DAD 422
Audio Production III

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.

109 items across 16 weeks · click a week to expand

Mon 8/24
TODAY
· Introduction to the syllabus
slides Fundamentals of Sound
· Listen to surround in the immersive room
  • Atmos demos
  • Some 5.1 surround
homework
· Read: Physical attributes of acoustic waves, Part I — due Wednesday, see D2L for details
Wed 8/26
TODAY
due Read: Physical attributes of acoustic waves, Part I — we discuss it today
slides Physical attributes of acoustic waves
homework
· Read: Physical attributes of acoustic waves, Part II — due Friday, details on D2L
Fri 8/28
TODAY
due Read: Physical attributes of acoustic waves, Part II — we discuss it today
slides Space and time in music and sound art
Mon 8/31
TODAY
slides Introduction to spatial audio
project Introduce Project 1: Mono Sound Walk
homework
· Project 1: Mono Sound Walk — due Monday 9/14 by class
Wed 9/2
TODAY
slides Historical context — audio
Fri 9/4
TODAY
lab Start the Mono Sound Walk — concept, sound map, session setup, and a short proof of concept
Mon 9/7
TODAY
off No class — Labor Day
  • Keep working on the mono sound walk
Wed 9/9
TODAY
slides Distance perception
Fri 9/11
TODAY
· Follow along with headphones
slides Spatial audio psychoacoustics
Mon 9/14
TODAY
due Project 1: Mono Sound Walk — due today by class
· Listen to mono projects in class and talk about process
slides Stereo reproduction
Wed 9/16
TODAY
slides Recording stereo
lab Experiment with different stereo micing techniques in the studio
Fri 9/18
TODAY
off No class
· Before Monday, review Binaural audio and recording and bring headphones
Mon 9/21
TODAY
· Start with a short binaural-audio recap and questions
slides Anaglyph: binaural spatialization — install it before class; the page documents every control and how to automate a fly-by
lab Binaural recording with the Zoom H3-VR and the Sound Professionals earbud mics
  • Combine binaural recordings with mono and stereo recordings rendered through Anaglyph
  • Test out Anaglyph in class — add sound effects or dialogue and experiment with automation
  • Start by comparing the bundled HRIR sets. Optional: try other SOFA files after preprocessing them with the tool linked in the Anaglyph lesson .
· Anaglyph projects, making of — gallery
project Introduce Project 2: Binaural/Stereo
homework
· Project 2: Binaural/Stereo — due Wednesday 10/14 by the start of class
Wed 9/23
TODAY
· Meet in the immersive room
slides Speaker layouts and room calibration
lab Calibrate the immersive room as a group: measure the layout, set every channel to reference with pink noise and an SPL meter, and log the results
  • Every listening and mixing session in this room from here on happens over the reference we set today
Fri 9/25
TODAY
slides How do ambisonics work?
· Listen to ambisonics recordings in the immersive studio — in the room we just calibrated
Mon 9/28
TODAY
slides Ambisonics recording
· Listen to ATK recording examples
  • A format — raw microphone signals
  • B format — ambisonic encoded signals
slides ATK setup in Reaper
Wed 9/30
TODAY
lab Ambisonics music mix of a project from The ‘Mixing Secrets’ Free Multitrack Download Library
· Any questions about setup of the ambisonic project
project Introduce Project 3: Ambisonics — the H3-VR is available for checkout if you want ambisonic recordings in your project
homework
· Project 3: Ambisonics — due Monday 10/19
Fri 10/2
TODAY
lab Continue Wednesday’s ambisonics mix with guided setup and practice
  • Check the four-channel B-format bus and separate binaural and 7.1 decoder tracks
  • Set up the course FuMa-to-AmbiX converter and IEM AllRADecoder using the ATK setup guide
  • Make short binaural and 7.1 test renders; reimport the 7.1 file to check its channel order and LFE channel
Mon 10/5
TODAY
lab Project checkpoint before the break in class meetings
  • Start with questions and troubleshooting for Project 2: Binaural/Stereo , due Wednesday 10/14
  • Check each student’s Project 3: Ambisonics routing and short binaural and 7.1 renders; identify what still needs work before the 10/16 check-in
· Brief introduction to the roles of the 5.1 channels before the independent review
Wed 10/7
TODAY
off No class meeting — instructor away
· Independently review Cinema’s hidden multi-channel history and the origins of digital surround and The sound of 5.1: aural aesthetics — dynamic range
· Continue work on Project 3 using the renders checked on Monday
Fri 10/9
TODAY
off No class meeting — instructor away
· Independently review The sound of 5.1: aural aesthetics — discrete channels and complexity
Mon 10/12
TODAY
off No class — Native American Day
Wed 10/14
TODAY
due Project 2: Binaural/Stereo — due by the start of class through D2L
· Listen to and discuss the binaural projects together in class
· Play the 5.1 demos and go through Friday’s discrete channels and complexity slides to play the examples
Fri 10/16
TODAY
lab Ambisonics check-in day
  • Each student presents their project and discusses their process for about 5 minutes
  • Students then give feedback and constructive comments for about 2 minutes
  • Feedback areas:
  • How well is the spatialization working?
  • If you did an original work, how did you use the stereo or ambisonic recordings?
  • How well is the automation working? Does it add to the piece?
  • Wrap up with general collaborative problem-solving related to ATK and Reaper
Mon 10/19
TODAY
due Project 3: Ambisonics — due today
· Listen to ambisonics mixes in class and talk about your process
homework
· Before Wednesday, watch two videos on Reaper and surround:
Wed 10/21
TODAY
lab Surround mixing in REAPER — verify the speaker routing, place one source, and automate one deliberate move
lab Group mix in 7.1 using ReaSurroundPan to learn how it works — in the room we calibrated on 9/23
· Optional extra after the group mix: Sound Particles — explore a short spatial sound-design experiment; no separate submission
Fri 10/23
TODAY
· Technical introduction to Dolby Atmos
· Watch the Atmos demo — how different does it sound from the 5.1/7.1 we have been using?
slides What is Dolby Atmos
Mon 10/26
TODAY
slides Listening to Atmos from Apple Music
Wed 10/28
TODAY
slides Atmos with Logic Pro
lab Start mixing a song in Atmos using Logic Pro
Fri 10/30
TODAY
lab Continue mixing the song in Atmos using Logic Pro
project Introduce Project 4: Atmos Mix
homework
· Project 4: Atmos Mix — due Monday 11/16
Mon 11/2
TODAY
lab Like Lambs: in-class film mix — apply multichannel mixing to dialogue, effects, and picture; explore the film as an option for Project 4
· Choose the music or film route for Project 4: mix the complete song or full supplied film
Wed 11/4
TODAY
lab Continue Monday’s Like Lambs film mix — replay the passage, identify one balance or spatial problem, and revise it together. Compare before and after — about 15 minutes
lab Develop your chosen Project 4 mix in Logic — about 25 minutes
  • Music route: continue the Atmos session started last week. Film route: bring the full supplied film and its separate source audio into Logic, preserving sync with picture
  • Check bed/object routing and balance, then make one purposeful object automation gesture. Use Monday’s placement decisions as a starting point where they suit your passage
  • Ask for help with setup or routing before Friday’s checkpoint
lab Partner listening check — about 10 minutes: play a short excerpt, explain the intended focus, and identify one revision to make before Friday’s working-mix checkpoint . Save the session with its media
Fri 11/6
TODAY
slides Native surround plug-ins — 5–10 minutes: compare native surround and multi-mono processing, look at a few Logic examples, and hear which processing affects the bed versus objects
lab Project 4 working-mix checkpoint — confirm the full-song or full-film source, check bed/object routing and one automation gesture, and get feedback. Bring one question
Mon 11/9
TODAY
slides Atmos delivery: loudness, the ADM master, and binaural QC — make your Project 4 mix submission-ready before the independent work days
Wed 11/11
TODAY
· No class meeting — I’m at ATMI in Grand Rapids, MI (Nov 11–14). These two days are independent work days; they don’t count against attendance.
