Sound 1 FMPR 340/B
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Sound 1 FMPR 340 - Section B - Friday 13:15 - 17:15 Classroom: FB 405 Instructor: StÊphane Calce Email: stephane.calce@concordia.ca Office: FB 421-23 Office Hours: Wednesday, by appointment only To Schedule an Appointment: http://doodle.com/poll/ct2knsmtuggi9s8d _______________________________________ Prerequisite: Enrolment in the Major in Film Production; FMPR 231; FMST 211, 212. An introductory course in the aesthetics of sound and music design, and the techniques of location and studio recording and post-production. Analog and digital platforms and technologies will be included. Weekly mandatory laboratory sessions. NOTE: Students who have received credit for FMPR 242 may not take this course for credit. _______________________________________ Sound 1 is an introduction to film sound production. Students will learn to employ audio as a creative tool for documentary, fiction, and experimental filmmaking. We will practice field sound recording, studio recording, editing and mixing in order to create original sound tracks for film. Students will be required to work with Pro Tools to record, edit and mix sound, but this is not a software course. Students are encouraged to use time outside of class time to explore and understand the software. Course Goals: - Understand fundamental audio concepts and basic electroacoustic notions; - Develop critical listening skills; - Acquire knowledge of professional film sound equipment: field microphones; studio microphones; microphone preamps; level meters; digital recorders; mixers, DAW; - Learn how to use the MHSoC equipment available to you, and gain practical experience in recording, editing, and mixing sound; - Conceptualize, plan and produce rich sound designs to contribute to your own and other student’s film productions; - Develop knowledge of the relationships between sound and picture in filmmaking.
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Theory and Practice There will be a theoretical and practical component to each class. We will start with a lecture on film sound and then move on by using class time as studio time. In small teams, we will practice various aspects of film sound production. There will be readings, sounds to listen to/ films to watch, 2 film sound production assignments, 1 mid term pop quiz, and 1 take home exam. For the assignments, you are required to fully produce and complete them outside of class time, using the equipment and facilities available for you here at school. There will be in-class assignments as well. Details and due dates will be outlined in class. In this course, you will practice: 1)
Location recording
2)
Studio recording
3)
Multi-track editing on Pro Tools and preparing for a Surround Mix.
Important: A) Students will use their Home Folder and Class_Share DropBox in the Server to download and hand in assignments. However, they are expected to supply their own thunderbolt/USB3 external Hard Drive to their work and to back up their projects. Specs: HDD must have both Thunderbolt and USB 3 port, and be 7200 RPM, minimum 500 GB (1 TB recommended), Formatted Mac Os Extended. B) Students must pay the Cinema Resource Fee to access the school’s equipment, the lab, and gain access to the school’s server, download the media needed to complete the assignment (See Cinema Resource Fee Section Below). Students are responsible for ensuring that they have access to the server at the beginning of the semester.
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Main Assignments 1. Photo Soundscape & Fiction (15%) Length: 1-2 min. Groups of 2. Project due: Week 7, beginning of class Design a soundtrack for a picture. Using a photograph provided by the instructor as source, plan, record and edit a short sound piece. The project must be recorded in the school’s studio. You may also use sounds effects from sound banks and/or your own, and music as well. The project must be edited in Pro Tools. Further instructions about the assignment will be given in class. 2. Sound Design Project (35%) Length: 5 minutes You may work alone, or in pairs. Project due: Week 13, beginning of class Design the soundtrack of an existing film or film clip provided by the instructor. Your work should be a demonstration of your fluency in the concepts and techniques taught throughout the course. It must include recordings of your own (i.e.: you have recorded yourself). It may include SFX and AMB sounds drawn from our school’s sound bank as well, but it cannot include copywrited music. Further instructions about the assignment will be given in class. Participation Grades for participation in the course will be based on: Presentation of work in class Contributions to class discussion Performance on class assignments Attendance (regular attendance is required) Grading Participation Sound Projects Take-Home Exam Mid Term Pop Quiz
