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Course Description: This course is designed to introduce students to the elements of sound engineering and design in a live theater setting.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
— Identify different types of sound equipment and understand their functions
— Understand how sound equipment selection and placement change the effect of sound in a theatrical production
— Properly set up sound equipment in a theater space
— Program and operate a sound board
— Understand the principles of Sound Design and be able to use basic recording software and theatrical playback software
Required Texts:
— Ira White, Audio Made Easy (or How to Be a Sound Engineer Without Really Trying), 5th Edition - (AME)
—Deena Kaye and James LeBrecht, Sound and Music for the Theatre, 4th Edition – (SAM)
Computer software:
Lab computers have Qlab5 for audio playback.
The Lab Computers should also have the recording software Audacity, but you can get it for free on your computer at this site: http://www.audacityteam.org
Grading: Students will be evaluated based on projects, a midterm exam, a final exam, and class participation.
The point breakdown is as follows:
Assignments 50%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
Participation 10%
Class Schedule: (selected weeks only)
Week 1
Day 1 — What is sound? Creating a common language. How does sound enhance a production and is it always necessary?
— Assignment: AME, Introduction and Chapters 1, 2 and 4; SAM, xxviii and Chapter 1.
Day 2 — The Electrical Basis of Audio, microphones and other input devices
— Assignment: Project 1 (Find a piece of music that evokes each specific emotion, two of which will be given to you, no lyrics. Be prepared to defend your choices.)
Week 2
Day One — Overview of Audio Systems.
— Project 1 is due, listen to it in class.
— Assignment: AME, Chapter 5 and 6.
Day 2 — Mixer Mania or "Just what do all these knobs do?!?"
— MEET IN THE HELEN THEATER - Check with Scheduling
— Assignment: Read handouts and AME, Chapter 7 and 8.
Week 3
MEET IN THE HELEN THEATER — check with scheduling
Day 1 — Learning to Read Music. Using the Helen Theater. Signal levels and gain structure or "Hiss and Tell."
—Assignment: Project 2 (Importing and editing. Import sound file into audio program, edit, and apply sound FX edited sound file); AME — Chapters 2, 9 and 10.
Day 2 — Loud Speakers and Microphones. Learning to Read Music, Part 2.
— Assignment: AME, Chapters 3, 4 and 8.
More information on this course is available upon request.
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