Course detail

Sound Design and Mastering

FaVU-SODMAcad. year: 2024/2025

Teaching of advanced sound work is focused on two areas of studio production: sound design and mastering. In sound design, the student will learn in detail the general principles and practical possibilities of creating and editing sound using digital and analogue processes. Sound design will be implemented in the Cecilia5, Kyma X, Max/msp environments as well as using VST instruments and analogue synthesizer. Mastering instruction will focus on precise mastery of critical listening and understanding of signal finalization and technical standards. Practical exercises will be conducted in Ozone digital software, combined 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

Entry knowledge

The course is not intended for beginners. The student's prerequisite is previous independent work and orientation in the field of sound creation, musical sensitivity and the ability to think both abstractly and technically.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Credit is awarded based on completed attendance, class activity and delivery of a final custom audio composition of at least 2 minutes in length demonstrating the skills learned.

Teaching takes place in the audio studio of the KAT FaVU BUT in the hours determined by the timetable. Attendance is compulsory, the maximum number of absences is 25%. Higher amount of absences can be compensated by submitting an alternative assignment after agreement with the lecturers.

Aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to advanced software and hardware tools for creating and editing sounds. Through hands-on exercises, students will learn how to create custom sounds usable for a variety of multimedia production areas (video, games, music, sound installations, VR, etc.) and will be able to delve deeper into sound synthesis and processing and learn how to finalize recordings to meet current standards.

Students will gain an orientation in professional audio terminology and an overview of the wide range of possibilities for advanced sound work in both creative sound design and mastering. Through hands-on experience with software and high-end professional analogue equipment, students will learn to recognise and exploit the significant qualities of digital/analogue signal processing. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to utilize the school's sound studio mastering techniques.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Audio Mastering – Essential Practices, Jonathan Wyner, Berklee Press; Pap/Com edition (May 1, 2013), ISBN: 0876390947 (EN)
Designing Sound, Andy Farnell, The MIT Press (August 20, 2010), ASIN: B008H5QA04 (EN)
Electronic Music and Sound Design – Theory and Practice with Max/MSP, Alessandro Cipriani, Maurizio Giri, Contemponet (December 1, 2010), ISBN-10: 9788890548406 (EN)
Mastering Audio, Third Edition: The Art and the Science, Bob Katz, Focal Press; 3 edition (October 15, 2013), ISBN-13: 978-0240818962 (EN)
Microsound, Curtis Roads, The MIT Press; 1st edition (August 20, 2004), ISBN-13: 978-0262182157 (EN)
Sound Synthesis and Sampling, Martin Russ, Routledge; 3 edition (August 21, 2012), ISBN-13: 978-0240521053 (EN)
The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument, Mark Vail, Oxford University Press; 1 edition (January 22, 2014), ASIN: B00HWWPAY0 (EN)

Type of course unit

Guided consultation

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Jiří Suchánek, Ph.D.

Syllabus

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 re-synthesis, tau, morphing, etc.)

softwares: 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...)

Dithering, output/input formats

Analog vs. Digital mastering

Practical class

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Jiří Suchánek, Ph.D.