20% 50% 15% 15%
Lab Access Students have access to the Lab (FB 403) from 9 to 5 pm, during weekdays, except during class time. See schedule posted on door. No food or beverages allowed in the lab at all times. Cinema Resource Fee All Film Production students are required to pay a $60 / academic year Resource Fee to access the school’s equipment, computers and computer lab. Students must first create an account with
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the CDA (Centre for Digital Arts), and then make the payment in order to validate the account for the academic year. To create account go to CDA account web page: http://cda.concordia.ca/index.php/my-account Log in using your MyConcordia username and password. For all students, the $60 fee should be paid online. Students should bring their proof of payment to Colette Brière in person or via an e-mail. Please provide the proof of payment as well as the student’s name, ID and the class you are registered in. Online: log-on to Concordia's web page, choose quick links-> Campus services-> bookstore/ campus store-> Buy on line-> Fine- Arts Fees-> choose CINEMA, name of class, either FMPR 231, FMPR 332 or FMPR 432 Important: Choose Cinema-Production upon payment of resource fees. The $60 resource fee covers both fall and winter semesters. All fees should be paid by September 19, 2016; accounts will be locked after that date. Colette Brière Animation Tech Coordinator Office: FB 321-1 515-848-2424 ext. 4275 Colette.Briere@concordia.ca Academic Code of Conduct All students are bound by the regulations and offences described in Section 17.10 of the Concordia University Undergraduate Calendar of 2015-2016. Please familiarize yourselves with its content. Available here: http://registrar.concordia.ca/calendar/17/17.10.html Academic Integrity is concisely explained on the Student Services website, particularly concerning plagiarism: www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity.html Please take note: In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.
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Weekly Breakdown (subject to changes) NB. All reading is due for the class following where it is listed. W1 (09/9)
INTRODUCTION Sound and Picture Relationships Basic Notions in Electroacoustic READING: Soundtrack for a Film in New York, Antonioni, Microphone Patterns Hand Out
W2 (09/16)
SHOTGUN MICROPHONE & FIELD RECORDERS 744t & 633 Recorders / Rode NTG1 READING: Foreword: Walter Murch.
W3 (09/23)
MUTI-MIKING / MULTI-TRACKING WITH FIELD RECORDERS Sennheiser Wireless Lavalier Assign: Work on pitch for Assign #1 (1 paragraph)
W4 (09/30)
STUDIO RECORDING / SFX FIELD RECORDING Pitch for Assign #1 (1 Paragraph) Studio FB 433, Tracking in Pro Tools, Mixer, LDC mics Field recording Assignment - SFX READING: Handout TBA
W5 (10/7)
FIELD RECORDING PROTOCOLS - STUDIO FB 301 Film Sound Process Vs The Project Workflow Sync Sound Recording in Studio FB-301
W6 (10/14)
EDITING & LAB DAY FOR ASSIGN #1 (Lab FB 403) DX and VO editing Assign: Finish Assign #1
W7 (10/21)
ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE Listen to Assignment #1 Watch Materials for Assign #2 READING: TBA
Sound 1 FMPR 340/B W8 (10/28)
FOLEY / ADR - STUDIO FB 433 Studio Recording Techniques READING: TBA
W9 (11/4)
STEREO RECORDING - STUDIO FB 433 MX recording - SFX Stereo recording MS Configuration with LDC AKG c414
W10 (11/11)
MX & SFX EDITING - LAB FB 403 Mix Basics - Bus/Aux Reverb FX, ADR - EQ & Compression READING: Handout TBA
W11 (11/18)
PT EDITING / LAB DAY - FB 403 Stereo Sound Design & Surround Sound Mix Lab day and Studio Time for Assign #3
W12 (11/25)
SAMPLE MIX FB 435 - Surround Mix Studio
W13 (12/2)
FINAL PROJECTS DUE Take-Home Exam Due December 6.
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Sound 1 FMPR 340/B Web Resources:
http://duc.avid.com http://www.avid.com/education http://www.ubu.com https://archive.org http://freemusicarchive.org http://www.mobygratis.com http://www.soundonsound.com http://www.protoolsisawesome.com http://www.aes.org https://soundatmelhoppenheim.wordpress.com http://cinematech.hybrid.concordia.ca
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