Sound Design for Digital Media

Code:

MM0034

Acronym:

DSMD

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Communication Technology

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Multimedia

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MM	19	Syllabus	1	-	6	45	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Professionals in the field of multimedia can benefit from the application of audio technologies in projects that they develop by taking advantage of the immersive and comunicational capabilities that sonic environments endue.
The goal of this course is to impart knowledge about the process of creation, manipulation and transmission of audio content for visual media, particularly in the area of film, video and video games. It is intended that the student interacts with a nomenclature and a proper working methodology suitable for this area and the multimedia industry.

Percentual distribution:

     Scientific component: 30%
     Technological component: 70%

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Identify the various stages that constitute an audio-visual project
• Acquire and identify a nomenclature of sound design for visual media.
• Apply techniques and tools derived from sound technology in the context of video and computer games.
• Select the components and methodologies to work within the sound design scope.
• Develop sound projects for films, documentaries and games within a multidisciplinary team.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Students should have some prior contact with the area of audio and sound arts. However, they may attend the course without this pre-requisite, being properly informed about the practical work and additional research that will be needed in order to accelerate and to level their progress and knowledge.

Program

1. Sound Design

• Concept
• Brief historical evolution
• Nomenclature
• Semiotics
• Psychological and social aspects.

2. Soundscapes

• Concept and authors
• Sound space and acoustic ecology
• Applications
• Tools

3. Sound immersion

• Psychoacoustics
• Motivational factors and attention
• Perception and cognition

4. Analysis and creation of sound projects

• Narrative adequacy
• Methodology: Software, Templates and Timelines
• Steps: Capture and Foley, Editing, Processing, Mixing, Mastering

5. Sound for video games

• The computer games industry
• Framework
• Sound design and soundscapes on computer games.
• Architecture and hierarchy of a sound project
• Software development for game sound

Mandatory literature

R. Murray Schafer; The soundscape. ISBN: 978-0-89281-455-8
Chion, M.; Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen, C. Gorbman, trans. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994
SONNENSCHEIN, DAVID; Sound Design, Michael Wiese Productions, 2001
Ekman, I.; Modelling the Emotional Listener: Making Psychological Pro- cesses Audible, Proc. AudioMostly 2009, Sepbember, Glasgow, Great Britain., 2009

Complementary Bibliography

Álvaro Mendes Barbosa ; orient. Prof. Doutor Xavier Serra e co-orient. Prof. Doutor Sergi Jordà; Displaced soundscapes
RUMSEY, F.; The Audio Workstation Handbook, Oxford, Focal Press, 1996
ZAZA, T.; Audio Design, Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, 1991
Lastra, J. Reading; Writing, and Representing Sound, n Altman, R. (ed.) Sound theory, Sound practise, Routledge, 1985

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes will be theoretical and practical. One of the components of the class will include the exposure and discussion of the course contents that may include a series of lectures by invited speakers. In the other component, students will undertake individual miniprojects and 2 interdisciplinary team projects.

Software

Snapper
Native Instruments Komplete
Izotope RX
Audiokinetic Wwise
Waves Audio
Tapestrea
Digidesign Protools

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	30,00
Trabalho de campo	20,00
Trabalho laboratorial	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	22,00
Total:	22,00

Eligibility for exams

Do not exceed the maximum number of absences and actively participate in the development of practical work and projects. Students that work are exempted from classes but must at intervals arrange meetings with the teachers to present the progress of their work and must give their presentations simultaneously with ordinary students.

Calculation formula of final grade

Calculation of the final grade

The final classification is according to the following formula:

FG = Proj1 * 45% + Proj2 * 20% + MiniProj * 25% + CA * 10%

Legend:

• FG: Final Grade
• MiniProj: Mini-Projects (individual)
• Proj: Project
• CA: Continuous Assessement

Examinations or Special Assignments

The project presentation will be held in the conference, in the presence of the teacher or of a jury appointed for the purpose.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

For the students that work continuous assessment (CA) in the final grade formula will not be considered, with the consequent increase of the evaluation of mini projects to 35%. Additionally, they must comply with rules present in the "Obtenção de Frequência" field. The association leaders are subject to the normal rules of classification.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the final grade will be held in a single moment with the delivery and presentation of the projects developed before. The student must contact the teacher in time specifing the projects and pointing out its progress.

Observations

Although portuguese is the main language of the course, english can be an option if foreign students are a part of the class.