Academic Catalog

MDIA 81B: SOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Units: 4
Hours: 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in MTEC 57A, MUS 81B, or VART 81B.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Describe and discuss the aesthetic qualities of sound and music as it relates to the content of video.
  • Design and assemble a soundtrack from different sources, both pre-recorded and recorded.

Description

Creating, editing, and mixing audio for film and video. Understanding aesthetic qualities of sound effects and music as they relate to story. Recording original sound elements and using commercial sound libraries. Editing, layering, and processing sound elements to create complex sound effects. Synchronizing audio to video using a digital audio workstation. Basics of mixing and mastering finished soundtracks for digital distribution.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Understand basic physics of sound terminology; the sound wave, frequency/pitch, amplitude/loudness, phase, and timbre
  2. Analyze audio from an existing film or video project
  3. Explore the emotional and physical perception of music, voice, and sound, and the aesthetics of audio mixing
  4. Operate a digital audio workstation in a studio environment
  5. Create sound effects and original sound clips for dynamic media
  6. Assess the comparative levels of tracks as they relate to the multi-track recording as a whole
  7. Output a final mix in a format that is appropriate for digital distribution

Course Content

  1. Study and analysis of audio in the digital video environment
    1. Synchronizing audio to video
    2. Editing techniques for dialog, music, sound effects, and ambient sound
    3. Basic mixing concepts including automation and metering
    4. Routing signals for stereo mixing and stem export
    5. Exporting finished audio for integration in digital media projects
  2. Planning and assembly of video/audio projects
    1. Overview of the process of pre-production, production, and post-production in digital audio; multi-track linear and non-linear editing; digital input and output options
    2. Acquiring sound effects assets through recording or commercial libraries
  3. Study and analysis of digital media video and recordings
    1. Traditional film audio and the history of sound in film
    2. Contemporary audio techniques in the digital domain

Lab Content

Lab content includes topics such as: digital audio workstation setup; working with studio equipment and field recording devices to record original sounds; searching commercial sound libraries for appropriate sound elements; editing sounds to create complex sound effects; synchronizing sounds to picture; signal flow and routing to prepare to mix soundtracks; mixing, mastering, and outputting final files for standard distribution formats. Participate in group and individual project work to produce digital projects while exploring audio production applications and media sound design for broadcast, web, live, and other distribution methods.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. When taught on campus: Classroom with 30 Apple iMacs, appropriate digital audio workstation software, projection system for video and multimedia content.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access: On-going access to computer with email software and capabilities, computer capable of running current Windows or Mac OS, appropriate digital audio workstation software, email address, current internet browsing software.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Written assignments that analyze, compare, and contrast different audio and video techniques
Designing and assembling a multi-track recording for video production
Producing video projects of increasing difficulty and scope that include edited audio
Participation in classroom discussions related to course topics required

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture presentations and classroom discussion of the techniques for producing soundtracks for film and video
In-class listening to historically significant soundtracks followed by instructor-guided interpretation and analysis
Presentations of major sound design projects followed by in-class discussion and evaluation
Demonstration of techniques for the recording, editing, and mixing of soundtracks

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Yewdall, David Lewis. Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound. 2012.

Darnell, Andy. Designing Sound. 2010.

Viers, Rick. The Sound Effects Bible. 2008.

Woodhall, Woody. Audio Production and Postproduction. 2010.

Rose, Jay. Producing Great Sound for Film and Video. 2014.

Although these texts are older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, they remain seminal texts in this area of study.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Written critiques of sound design projects for film and video
  2. Written summaries documenting technical and creative aspects of course assignments
  3. Written proposals, session logs, learning outcomes and reflections supporting creative works, and final master recordings

Discipline(s)

Commercial Music or Media Production