T369: Sound Design
Indiana University, Department of Telecommunications
Spring Semester 2012
Tuesday & Thursday (#29866 ) 12:30 –2:15 pm, TV 250
Instructor
Norbert Herber nherber at indiana dot edu
Office Hours (Radio-TV 344): Monday 12:30-1:30 pm; Thursday 2:30-3:30 pm, or
send e-mail to set an appointment
Online syllabus: www.indiana.edu/~audioweb/T369
Prerequisites: T283 or T284 with a grade of C- or higher; or consent of the instructor
Introduction
This course will introduce you to sound design for video and multimedia production
in a broad and diverse manner. We will focus on the goal of attaining an appreciation
of the importance of sonic elements in media projects for conveying information
and shaping experience and the knowledge you need to produce powerful sound
designs for these projects.
Your first goal is listening—to open up your ear and challenge yourself to explore the enormous palette of sound available to you. You will find yourself moving from the role of "consumer" to a "producer" of sound.
You will produce five sound design projects as well as smaller in-class assignments and exercises that will introduce you to recording, processing, editing and mixing sound using Pro Tools, Flash, Soundtrack Pro, and other software. Throughout the course we will focus on how sound design conveys meaning and how sound functions with the visual, from animation, art installations, performance, web interfaces to motion graphics, gaming, video and film. We will explore how moving images can be used to strengthen and illustrate relationships and add dimension to sound (and the reverse!) We will also look at how sound is used in these formats to strengthen visual language, provide cues to what is occurring visually, create a sense of space (depth) and place (location), focus attention on objects and actions, provide for compositional structure or to create psychological (emotional) ambience.
Throughout the course we will emphasize observation, critical thinking and articulation and through the practice of individual projects, group discussions and critiques. Think of your time in the class as collaborative. Be prepared to present your ideas and share your work with others in the class. The more prepared to work and participate in class you are, the more successful you will be.
Course Objectives
Role of the Student
For many of you, this will be a very unique and challenging class. Though all
students are surrounded by sound, and depend upon their interpretation and
perception of sound to insure basic survival, it is likely that you have
never critically examined the sound of the world you inhabit and how
it interacts with your daily experiences. This course will examine this situation
through the lens of media production. As a student of sound design you will
find it important to develop a sensitivity to the aural content of the world
around you. This goes beyond simply hearing the sounds that comprise
an environment; it even goes beyond careful and attentive listening.
The greatest success in this course comes from listening, thinking, and finally
synthesizing an interpretation of a sound environment. In many media
products the sound you hear in the final production only slightly resembles
the sound of the actual environment or situation that is represented. Sound
design, as a discipline, can contribute greatly to realism, fantasy,
or some illusive, in-between sonic quality that you hope to convey through
media. Open minds, open ears, and open eyes work together to find creative
"solutions" to sonic "problems."
Supplies
Sound designers and musicians have have a hard time escaping
"pack rat" and "gear head" stereotypes. I think this is because it requires all sorts
of gear to do what we do. Whether it's for immediate use or experimentation,
you will find that this kind of work causes odds & ends electronics, media
storage, and other miscellaneous objects to pile up. For T369, you will start
with a modest hoard of supplies:
Some optional supplies include:
See Resources from this syllabus for suggestions on finding these optional supplies.
Student Integrity
You are expected to conduct yourself with decorum in this class. We have a
shared responsibility in learning: me as the facilitator and you as the participant.
Learning will only occur if we work together to make this an engaging environment.
I will do my best to provide interesting topics and material for our consideration.
You will absorb, discuss, and—through exercises and assignments—integrate
this material into a body of knowledge that will be useful to you in the future.
Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Both are grounds for an Academic Misconduct report and a failing grade. Any questions regarding these policies can be directed to the Code of Student Rights at http://dsa.indiana.edu/Code
All work that you turn in must be your own. In certain situations it may be necessary to borrow from third-party source. Students are allowed to do this only after specific permission has been granted by the instructor. All borrowed work must be cited; no exceptions. Failure to cite borrowed work will be viewed as plagiarism(see above).
The production and discussion of creative work is a large part of this class. Any work or criticism that is offensive or that constitutes harassment of a racial, sexual, ethnic, or religious nature will result in a failing grade.
Mobile phones and other gadgets must be turned off before entering the classroom.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken for all class periods. To accommodate for scheduling
conflicts and other "surprises" that may occur during the semester, all students
are allowed 2 absences. Your grade will be reduced 2 points (1%) for every unexcused
absence. Unless it is unavoidable, do not schedule medical appointments or interviews
during class or discussion section meeting times.
Students who have true emergencies, life-threatening illnesses, or deaths in the family may be granted excused absences. An excused absence must be supported with written documentation when you return to class. You will be responsible to get missed notes and information from a classmate.
Students observing religious holidays during the semester please see IU's Religious Holidays request form.
Communication
All technical questions pertaining to the class should be referred to T369-SP12@oncourse.iu.edu.
All students in the class will be automatically subscribed to this list. It
will provide a lifeline for help when you need it most. We will discuss this
in more detail during class.
All communication with me concerning your progress in the class should be done
in office hours, and either before or after class. If you cannot meet during
my regularly scheduled office hours, send an e-mail to make an appointment.
I am glad to meet with you to discuss class questions and anything else you
find interesting.
University Services
For assistance with physical, social, or mental health issues which affect learning
or testing:
Disabled Student Services
Franklin Hall 096
(812) 855-7578
Learning Disabled Coordinator: Jody Ferguson
Franklin Hall 327
(812) 855-3508
http://www.indiana.edu/~iubdss
Adaptive Technology Services
Herman B Wells Library Media Reserve Center
(812) 856-4112
http://www.indiana.edu/~iuadapts
For assistance with tutoring, test anxiety, or non-medical academic issues:
Mathematics Learning Center
Rawles Hall 115
(812) 855-8921
Contact: Jim Hendrickson (Swain East 340)
Student Academic Center
316 N. Jordan
(812) 855-7313
Contact: Sharon Chertkoff
http://www.indiana.edu/~sac
Writing Tutorial Services (http://www.indiana.edu/~wts)
For free help at any phase of the writing process—from brainstorming to polishing the final draft—call Writing Tutorial Services (WTS, pronounced “wits”) at 855-6738 for an appointment. When you visit WTS, you’ll find a tutor who is a sympathetic and helpful reader of your prose. To be assured of an appointment with the tutor who will know most about your class, please call in advance.
WTS, in the Information Commons on the first floor of the Wells Library, is open Monday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-in tutorials are available when WTS has an opening, but the appointment book often fills in advance. WTS tutors are also available for walk-in tutorials (only) in the Academic Support Centers in Briscoe, Forest, and Teter residence halls, open Sunday-Thursday 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.