lab Continue Project 4 and apply Monday’s Atmos delivery lesson to your mix
· Studio A / Studio B won’t be supervised — work on laptops unless you’ve already arranged studio access
Fri 11/13
TODAY
· No class meeting — I’m at ATMI in Grand Rapids, MI (Nov 11–14)
lab Independent work on the Atmos mix due Monday
· Post a 1–2 minute stereo or binaural progress bounce to D2L by end of day, labeled with its render type and one question — I’ll listen and reply over the weekend
Mon 11/16
TODAY
due Project 4: Atmos Mix — due today
· Listen to your mixes
project Introduce the Final Project : shared quality standards, individual learning goals, and a finished portfolio piece
  • Choose an artistic goal, a technical skill to develop, and a listening experiment. Start a new piece and production session; earlier graded projects cannot be revised or resubmitted for the final
homework
· Bring a concept, influences, source information, and draft goals to Wednesday’s proposal workshop
· Written final project proposal — due Monday 11/23 via D2L; no prototype or finished audio required
Wed 11/18
TODAY
lab Final project proposal workshop
  • Discuss the intended listener experience, scope, three goals, source credits, and intended sharing permissions
  • Confirm a new composition, soundscape, film, or film excerpt and plan how you will test your spatial idea
  • Plan room access and identify a small spatial idea to test after the proposal
Fri 11/20
TODAY
lab Proposal planning: bring your draft and practical questions; refine scope, sources, and the production plan
  • Discuss the proposed master format and playback setup
· Optional resource for relevant projects: SpatGris — spatialization outside the DAW and at concert scale
· If SuperCollider fits your final project, ask me for a starting point; new software is not required
homework
· Finish the written proposal for Monday; no audio or working session is required yet
Mon 11/23
TODAY
due Written final project proposal — submit to D2L by class; no prototype required
· Briefly present the concept and goals and identify an influence
  • Get feedback and agree on achievable goals, scope, sources, and delivery specifications
homework
· Begin a short audible prototype for Monday 11/30 to test the central spatial idea; preserve versions for comparison
Wed 11/25
TODAY
off No class — Thanksgiving recess
Fri 11/27
TODAY
off No class — Thanksgiving recess
Mon 11/30
TODAY
lab Audible prototype check-in — upload a labeled 30–60 second headphone preview to D2L by class and bring the session
  • Test the central spatial idea and routing; temporary sources are fine and the whole piece is not required yet
  • Listen in small groups and use class time to troubleshoot and develop the work
  • Build toward a complete rough mix for Friday 12/4 and bring one specific listening question
Wed 12/2
TODAY
· Undergraduate Research showcase — Science Center Lobby, 2–4 PM
  • Our class period sits inside the showcase window, so we go as a group
Fri 12/4
TODAY
lab Complete rough mix and focused critique — upload a labeled headphone preview to D2L by class, bring the session, and prepare one specific listening question
  • Cover the full approved duration, including the ending; balance and spatial details can still be rough
  • Play a selected passage. Listeners give one timestamped observation and one actionable suggestion tied to the question
  • Record the feedback and plan at least one substantive revision; discuss and post any agreed goal changes to D2L
  • All students receive feedback today, using small groups if needed
homework
· Revise after critique and preserve before-and-after excerpts for your self-assessment
Mon 12/7
TODAY
lab Revision and delivery check: compare a before-and-after passage, explain the change, and troubleshoot final exports
  • Listen through the playback exports; check the immersive master, labeled headphone version, collected session media, and credits. Ambisonic projects also need the undecoded B-format WAV
  • For film, check the picture-synced listening video too
· Fill out course evaluations
Wed 12/9
TODAY
off Reading / study day — no class
Fri 12/11
TODAY
due Final project portfolio package — submit to D2L before 1:00 PM
  • Include the immersive master and playback files, headphone version, complete session, portfolio description and credits, and evidence-based self-assessment. Ambisonic projects must include the undecoded B-format WAV as well as the decoded 7.1 WAV; no separate QC report is required
· Final project presentations — 1:00–3:00 PM, our scheduled final exam slot

Final exam presentation — Friday, December 11 · 1:00–3:00 PM