Theory and Practice of Sound for Moving Images

Subject is not scheduled Not scheduled

Code Completion Credits Range Language Instruction Semester
373TPS Z 2 28SS English summer

Subject guarantor

Name of lecturer(s)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will gain theoretical understanding of the relations between sound and image.

Understanding the aspects of the soundtrack including foley, ambiance, music and dialogue and their interrelation.

Experience inside a digital audio workstation including setup of sessions, editing, mixing and mastering.

Understanding and ability to use relevant and necessary plug-ins while creating the soundtrack - EQ, compression, reverberation and others.

Mode of study

Practical seminar in sound studio

Prerequisites and co-requisites

Basic understanding of video editing.

Course contents

This course starts as an ‘Introduction to Theory’ of sound in cinema and video-art, approaching also theoretical aspects of production and editing. In the second half of the course students are expected to bring their own visual content to work on its sound. We finish the semester with plug-ins and mixing techniques.

Goals:

to present a theoretical and practical introduction to students of the soundspace of moving image works including the tools and techniques necessary to craft the sound space.

Recommended or required reading

HEGARTY, P. Rumour and Radiation. New York: Bloomsbury. 2015. 216 pages. ISBN 9780415904575

ALTMAN, R. (org.). Sound Theory/Sound Practice. New York: Routledge. 1992. 298 pages. ISBN 9780415904575

CHION, M. Audio- Vision. New York: Columbia University Press Weis, E. e Belton, J. (orgs.) (1985) Film Sound. New York: Columbia University Press. 1990 239 pages. ISBN 9780231078993

WEIS E. e BELTON, J. (orgs.). Film Sound. New York: Columbia University Press. 1985. 462 pages. ISBN 9780231056373

AUGOYARD, J. F. & TORGUE, H. Sonic Experience: A Guide to Everyday Sounds. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. 2006. 230 pages.

Assessment methods and criteria

Development of students own soundtracks, attendance

Note

Today, audio is a plastic medium ? akin to sculpture. It can be shaped carefully for aesthetic and technical reasons. Imagine this class as a music composition class where your instrument is the studio and you will learn to sculpt sound for moving images. Most of what you learn can also be applicable to making music using the same tools ? a digital audio work station with good monitor speakers.

Audio post production is both an art and a craft that is easy to understand but difficult to master, particularly if your ear is untrained. Hence we will focus on close listening and attempting to hear what you are listening to, throughout the class.

The class will be divided into two parts A) theory which will be often taught through examples, and B) practice. Students are expected to bring in their own projects to work on.

We will focus on the musicality of making soundtracks - rhythm, pitch, density, mass, line, colour, while learning about editing tools. The same tools are used to work on the micro/sample/sound level and then overall at the macro level for the whole soundtrack/composition/song. That distinction is important to keep in mind throughout ? what level are you working at ? individual sounds or the overall composition?

Sara Pinheiro - http://sarapinheiro.com/about_en.php

Further information

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans