1. Students will be able to identify, describe and explain sound engineering fundamentals associated with signal flow, microphones, recording, mixing, production and mastering.
2. Students will be able employ and apply sound engineering technologies and techniques in a manner that displays practical and creative understanding and fluency.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate independent, imaginative and creative approaches to problem solving in the field of sound engineering.
4. Students will develop research skills and a critical understanding of sound engineering and its associated areas.

Hardware

• USB Stick or portable hard drive with enough capacity to store files associated with the course and formatted as Apple OSX HFS+.
• Stereo headphones with a 6.5mm male adaptor.
• Note – students must bring both their USB storage and Headphones (with adaptor) to university, as they are required for various classes and for using laboratories and studios.

Sound Levels & Hearing Protection

This course may require using spaces where a dB meter has been installed. If you exceed the set dB limit for the space, the lights will flash.  Students found exceeding these levels will have their booking privileges revoked for two weeks, and repeat offenders may have their booking privileges revoked for the remainder of the academic year.

In order to minimise risk in noise-prone situations, the Conservatorium makes both reusable gel ear-plugs and disposable foam ear-plugs available to students and staff free of charge at all times. Students and staff are also urged to consider purchase of customised personal hearing protection.

For more information regarding sound levels, hearing and hearing loss please refer both to the full content of the O'Brien Report and to the excellent publication by Canadian audiologist/academic Marshall Chasin, entitled Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians both available here: http://music.adelaide.edu.au/hsw/documents/

Below are a number of recommended resources. Please note that in terms of the included books and links, these are meant purely as general starting points to provide points of departure to other library and online sources and research.

Books

• Ballou, Glen. Handbook for Sound Engineers. 4th ed. Amsterdam ; Boston: Focal Press.
• Borwick, John. Microphones : Technology and Technique. London ; Boston: Focal Press, 1990.
• Clark, Andrew. Microphone Masterclass. Saxophone Journal ; Vol. 28, No. 4. Medfield, Mass.: Dorn Publications, 2004.
• Clark, Rick. Mixing, Recording, and Producing Techniques of the Pros Insights on Recording Audio for Music, Video, and Games. 2nd ed. Boston Independence: Course Technology CENGAGE Learning [Distributor].
• Davis, Gary D., Ralph Jones, and Yamaha International Corporation. The Sound Reinforcement Handbook. 2nd ed. Milwaukee, Wis.: Hal Leonard Publishing, 1989.
• Eargle, John. The Microphone Book. 2nd ed. Burlington, Mass.: Focal Press, 2004.
• Katz, Robert A. Mastering Audio : The Art and the Science. 2nd ed. Burlington, MA: Elsevier/Focal Press, 2007.
• Stavrou, Michael Paul. Mixing with Your Mind : Closely Guarded Secrets of Sound Balance Engineering. 1st ed. [S. Aust.] ; Mosman, N.S.W.: Gillingham ; Flux Research, 2003.

Links

• "Mix Magazine". 17 January 2012. <http://mixonline.com/>.
• "Tape Op ". 17 January 2012. <http://www.tapeop.com/>.
• "Pro Tools Software".  Avid. 17 January 2012. <http://www.avid.com>.
• "Waves Plugins". 17 January 2012. <http://www.waves.com/>.
• "Sound on Sound Magazine".  1985. 17 January 2012. <http://www.soundonsound.com/>.

MyUni is a crucial part of this course and will provide students with access to assessment and learning materials, such as quizzes, discussion boards, slide presentations, readings, links, sound and video. Materials will be provided on a topic-by-topic basis over the semester: http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au.

The course structure and content is delivered through a range of classes and materials. The classes in this course consist of lectures, tutorials and workshops.

Lecture

• Lectures will deliver a specific topic each week. The topic will consist of ideas and concepts; technologies; and creative practitioners in the field.

Tutorial

• Tutorials provide an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the weekly lecture and topic for the course; reinforce concepts and ideas from the lecture and explore new territory.
• Students are required to complete the weekly reading before their tutorial; come to the tutorial with questions and thoughts on the reading; and be prepared to actively engage in discussion on the weekly topic and reading.

Workshop

• Workshops will explore a wide range of practical aspects of the course and its associated topics and concepts.
• Students will be set regular practical tasks as part of their portfolio assessment and be required to present their work during the workshop.
• Although workshops will from time to time contain presentations from the instructor, the workshop will largely be an opportunity for students to obtain assistance with their practical and creative development and practice. Students need to actively and on a week-by-week basis maintain their practical and creative development, using the workshop to raise issues and solve problems.
• Finally, the workshops provide a forum by which students can begin to explore their own ideas and practice using lecture and tutorial materials as inspiration and points of departure.

