304 F18 Collins

ENGL 304

304 F18 Collins

University of Waterloo

Department of Communication Arts

DAC203/ ENG304

Sound for Media Fall 2018

M 11:30-2:20pm

Instructor 

Instructor: Dr. Karen Collins

Office: ECH2112* By appointment only.

Email: collinsk@uwaterloo.ca

Course Description

 In this course students will learn digital design theory as it applies to sound. In particular, students will learn to create, edit and manipulate sound for multimedia presentations, including linear and non-linear media

Course Goals and Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Understand the basics of acoustic theory
  2. Understand the basic or producing digital audio
  3. Make their own audio recordings to a high standard
  4. Interpret, analyse and design sound for a variety of media

Required Equipment

You will need audio editing software. I have used Audacity (free and cross-platform) for most of the demos. You may also use Audition, Reaper, Sound Forge, or other editors, but support will not be provided for anything other than Audacity.  Access to headphones and microphone will be needed.

Readings Available on LEARN

  • Walter Murch
  • Michel Chion
  • Microphone guide

Course Requirements and Assessment

Assessment                                         Date of Evaluation (if known)                                        Weighting

Listening Journal                                                Sept 24                                                                    10

Mood Board                                                       October 1                                                                  20

Midterm Exam                                                   October 29                                                               15

Sonic narratives                                                November 5                                                              20

Game/film analysis                                            November 26                                                           25

participation                                                      End of term                                                               10

Total                                                                                                                                                   100%

All assignments are to be submitted online to a course drop-box. Written components should be double-spaced on letter size with 1” margins.  Audio components should be submitted as MP3. DO NOT submit AUP files—You will be penalized as late penalties until you submit the MP3. Assignments must be sent in by 4 pm on the due date. Late work will be penalized at a rate of 10% per day. 

Assessment 1

The first weeks you will be expected to undertake some “ear cleaning” homework exercises. You will be taught in class to listen beyond causality. Every day for a week,  you will spend 5 minutes listening and writing down sounds, then picking one sound to describe using non-causal terminology. You will keep a journal (total = 2-4 pages) where you will write down your thoughts about the assignment and your discoveries.  Submit to drop box online.

Assessment 2

Mood boards are inspiration boards typically used in visual design that document a collage of texture, colour, feel designed to evoke a specific mood, style or feeling. Our aim is to create a sonic moodboard—this can be a single file of consecutive/mixed sounds, or an interactive web page/PPT page of clickable sound links designed to elicit a single mood. A brief presentation of the board in class will follow with a discussion of using sound to create mood.  No images and no music allowed! Do NOT create a story or any kind of narrative. Focus on using sound for texture and mood as discussed in class.  Submit MP3 via dropbox online.

Assessment 3

Pick a story to tell in about 30 seconds (examples in class). Using ONLY sound effects, tell your story in a recording, paying attention to dynamic range.  You should record your own sound effects whenever possible.  Present to class. Hand in an MP3 to the dropbox.

Assessment 4

Choose a film or video game.  Choose one to focus on and write up your analysis in essay format.  This analysis should be approximately 2000 words, and should include an overview of the film/game, and a discussion of the use of sound.   You will present your analysis to the class in a ~10 minute presentation that shows a clip from the film/game and discusses the use of sound to create mood, for functional purposes, etc.   Hand in the essay.

Assessment 5

Participation necessarily requires attendance.  It is not merely your presence in class that is required, but you must also attend class prepared, and so involves professionalism. Professionalism means having read and brought with you some talking points or questions from the readings, participating in the inclass exercises, providing useful feedback to others during presentations, contributing to the class, and submitting your work in a timely way.   You will be given small weekly tasks towards completion of the game. Failure to complete these tasks will result in a poor Participation grade. Since AUDIO is such a huge component of this course, Personal devices should be turned off during class time, including vibrate settings.

Course Outline

Week

Date

Topic

Homework

1

Sept 10

Introduction to the course

Begin journals Read Chion

2

Sept 17

Basic acoustics theory, intro to digital sound

Work on journals

3

Sept 24

Software tools, sound effects

Mood boards

4

October 1

Mood Board presentations

  

5

October 9

THANKSGIVING NO CLASS

  

6

Oct 15

Advanced sound effects, recording

Read guide to mics

7

Oct 22

Sound design, sound theory

  

8

Oct 29

Midterm Exam

Sonic narrative

9

Nov 5

Narrative projects presentations

Begin work on final project

10

Nov 12

Sound design for film and games

work on final project

11

Nov 19

Sound design for film and games

work on final project

12

Nov 26

Final project presentations

  

13

Dec 3

Final presentations 

  

Institutional-required statements for undergraduate course outlines approved by Senate Undergraduate Council, April 14, 2009 

Academic Integrity

In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.  See the UWaterloo Academic Integritity webpage and the Arts Academic Integrity webpage for more information. 

Discipline

A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariatgeneral-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/guidelines/guidelines-assessment-penalties). 

Grievance

A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4 (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-proceduresguidelines/policy-70). When in doubt, please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.

Appeals

A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71, Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72, Student Appeals (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-72). 

Note for Students with Disabilities

The AccessAbility Services office, located on the first floor of the Needles Hall extension (NH 1401), collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the AS office at the beginning of each academic term.

If Using Turnitin in your Course

Turnitin.com: Text matching software (Turnitin®) will be used to screen assignments in this course. This is being done to verify that use of all material and sources in assignments is documented. Students will be given an option if they do not want to have their assignment screened by Turnitin®. In the first week of the term, details will be provided about arrangements and alternatives for the use of Turnitin® in this course.

Note: students must be given a reasonable option if they do not want to have their assignment screened by Turnitin ®. See guidelines for instructors for more information.

Faculty of Arts-required statements for undergraduate course outlines

Cross-listed Course (if applicable)

Please note that a cross-listed course will count in all respective averages no matter under which rubric it has been taken. For example, a PHIL/PSCI cross-list will count in a Philosophy major average, even if the course was taken under the Political Science rubric.