student Online Interactive Learning found at http://cct421-2010.wikispaces.com**


 * Selections from the following readings (provided) throughout the semester as well as specific websites and supplied articles:**

David Miles Huber, __Modern Recording Techniques__ Steven Ascher & Edward Pincus, __the Filmaker's Handbook__ Tomlinson Holman, __Sound for Film and Television__ Stanley Allen, __Audio in Media__ Tim Amyes & Hilary Wyatt, __Audio Post-Production for Television and Film__ Elizabeth Weiss, __The Art and Technique of Post-Production Sound__ R.Murray Schafer, selection from __The Tuning of the World - The Soundscape__ Film Music Magazine - __Music Licensing FAQ__

Honesty and fairness are considered fundamental to the University’s mission, and, as a result, all those who violate those principles are dealt with as if they were damaging the integrity of the University itself. When students are suspected of cheating or a similar academic offence, they are typically surprised at how formal and seriously the matter is dealt with – and how severe the consequences can be if it is determined that cheating did occur. The University of Toronto treats academic offences very seriously. Students should note that copying, plagiarizing, or other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Any student caught engaging in such activities will be subject to academic discipline ranging from a mark of zero on the assignment, test or examination to dismissal from the university as outlined in the UTM calendar. Any student abating or otherwise assisting in such misconduct will also be subject to academic penalties. Students are assumed to be informed about plagiarism and are expected to be familiar the handout, titled "Plagiarism and Reference Format". How not to plagiarize, written by Margaret Procter, is a valuable and succinct source of information on the topic. [|www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.html]
 * Class Policies:**

You are also supposed to be familiar, and considered as being familiar, with the Faculty Rules and Regulations, Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (see 2008-2009 UTM Calendar) and Code of Student Conduct (see 2008-2009 UTM Calendar), which spell out your rights, your duties and provide all the details on grading regulations and academic offenses at the University of Toronto”. AccessAbility: “The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the AccessAbility Resource Centre. Please let me know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. (2008-09 UTM Calendar Section 6.3 AccessAbility Resource Centre)."

Academic Skills Centre: “The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre offers both individual appointments and workshops for students having difficulty with reading and writing skills”. Classroom Management: “You are expected to come to class on time, turn off cell phones and pagers, use laptops in class for note-taking only (not for web surfing, email etc.)”.


 * Due Dates and Lateness**

It is important that you submit assignments (original files and printouts) on the specified due dates. Make sure you are aware of due dates. Late marks will be deducted without medical evidence. Penalties for lateness: 10% of assignment grade per day of lateness

Medical evidence. The student provides to the professor some official medical evidence proving that events beyond his/her control prevented the submission of the assignment on the given due date. There is no penalty, and the late work is accepted until the length of time the evidence warrants. Please contact professor if you find yourself in this position. All

Lab exercises cannot be made up. It is your responsibility to attend labs.
 * Missed lab exercise.**

Random in-class assignments cannot be made up. It is your responsibility to attend classes.
 * Missed random in-class assignments**.

The Faculty policy on term tests is presented in the Erindale College 2009-2010 Calendar. To summarize: Students who miss a term test will be assigned a mark of zero for that test unless they can document a compelling reason for missing it. Students in that position must submit a written request to their professor with appropriate documentation. If the request is accepted, the weighting of the other requirements will be averaged out.
 * Missed Tests**