The student will be able to:

1. Configure and calibrate a professional surround sound monitoring system.
2. Record in surround using several multi-channel microphone techniques.
3. Mix in surround using a digital audio workstation and control surface.
4. Create a surround mix from a stereo master.
5. Master discrete surround or surround-encoded mixes for various delivery formats.
6. Discuss historically significant surround sound music recordings and film soundtracks from composers from diverse racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds.

1. Study and analysis of historically significant surround sound mixes since the advent of surround production
   1. Early multi-channel audio exhibitions
   2. Film and music surround mixes from the 1970s through the present day
2. Preparing for surround production in the professional studio
   1. Physical configuration of a professional surround monitoring system
   2. Industry standards for volume, delay, and frequency calibration
   3. Bass management techniques for film and music
3. Techniques for recording audio sources in surround
   1. Microphone selection for studio and concert recording
   2. Microphone techniques including coincident and spaced arrays
   3. Surround field recording using portable digital recorders
4. Mixing in surround using a digital audio workstation
   1. Mixing multi-track projects for music and post-production
   2. Processing source elements using surround plug-ins
   3. Up-mixing stereo masters into surround
5. Mastering for surround distribution
   1. Understanding industry guidelines for surround delivery
   2. Encoding surround mixes for multiple surround formats

Lab content includes topics such as:

1. Monitor system setup and calibration
2. Microphone selection and placement
3. Session configuration and signal flow for music and post-production surround mixing
4. Mastering and encoding for standard surround distribution formats
5. Creation of distributable media for optical devices and download

Written assignments that analyze, compare, and contrast surround production techniques
Recording, mixing, and mastering surround sound in a professional studio environment
Tests on surround production terminology, techniques, and standards

Lecture presentations and classroom discussion of the techniques for producing surround sound content for music, film, and games
In-class listening to historically significant surround sound productions followed by instructor-guided interpretation and analysis
Presentations of major surround sound projects followed by in-class discussion and evaluation
Demonstration of techniques for the installation and calibration of surround sound playback systems

Kuehnl, Eric, and Miles Fulwider. Surround Sound and Immersive Audio. 2020.

Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains seminal in this area of study.

1. Written critiques of surround production projects, including albums, films, and interactive media.
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 surround master recordings.