Course detail

Sound Design and Mastering

FaVU-SODMAcad. year: 2022/2023

The course of advanced work with sound is focused on two specific areas of studio work: sound design and mastering. Within the sound design, the student gets acquainted in detail with the general principles and practical possibilities of synthesizing and editing sound using digital and analog processes. Sound design will be realized in Kyma X, Max/msp environments and also with using freeware and VST instruments and analog hardware synthesizers. Mastering lessons will focus on development of critical listening and understanding of audio recordings finalization and overal technical standards. The practical exercises will be realized in software domain in combination with a fully professional analog mastering chain.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Jiří Suchánek, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Audiovisual Technology (KAT)

Offered to foreign students

The home faculty only

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will gain orientation in professional audio terminology and an overview of the wide possibilities of advanced work with sound both in the field of creative sound design and professional mastering. The experience gained during practical exercises with softwares as well as with high-end professional analog technology will teach students to recognize and use the significant qualities of digital / analog signal processing. After completing the course, the student will be able to use the audio mastering chain in the school studio.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite for passing the course is previous independent work and orientation in the field of sound production, the ability of abstract and technical thinking, precision and good hearing.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching carried out in a small group will always include a lesson of theory connected with practical examples and work with selected tools, which will be followed by joint and individual consultations. The course will include regular homework, which will be consulted in the following meetings. In case of school closure, teaching will take place regularly online on MS Teams platform according to the curent schedule.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Fulfillment and submission of min. 70% of homework, submitting the final audio composition proving the acquired skills.

Course curriculum

Sound design:
- Synthesis (subtractive, additive, granular, fm, vector, transwave, wavetable, physical modeling, phase distortion, formant, karplus-strong...)
- Modulation (lfo, adsr, stochastic)
- algorithmic generative processes
- creative audio processing (delay based, fourier resynthesis, tau, morphing, etc.)
- software: Kyma X, max/msp, m4l, Cecilia5, GRMtools, NI Komplete...

Mastering:
- dynamic and loudness signal control (valve, solid state, optical, FET, VCA)
- frequency measurement and adjustments
- transient design
- saturation (valve, tape, transistor, optical)
- M/S and parallel processing techniques
- Stereo field width
- Loudness standards (ITU, EBU, dBu, dBV, RMS, LUFS...)
- Colour
- Dithering, output/input formats
- Analog vs. Digital mastering

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to develop skills in scultping own sounds usable for wide multimedia creation (video, games, music, sound installations, etc.), to understand and dive deeper into the sound synthesis and processing and to be able to finalize audio recordings to meet current standards.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Teaching is based on individual consultations and exercises, which are mandatory (70 % atendance) for fulfilling the objectives and outputs of the coursec

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Type of course unit

Guided consultation

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Jiří Suchánek, Ph.D.

Practical class

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Jiří Suchánek, Ph.D.