Lessons⌗

Announcement: Opportunities in Digital Sound Design at DSU⌗

  • DSU Live: A student-run club where you can learn how to set up and run live concerts, as well as start and manage a record label. Find out more and get involved by talking to one of the current members or visiting DSU Live.
  • Sound Design Discord: Connect with your peers, share projects, and keep up with program news in the DSU Sound Design Discord Server.
  • Student Research Initiatives: Interested in funding for projects? DSU has resources to support undergraduate research, and sound design students are encouraged to get involved. Learn more and apply at Student Research Initiatives.

Week 1 (8/25)⌗

Monday (8/25)⌗

Homework: Your favorite sound (submit on D2L) - Due Friday, 8/29.

Wednesday (8/27)⌗

Friday (8/29)⌗

Week 2 (9/1)⌗

Monday (9/1)⌗

  • No Class - Labor Day

Wednesday (9/3)⌗

Friday (9/5)⌗

Project 1: Arranging Clips - Due Monday, 9/15 by class.

Reminder: All projects will be played out loud in class. Make sure you are comfortable sharing what you’ve created with the group.

Week 3 (9/8)⌗

Monday (9/8)⌗

  • No class - work on your loops project independently

Wednesday (9/10)⌗

  • Listen to favorite songs
  • Show a basic version of the loops project
    • Find 7 clips from Looperman
    • Layer and rename tracks in Reaper
    • Build arrangement
  • Some layering and mixing of the project from Monday
  • Audio Hardware slides

Friday (9/12)⌗

Week 4 (9/15)⌗

Monday (9/15)⌗

  • Listen to loops projects

Project 2: Satirical PSA - Have your script ready by Monday, 9/22.

Wednesday (9/17)⌗

Friday (9/19)⌗

  • Editing
    • Each student must edit their own PSA.
    • More tips for editing in Reaper
    • In class editing assignment instructions

Week 5 (9/22)⌗

Monday (9/22)⌗

  • Another recording day for some more practice, but focusing on editing and mixing.

Wednesday (9/24)⌗

  • Sound Effects + music beds
    • In class example: The Raven Audiobook SFX Design
    • Finding sound effects
    • Examples could be transition impacts or swooshes between character lines. Some scripts will have specific needs for effects that illustrate locations or products, like chirping birds for outdoor settings.
    • Add sound effects to separate tracks
  • Make sure your music and dialogue work well together
  • Mixing – background music should be much quieter than dialogue; around -30 dB is a good start.

Friday (9/26)⌗

Week 6 (9/29)⌗

Monday (9/29)⌗

Wednesday (10/1)⌗

Friday (10/3)⌗

  • DAD day at MAAC - Thursday, 10/30 from 7 PM - 9 PM - DAD @ MAAC #4 | Facebook
    • Think of a project you’d like to have shown at the event; every DSD student is required to show at least one work.
  • Exploring EQ on a multitrack recording - instructions

Week 7 (10/6)⌗

Monday (10/6)⌗

  • Dynamic effects
    • ReaComp, ReaXComp, ReaLimit, ReaGate
    • What elements in our mix are still not sitting correctly that could use compression?

Wednesday (10/8)⌗

Friday (10/10)⌗

Week 8 (10/13)⌗

Monday (10/13)⌗

  • No class for Native American Day

Wednesday (10/15)⌗

Friday (10/17)⌗

Week 9 (10/20)⌗

Monday (10/20)⌗

Sampling + MIDI

  • Any questions about the mix project?
  • Sampling History
  • Who Sampled - covers and sampling
    • In-class project: based on who sampled, find three of your favorite sampling uses from who sampled. Why do you like them? Please describe how the artist used the sample and what it was about the original recording that made the artist want to use it. We’ll have a few people present at the end of class.

Wednesday (10/22)⌗

  • Questions about the mixing assignment?
  • MIDI History - some history on the problem MIDI was invented to solve.

Friday (10/24)⌗

Project 3: In class mixing assignment - Due Friday, 10/24 by midnight.

Project 4: Drum Programming and Beatmaking - DUE Monday, 11/3

Week 10 (10/27)⌗

Monday (10/27)⌗

  • In-class work on beatmaking project
  • Beatmaking - listening examples

Wednesday (10/29)⌗

Friday (10/31)⌗

Week 11 (11/3)⌗

Monday (11/3)⌗

Wednesday (11/5)⌗

Friday (11/7)⌗

Vital Synth Project - DUE Friday, 11/21

Week 12 (11/10)⌗

Monday (11/10)⌗

Wednesday (11/12)⌗

Friday (11/14)⌗

Week 13 (11/17)⌗

Monday (11/17)⌗

  • Vital Synth Patch sharing - Students share a synth patch they made with the class.
  • Start final project discussions and brainstorming
    • Take a few minutes and write down some ideas for your final project. I’ll come around and chat with each of you about your ideas individually.
  • Project proposals due Friday

Wednesday (11/19)⌗

Connecting Influences to Your Creative Voice

Friday (11/21)⌗

  • Play Vital Projects in class
  • After you play your project spend a few minutes presenting your final project proposal.

Project 5: Vital Synth - Due Friday, 11/21.

Week 14 (11/24)⌗

Monday (11/24)⌗

  • Technical Setup Day
    • Divide class into two groups of 4 students:
      • Group A (25 minutes): Studio setup and troubleshooting.
      • Group B (25 minutes): Independent work on laptops in the classroom (e.g., sound sourcing, arranging).
    • Groups switch halfway through.

Wednesday, Friday (11/26, 11/28)⌗

  • No class - Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 15 (12/1)⌗

Monday (12/1)⌗

  • Independent work day focused on final projects.
  • Instructor available throughout class for one-on-one help.

Wednesday (12/3)⌗

  • Course Evals

Critique Session (Part 1)⌗

  • Each student will present for 8–10 minutes, sharing a rough mix, composition, or sound design in progress.
  • Presenters should explain their current stage in the process and outline their intended next steps.
  • The class will offer constructive feedback and suggestions.

Presentation order

  1. Devyn
  2. Justice
  3. Caleb
  4. McKenzie
  5. Millie
  6. Isabella

Friday (12/5)⌗

Critique Session (Part 2)⌗

  • Continuation of project critiques following the same format as Wednesday.

Presentation order

  1. Dylan
  2. Alex
  3. Zakry
  4. Donnie
  5. Shea
  6. Lily
  7. Kylian
  8. Colby

Week 16 (12/8)⌗

Monday (12/8)⌗

  • Final Q&A session
  • One-on-one help if needed.

Wednesday (12/10)⌗

  • Reading/Study Day - No Class

Final Exam⌗

  • Final Exam Presentation: Friday, December 12, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM