4/25/2024 12:17:18 PM	MUSC 51A Course Outline as of Fall 2011	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  MUSC 51A	Title:  DIGITAL AUDIO-FUNDAMNTLS
Full Title:  Digital Audio: Fundamentals
Last Reviewed:11/9/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	2.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	35.00
		Contact DHR	1.00			Contact DHR	17.50
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course covers the fundamentals of digital audio through a hands-on workshop in production and editing with a digital audio workstation (DAW). Topics include the principles of audio and digital recording, digital editing, the integration of digital audio and MIDI tracks, and digital signal processing.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in MUSC 50; (Note: MUS 38 is no longer offered, but may be used in lieu of MUSC 50)

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course covers the fundamentals of digital audio through a hands-on workshop in production and editing with a digital audio workstation (DAW). Topics include the principles of audio and digital recording, digital editing, the integration of digital audio and MIDI tracks, and digital signal processing.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in MUSC 50; (Note: MUS 38 is no longer offered, but may be used in lieu of MUSC 50)
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2009	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Explain the fundamental principles of sound including acoustics and psychoacoustics.

2. Utilize and apply a working vocabulary of digital audio terminology.

3. Explicate and apply the fundamentals of digital recording.

4. Demonstrate hands-on proficiency with a DAW at an intermediate level.

5. Mix and edit digital audio tracks, including integration with MIDI.

6. Explain and demonstrate a variety of digital signal processing (DSP) techniques.

Topics and Scope

Lecture Topics:

I. Principles of Audio

    A.  Sound and hearing

    B.  Acoustics and psychoacoustics

II. Fundamentals of Digital Recording

    A.  Analog vs. digital

    B.  Sampling

    C.  Quantization

    D.  Technologies and formats

    E.  Storage media

    F.  Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

III. Basic Digital Editing

    A.  Nonlinear editing

     B.  Spectrum editing

    C.  Scrubbing/jogging/shuttling

    D.  General editing guidelines

    E.  Edit Decision List (EDL)

    F.  File naming conventions

IV. Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

    A.  Stand-alone vs. plug-in

    B.  Spectrum processors

    C.  Time processors

    D.  Amplitude processors

    E.  Noise processors

 

Laboratory Topics:

I. Intermediate-Level Usage of the Digital Audio Workstation

II. Mixing and Editing Techniques

III. Integration of MIDI and Digital Audio Tracks

IV. Signal Processing Techniques

V. Digital Audio Projects

Assignments:

1. Reading (10-20 pp. per week) from the text, handouts, and online.

2. Hands-on proficiency demonstrations (3-5) with the hardware and software.

3. Quizzes (3-5) on vocabulary and technical terminology.

4. Completion of required laboratory hours.

5. Digital audio projects based on the laboratory topics above.

6. Final digital audio project designed in consultation with the instructor.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments and skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 40 - 55%
Digital audio projects
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 25 - 35%
Hands-on proficiency demonstrations
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 25%
Terminology quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 10%
Attendance and participation, lab hours

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Audio in Media (9th). Alten, Stanley R. Wadsworth/Cengage: 2011

 

Online resources such as:

Audio Engineering Society  (http://www.aes.org/)

 

Periodicals such as:

Mix Magazine, Electronic Musician Magazine

 

Sound Advice on Digital Audio. (Instantpro Series.) Gibson, Bill. Artistpro: 2004 (Classic)

 

Instructor prepared materials

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