I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Live Sound and Field Recording

2. Course Prefix & Number:
VPRO 1160

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course is designed to teach students to use a wide range of audio recording equipment and techniques in both artistic and vocational settings. Whether it be mixing live sound at a concert, setting up microphones in a working studio, creating and editing audio tracks for broadcast, or designing a personalized home studio, students will expand the skills needed for entry-level positions in the audio recording and video broadcast industry.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University: MASC 3480 Audio Production (3 credits)

Moorhead State University: EIT 382 Live Sound Recording (2 credits)

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Videography Production AAS (A219)
Music Technology AFA (A520)
Online Media Specialist Diploma (D219)
Master Video Producer Diploma (D233)
Social Media Producer Diploma (D234)

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Students will be able to create, edit, and broadcast audio content to an audience. Often they will have to work as a team behind the scenes and communicate effectively to generate the cleanest and brightest audio reproductions possible on a variety of equipment and software.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Read, interpret and put into practice the techniques of live sound production and audio reproduction that is of professional broadcast quality.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

 

• Identify and operate varied professional live sound and audio recording equipment and software;
• Engineer a live audio/sound event in a performance-based setting;
• Cognize audio components such as acoustic room treatments, signal flow, basic electronics and safety, microphones, cords, live instruments, midi recording, file management, and processors;
• Schedule, conduct, and prepare invoice for a professional-style audio recording session as he/she would in a modern occupational setting;
• Address technical difficulties efficiently and overcome inevitable audio session dilemmas; and
• Distinguish between different formats of audio recordings and understand the benefits (pros/cons) of each.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

 

 

Understanding Microphones, Sound Boards and Cables (Reading and quiz assigned)

• Dynamic and condenser microphones
• USB and Wireless microphones
•  XLR, instrument, speaker, RCA, and other cables
• Proper care and application
• Mixing consoles and speakers

Using Audio Field Recording Equipment

• Digital workstations and analog workstations (and compatibility)
• Studio vs. home vs. mobile workstations of both digital and analog
• Monitor speakers and headphones
• Remixing a previous project

Studying the History of Audio Recording (Reading and quiz assigned)

• 1900-Present
• Listening to audio from each era
• Wax cylinders, audio tape, radio broadcast formats, vinyl and turntable speed, cassette, CD, MP3, and streaming audio

Designing a Studio Space (Short essay assigned and virtual field trip to other studios)

• Equipment
• Budget
• Target Market
• Signature Sound Concepts and Examples

Recording Theory and Ethics (Reading and essay assigned)

• Sound aesthetics and market effect
• Artist vs producer in relation to consumer
• Art vs product//Human vs machine
• Defend your recording format and sound in a short essay

Planning a Live Audio Event (Lab project assigned)

• Determining time needed
• Deciding what equipment is needed
• Presenting the audio product to “the room”
• Billing for project hours and material
• Lighting Configurations

Differentiation Between Audio Occupation Types

• Pre-production, engineering, and post production (mastering)
• Transfer of one format to another

Schedule, Complete and Bill for Recording Session (Large group lab assigned in Mac E471)

• Identifying work opportunity, Production vs. engineering
• Planning, prep, and outline of order of work involved
• Mixing and preparation of final mix
• Final Mix and Upload to “Customer”