DAD 222
Audio Production I

Schedule

Opportunities in Digital Sound Design at DSU — DSU Live runs student concerts; the Sound Design Discord is where projects and program news get shared; and Student Research Initiatives funds undergraduate work.

140 items across 16 weeks · click a week to expand

Mon 8/24
TODAY
· Class introductions
  • What’s your name, major, and what is the last song you listened to?
· Introduction to the syllabus
slides Intro to Music Technology
homework
· Your favorite sound, submitted on D2L — due Friday 8/28
Wed 8/26
TODAY
slides Finish Intro to Music Technology
homework
· Your favorite song is due Friday
Fri 8/28
TODAY
due Your favorite sound — due tonight on D2L
slides Sound and hearing
Mon 8/31
TODAY
· Listen to a few of your songs — class playlist
slides Introduction to Reaper
Wed 9/2
TODAY
· Listen to a few more songs that we haven’t heard yet
slides Introduction to Reaper — continue with the intro
Fri 9/4
TODAY
slides Saving and exporting
project Introduce Project 1: Arranging Clips
  • Find loops and preview them on Looperman — show the different features of the site, including what its license lets you do with the loops
  • Find drums, percussion, chords, and a cappella vocals
lab Find and preview loops on Looperman
· Reminder: all projects are played out loud in class. Make sure you are comfortable sharing what you’ve created with the group.
homework
· Project 1: Arranging Clips — due Monday 9/14 by class
Mon 9/7
TODAY
off No class — Labor Day
  • Work on your loops project independently
Wed 9/9
TODAY
lab Walk through Working with loops in REAPER : timebase setup, Option-drag, and gluing clips
lab Show a basic version of the loops project
  • Find 7 clips from Looperman
  • Layer and rename tracks in Reaper
  • Build the arrangement
· Some layering and mixing of the project from Monday
slides Audio hardware - 25 minutes
Fri 9/11
TODAY
lab Finish the in-class project
  • Mixing and exporting
slides Finish Audio hardware - 25 minutes
Mon 9/14
TODAY
due Project 1: Arranging Clips — due today by class
· Listen to loops projects
Wed 9/16
TODAY
· Move to the studio
slides Reaper recording
  • One student dialogue demo
homework
project Project 2: Satirical PSA — have your script ready by Monday 9/21
Fri 9/18
TODAY
off No class
· Work through the Editing slides and bring questions Monday
· Each student should edit their own PSA and bring any questions to class Monday
Mon 9/21
TODAY
lab Another recording day for more practice, focusing on editing and mixing
  • have different students try recording to learn the process.
lab Gain staging drill — record the same line clipped, healthy, and too quiet, then normalize and compare (instructions )
Wed 9/23
TODAY
· Sound effects and music beds
  • In-class example: The Raven audiobook SFX design
  • Transition impacts or swooshes between character lines; some scripts need effects that illustrate locations or products, like chirping birds for outdoor settings
  • Add sound effects to separate tracks
slides Finding sound effects
· 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
Fri 9/25
TODAY
lab FX Roulette game
Mon 9/28
TODAY
drill Ear training: frequency bands — 10 minutes
slides EQ
Wed 9/30
TODAY
· Listen to PSAs in class
· Discuss what worked well and what could be improved
due Project 2: Satirical PSA — due by start of class
Fri 10/2
TODAY
lab EQ in-class assignment — about 25 minutes
project Introduce Project 3: In-class mixing assignment — due Friday 10/23; about 5 minutes
lab Project 3 session setup — about 10 minutes: download and import the aligned multitrack, set the tempo and timebase, and save with copied media
lab First fader balance — about 8 minutes: follow a brief demonstration, loop a chorus, and bring in vocal, drums, bass, and supporting parts with master headroom
· Save your starter session and identify any setup problems before leaving — about 2 minutes. Bring it Monday; finish folder organization if needed
Mon 10/5
TODAY
· Open Friday’s Project 3 session, resolve setup questions, and finish the high-pass check and saved static balance before adding other processing
slides Compression and when to use it
video Watch REAPER Mania’s Why and How to Use Compression
lab In a separate working version, compare ReaComp on one track with it bypassed at similar loudness
· Demonstrate how to create an effects send before the independent work days
Wed 10/7
TODAY
off No class meeting — instructor away
