Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LAS3020

 
TITLE Audio Engineering: An Introduction

 
UM LEVEL H - Higher Level

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION Audio engineers are responsible for the sounds we hear on the radio, in TV and movies, over the Internet and at live performances. They work at various locales, including recording studios, radio or television stations, motion picture companies, editing and post-production houses, live theatres and commercial studios. The creation of high quality sound effects is today key to the success of many video game productions.

In this Unit, students will become familiar with audio terminology and recording equipment, setting up microphones for recording, live sound reinforcement and using audio recording software to edit and mix multi track recordings. By the end of the Unit they will know how to set up a good listening space with basic room treatment, how to select appropriate microphones for a given recording, how to take care of studio equipment and how to record, edit and mix various instruments, including voice.

The Unit will delve into the theoretical and also the practical component of audio engineering, where students will learn to set up and use their own DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the Unit the student will be able to:

- Describe the physics of sound;
- Explain the difference between digital and analogue;
- Discuss the different microphone technologies;
- Familiarize themselves with the mixing console and its various sections;
- Describe gain staging;
- Demonstrate knowledge of compression;
- Explain equalization;
- Use basic effects, how to set them up and some of their various uses;
- Discuss audio terminology and recording equipment.

2. Skills:

By the end of the Unit the student will be able to:

- Select and set up microphones for studio recording and live sound recording and reinforcement;
- Use audio recording software to edit and mix multi track recordings;
- Set up a good listening space with basic room treatment;
- Take care of studio equipment;
- Learn how to record, edit and mix various instruments, including voice.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Bobby Owsinski, The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook (3rd or 4th edition)
ISBN-13: 978-0998503349
ISBN-10: 9780998503349

David Miles Huber and Robert E. Runstein. Modern Recording Techniques. (8th or 9th edition)
ISBN-13: 978-1138954373
ISBN-10: 1138954373

David Gibson. The Art of Mixing: A Visual Guide to Recording, Engineering, and Production (2nd edition March 28, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1931140456
ISBN-13: 978-1931140454

F. Alton Everest, Ken C. Pohlmann. Master Handbook of Acoustics (6th edition, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0071841040
ISBN-13: 978-0071841047

Howard Massey. Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits (2000)
ISBN-10: 0879306149
ISBN-13: 978-0879306144

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite knowledge, skills and competences: Ordinary Level Physics or Mathematics

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Case Study (Take Home) SEM2 Yes 40%
Assignment SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Elvio Cauchi

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit