Course Title: Audio Technology 1b

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Audio Technology 1b

Credit Points: 12

Course Coordinator: Philip Samartzis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5207

Course Coordinator Email:philip.samartzis@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Audio Technology 1A

Course Description

This course will introduce you to the fundamental skills and concepts of various audio technologies used to record, create and manipulate sonic material including sampling, synthesis and digital signal processing.
Key artists who have made significant contributions to sound culture through the experimental application of digital audio technology will be used to provide a contextual framework for the technical workshops.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course will contribute to the following program capabilities:

• find creative solutions to constraints and chanllenges in a fine art context
• effectively communicate via artistic production ina range of media and modes with awareness of and sensitivity to a rnage of laocal and global contexts and cultures
• develop a critically reflective arts practice, in order to continually develop, change and plan for a futre that is both informed and improved by arts practice
• engage in autonomous and continued learning, apply new theories of practice and embrace new developments in cultural/artistic production

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• create sounds using analogue and digital synthesis generated by hardware and software synthesizers
• create and shape sounds using digital sampling
• create and manipulate sounds through the application of digital signal processing
• apply concepts and practices including digital audio construction, synthesis, sampling, sequencing, and digital signal processing within various musical arrangements
• identify and analyse key works from the canon of electronic music

Overview of Learning Activities

Key concepts such as synthesis, sampling and digital signal processing will be identified and critically analysed in lectures and listening sessions.
A range of sound works using synthesis, sampling and digital signal processing will be presented to facilitate discussion around conventional and experimental applications of music technology.
Practical demonstrations of synthesis, sampling and digital signal processing will enable you to integrate a range of concepts and practices into your own compositions.

Overview of Learning Resources

Hardware and Software necessary for the course are provided in the Sound laboratory (14.2.004), although home recording, where viable, is also permissible through negotiation.
Recommended texts are discussed in class, and you are expected to deepen your understanding and broaden your perspectives through the library’s audio-visual collection, along with recommended websites devoted to the critical reflection of audio technology.
Appropriate technical support will be available.  Resources are available on Blackboard (through myRMIT). These include bibliographies, journal articles, audio, video and other online materials.

Overview of Assessment

Assessable tasks are used to hone your conceptual and technical skill-sets, as well as your compositional methodology. Projects are deigned to provide opportunities to demonstrate many of the fundamental issues canvassed in class discussion, as well as to extend the fundamental parameters of their arts practice. Assessment includes technical exercises, student-driven projects, class presentations, semester reviews and class participation.