slides Independently read Delay, chorus, and flanger
video Watch REAPER Mania’s Why and How to Use Delay and Creating Sends
lab In your Project 3 working session, create one delay return and send a track to it. Compare two delay settings and the dry sound, then note why you kept your choice
video Optional: watch REAPER Mania’s Chorus & Flange FX
Fri 10/9
TODAY
off No class meeting — instructor away
slides Independently read Mixing with reverb
video Watch REAPER Mania’s Why and How to Use Reverb
lab In your Project 3 working session, create one reverb return and send a track to it. Compare two spaces and the dry sound, then note why you kept your choice
Mon 10/12
TODAY
off No class — Native American Day
Wed 10/14
TODAY
· Review Delay, chorus, and flanger , Mixing with reverb , and the effects-send material from the independent work days. Bring your Project 3 session and any questions
lab Build on the balance covered in class Friday: demonstrate panning, EQ, compression, and reverb and delay on sends using selected Project 3 tracks, with time to try the techniques in your own session
slides Refer to The rough balance — faders, panning, and sends as needed
· Keep the saved static balance unchanged and work in a separate version. Compare the static and processed mixes at similar loudness, listening for what improved and what became less clear
homework
· Bring a working version of your Project 3 mix Friday, October 16, that opens with all media and is ready to play. Come with one question or mixing problem, and keep your original static balance saved separately
· Friday is a progress check. All final processing and the four written decision notes do not need to be complete yet
Fri 10/16
TODAY
drill Ear training: compression — 10 minutes
lab Project 3 feedback checkpoint : I’ll listen to each student’s whole mix and give individual feedback. Bring a working session with all media and one question or mixing problem. Final processing and written decision notes can still be in progress
· BAD BEAT (Tino Gomez) joins us Monday, October 19. We’ll preview the visit today. Explore his music and links in Monday’s schedule
Mon 10/19
TODAY
guest BAD BEAT (Tino Gomez) visits class
  • Las Vegas-based DJ, producer, and event promoter associated with techno and house; founder of MNTRA Entertainment and co-founder of Techno Taco Tuesday
  • MNTRA website · Instagram · Facebook · SoundCloud
Wed 10/21
TODAY
drill Ear training: space — 10 minutes
· Follow-up questions from Friday’s individual mix feedback and a quick review of Project 3 submission requirements
slides Sampling history — the machines and records behind sampling, and the problem MIDI was invented to solve
Fri 10/23
TODAY
· Before class: download and install Speedrum Lite
· Download 99Sounds: 99 Drum Samples I and prepare the three starter sounds
lab MIDI and Speedrum Lite in REAPER
project Introduce Project 4: Drum Programming and Beatmaking — due Monday 11/2
due Project 3: In-class mixing assignment — due tonight by midnight
Mon 10/26
TODAY
drill Ear training: balance and image — 10 minutes
lab How drum patterns work
  • Build a beat in Ableton Learning Music, then rebuild it in REAPER with Speedrum Lite
  • Make a two-bar pattern with a backbeat, subdivisions, velocity changes, and one variation
  • Today’s exit pattern can become the Project 4 drum track
· Save the exit pattern for Project 4. Bring it and one non-drum sample to Friday’s checkpoint
Wed 10/28
TODAY
lab Review beatmaking projects in progress, discuss questions, and identify what remains to finish for Project 4
Fri 10/30
TODAY
lab Project 4 feedback checkpoint — 20 minutes: bring a session with a two-bar drum pattern and one non-drum sample triggered by MIDI. Check sample files, get feedback, and work on the remaining parts; no additional graded submission
· Reminder: Project 4: Drum Programming and Beatmaking is due Monday, November 2
· Install Vital Synth if you haven’t already
slides Begin electronic sound production : compare a pluck and pad, introduce the signal path, and explore waveforms, filters, and envelopes
lab Begin the deck’s guided Vital task as time permits: build a pluck and turn it into a pad. Continue unfinished work Monday; complete the exit check before Roulette
lab If time remains after the checkpoint and guided Vital task, begin Vital Roulette with a modeled round
Mon 11/2
TODAY
drill Ear training: one hidden difference — 10 minutes
· Play beatmaking projects in class
