I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Advanced Audio Production

2. Course Prefix & Number:
MUSC 2414

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course will build upon the foundations of audio production learned in MUSC 2413: Music Production Intro to Pro Tools. Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) that is the industry standard for the music, movie/television, and video game industries. Using Pro Tools, students will learn advanced methods of recording, editing, mixing, and mastering audio and MIDI data. Students will learn to navigate a recording or editing session efficiently and effectively using tools, shortcuts, and file management. Students will learn how to set up a recording studio to record professional-level audio. Students will work with Elastic Audio and use real-time and rendered processing to improve audio containing music, effects, and dialogue. AudioSuite plug-ins will be applied by students to original audio clips. Mixing and signal flow using auxiliary tracks for sub-mixes will be examined. Students will use automation and understand how automation data alters recordings. Microphone placement and proper use of microphones in a studio recording environment will be covered. All of these skills are needed for entry level positions with the audio recording industry. This course also satisfies the Avid Pro Tools 101 and Pro Tools 110 courses, which gives students the option to take the Avid Pro Tools Certified User Exam and become an official Avid Certified User for Pro Tools upon passing the exam. MnTC Goal 6

5. Placement Tests Required:

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):

The proposed AFA in Music Technology

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Describe and defend editing processes and effects used to achieve a desired sound quality in audio recordings of music and dialogue.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Edit clips, mix tracks, and apply effects to achieve a musician or movie director’s desired aesthetic.
Utilize appropriate technology	Use MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) controllers in combination with Pro Tools software to create audio mixes and bounces.

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

Students will be able to…

• navigate a recording or editing session efficiently and effectively using tools, shortcuts, and file management (Goal 6)
• use Elastic Audio, real-time and rendered processing to improve both music and dialogue audio (Goal 6)
• apply AudioSuite plug-ins to student-created audio clips (Goal 6)
• apply knowledge of mixing and signal flow to create sub-mixes with auxiliary tracks (Goal 6)
• use automation and explain how automation data alters recordings in Pro Tools (Goal 6)
• complete all the steps of a recording/production project from beginning to end using Pro Tools (Goal 6)

V. Topical Outline

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

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Navigating, Recording, and Playing Back Efficiently
   1. Using the Smart Tool
   2. Zoomer functions and presets
   3. Universe View
   4. Setting and recalling Memory Locations
2. Recording Audio in the Studio
   1. Microphone selection and set up
   2. Room set up
   3. Recording and playing back multiple takes
   4. Loop recording audio
   5. Using studio time efficiently
3. Editing Audio
   1. Shuffle vs. Slip vs. Spot vs. Grid Mode
   2. Fade-ins, Fade-outs, and crossfades
   3. “Cleaning up” audio
   4. Editing using Elastic Audio
   5. Using automation
   6. Restoring from backups
4. Importing Audio, MIDI, and Video
   1. Add vs. Convert
   2. Split stereo vs. interleaved files
   3. Preserving the original file
   4. Video playback
   5. Searching for files
   6. Grouping clips
   7. Looping clips
5. MIDI
   1. Tick-based vs. Sample-based operation
   2. Working with digital instruments
   3. MIDI Merge and Looping Recording
   4. Wait for Note
   5. Using the MIDI Editor Window
   6. Velocity
   7. MIDI Real-Time Properties
6. Mixing and Bouncing
   1. Project organization
   2. Review inputs, outputs, inserts, sends, and returns
   3. Using real-time effects plug-ins
   4. Using submixes
   5. Routing with busses
   6. EQ best practices
   7. Reverb best practices
   8. Using a master fader
   9. Dither
   10. Bouncing audio
   11. Saving copies of sessions and audio files