This course consists of up to 48 hours of direct contact or structured non-contact - 4 hours per week over 12 weeks for the seminars and workshops, where students will play an active role in the practice, refinement, consolidation and extension of their knowledge and understanding. In addition students will spend a minimum of 108 non-contact hours over the duration of the course on self-initiated learning and research, reading, writing, practice and assessment in order to pass the course, making the minimum workload 156 hours.

In order to be relevant, contemporary and up-to-date, this course uses a reflexive ‘just-in-time’ organisation that adjusts its structure and delivery according to the most current changes in the field, research practice and peer-student interest. The weekly classes will include topics such as:

• Session Preparation and Management
• Signal Flow and Gain Structure
• Microphone Theory and Technique
• Recording Process and Workflow
• Instrument Recording including
  • Voice
  • Acoustic Guitar
  • Electric Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Drum Kit
• Mixing Fundamentals
• Mastering Fundamentals

Further detail regarding other specific content can be found in the associated materials on myUni.

EMU Facilities Access Provisions

This course will involve using the resources of the Electronic Music Unit (EMU). This includes facilities such as studios, recording spaces and digital audio workstations. For more information about these facilities and how to make bookings go to the EMU website: http://www.emu.adelaide.edu.au/

In order for students to complete the course they must gain ongoing and permanent access to EMU. Access and use of EMU is based upon the following:

1. Users must complete and pass the EMU Guide Assessment (EGA).  In order to pass the EGA users must receive a 90% or above grade. Users will have a maximum of 3 attempts at passing the EGA before being prohibited from taking the EGA further. If a user fails to pass the EGA after 3 attempts, or doesn’t pass by the end of week 4 of the course (which ever comes first), they will not be permitted to continue the course, or any other courses requiring access to EMU, and won’t be provided access or permission to use any of the EMU facilities.
2. Users agree to and sign the EMU User Agreement (EUA). Users found in breach of the EUA will automatically have access penalties imposed:

• First breach: students will have all booking privileges removed and have after-hours access suspended for a period of 4-weeks.
• Second breach: students will have all booking privileges removed and have after-hours access suspended for until start of the next academic semester.
• Third breach: students will have all booking privileges removed and all access suspended until the start of the next academic year

Information is available on the EMU website: https://www.emu.adelaide.edu.au/intranet/emu_guide/

Other Expectations

Except where otherwise indicated by the lecturer, tutor or workshop instructor – mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, recording devices and other similar technology must be switched off before lessons or classes begin, and kept off for the duration.

Hurdle Assessment

All students must complete the requirements under “SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS ‘EMU Facilities Access Provisions’”. Students who fail complete these items have failed the course.

Assessments

All students must complete and submit all assessments. If a student fails to complete and submit all assessments by the due date and fails to produce the appropriate medical or compassionate certificates, the student may be deemed to have failed that course, irrespective of assignments previously completed. Further, the student will be deemed ineligible for supplementary assessments. Students should consult their respective lecturer, tutor or demonstrator for further information.

Attendance Expectation & Penalty

Students are expected to attend all classes. If a student fails to attend at least 75% of tutorials or workshops in a course and fails to produce the appropriate medical or compassionate certificates, the student is deemed to have failed that course, irrespective of assignments previously completed. Students who arrive 20 minutes or later after the start of a class will be marked as absent.

Leave

Extenuating circumstances may occasionally affect a student’s ability to participate in a rehearsal, workshop, class, lecture, tutorial or performance.  In such cases leave may, upon application using the leave form (available from the Music Office), be approved by the relevant staff member (this could be the Head of Studies, teacher, conductor, lecturer or course coordinator as appropriate). Types of leave include: sick leave; compassionate leave; and professional development leave.

Refer to “ASSESSMENT SUMMARY”

Assessments and Exams

Students must be available during the identified University teaching, academic and examination periods. Students are not entitled to sit an examination or submit an assessment at another time, nor are they entitled to any other concessions if an examination or assessment conflicts with a planned vacation or special event. Results from assessments and examinations are usually sent to students via email and/or myUni.

Late Submission

Assignments where late submissions are permitted and that are submitted after the due date and time will incur a 5% penalty (from the assignment total of 100%) per day (24 hour period) for a maximum of 4 days (weekend days included). After this time the assignment will not be marked for assessment or feedback. Note – typically this does not apply to assessments where the assessment is conducted at a fixed time and location, such as an exam, workshop, practical test, performance or presentation – please refer to the individual assessments for further information.