slides Continue the electronic sound production introduction . Resume hands-on Vital practice Wednesday after students install the synth.
due Project 4: Drum Programming and Beatmaking — due today
homework
· Install Vital before Wednesday. Check that it opens and produces sound in REAPER; bring any setup questions to class.
Wed 11/4
TODAY
lab Vital setup check: confirm everyone can load the instrument and play a note in REAPER; troubleshoot installation questions
lab Short pluck demo : start from an initialized patch and show how the oscillator, filter, and amplitude envelope shape the sound
lab Walk through instructor-created Vital presets. Compare their sound and musical role, then look at the oscillator, filter, and envelope choices behind them
lab Try the pluck settings and save a practice patch. If time permits, change the amplitude envelope to make a pad. Use the Vital introduction as a reference
· Modulation begins Friday, after this practice with the basic controls
Fri 11/6
TODAY
lab Review Wednesday’s Vital work: check setup in REAPER, revisit the pluck demo , and compare the oscillator, filter, and envelope choices in instructor-created presets. Try the settings and save a practice patch
slides Begin modulation — LFOs and mod envelopes as time permits: assign an LFO to filter cutoff, compare rate and depth, then try an envelope assignment on the saved patch
· Last day to withdraw from full-term courses
homework
project Project 5: Vital Synth — due Monday 11/23
Mon 11/9
TODAY
drill Ear training: synthesis ears — 10 minutes
slides Effects and post-processing — compare a patch dry and processed, then apply effects to a Project 5 patch
· Optional follow-up: Drum synthesis for students who want to build percussion patches
· No class Wednesday or Friday — I’m at the ATMI conference. On Monday 11/16 we’ll have some volunteers share their patches from previous classes
Wed 11/11
TODAY
off No class — I’m at ATMI in Grand Rapids, MI (Nov 11–14)
homework
· Keep working on Project 5: Vital Synth — now due Monday 11/23
Fri 11/13
TODAY
off No class — I’m at ATMI in Grand Rapids, MI (Nov 11–14)
Mon 11/16
TODAY
slides Leads and keys
· Vital Synth patch sharing — students share a patch they made with the class
project Start final project discussions and brainstorming
  • Take a few minutes and write down some ideas. I’ll come around and chat with each of you individually.
homework
· Final project proposal — due Friday 11/20, presented in class
Wed 11/18
TODAY
slides Connecting influences to your creative voice
lab Recreate That Sound: synthesis ear training — reverse-engineer patches in Vital before Project 5 is due
Fri 11/20
TODAY
due Final project proposal — due today, presented in class
· Play in-progress Vital projects in class — last round of feedback before they’re due
· After you play your project, spend a few minutes presenting your final project proposal
Mon 11/23
TODAY
due Project 5: Vital Synth — due today
lab Final project studio day
  • Divide the class into two groups of four
  • Group A (22 minutes): tracking session in the studio. Choose a mic, set your input gain, build a cue mix, and record a few takes of a volunteer singing or playing. Keep everything; the takes can go straight into your final project.
  • Group B (22 minutes): independent work on laptops in the classroom, sourcing sounds and arranging
  • Groups switch halfway through — the spare minutes cover the swap and wrap-up
Wed 11/25
TODAY
off No class — Thanksgiving recess
Fri 11/27
TODAY
off No class — Thanksgiving recess
Mon 11/30
TODAY
lab Independent work day focused on final projects
· Instructor available throughout class for one-on-one help
Wed 12/2
TODAY
· Course evaluations
· Critique session, part 1
lab Each student presents for 8–10 minutes, sharing a rough mix, composition, or sound design in progress
  • Presenters explain their current stage in the process and outline their intended next steps
  • The class offers constructive feedback and suggestions
· Presentation order posted in class
Fri 12/4
TODAY
· Critique session, part 2
lab Continuation of project critiques, same format as Wednesday
· Presentation order posted in class
Mon 12/7
TODAY
· Final Q&A session
· One-on-one help if needed
Wed 12/9
TODAY
off Reading / study day — no class
Fri 12/11
TODAY
due Final project — due today, submitted on D2L
· Final project presentations — 8:00–10:00 AM, our scheduled final exam slot

Final exam presentation — Friday, December 11 · 8:00–10:00 AM