ZD_18 Audio software

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Jaroslav Musil (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Martin Flašar, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Ing. Alena Albíniová
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
ZD_12 Sound Production I && ZD_15 Audio technology I
Competence to record and edit sound using current multimedia technologies.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The objective of the subject is to acquaint students with the latest multimedia technologies, which are used for recording, further processing of sound and final editing. Specifically, these are basic hardware resources and, above all, the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software that students learn to master. In connection with other objectives, it is important to understand the whole chain of work with sound, from inputs, through editing, processing, mixing and final editing up to outputs in various formats. Teaching will take place on up-to-date versions of DAW programs and in practice the most used of them will work most of the allocated hourly grant. Other types of DAW programs will explain their specific properties and suitability for use in certain situations. For final sound processing students will use a specially designed mastering program for this purpose.

Typical activities:

• Import music audio file, edit, process, and export
• Recording music audio via microphone, recording editing, processing, final export
• Record spoken word, edit record, process, final export
• Multi-track recording, editing, processing, mixing, mixing automation, final export
• Working with a sound loop, its time and frequency adaptation
• Import MIDI files, assign virtual instruments, edit, export MIDI and audio
• Import video, edit the original soundtrack, export audio tracks, export the final track
• Finishing - mastering
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to:

• Manage input and output hardware settings, their installation and customization in DAW
• Set the DAW workspace, create a project, create tracks, and adjust their parameters for the work with the sound
• Record sound in audio track, edit recorded event, and change time and frequency of recorded sound
• Use track processing, Insert and Send effects, set EQ
• Create MIDI and Instrument Track, assign virtual instruments, record and edit MIDI events, import and edit MIDI file
• Manage mixing of multi-track recording, mixing automation, and automation of applied effects
• Edit the soundtrack of the video
• Make final edits and final export to various audio formats
Syllabus
  • • First start of DAW, creating a new project, setting up a work environment, setting up the input and output hardware devices, installing and customizing them in the DAW program (driver of the connected audio card, setting up the input / output MIDI devices, assigning hardware inputs / outputs, external effects devices and sound modules, plug-ins and virtual tools)
  • • Import audio file, edit (import audio file, play track content, editing audio events - cutting, Fade-In, Fade-Out, adjusting volume level, working in audio editor, adjusting length - audio file tempo, and audio file tonality)
  • • Creating an audio track, its parameters, recording audio music, editing a recording (how to create audio track, configuration, track preferences, controls for recording and playback of track content, track inspector, signal level indicator, input signal level settings, transport controls , Pre-Count and Pre-Roll functions, record, metronome, tempo, record editing, volume level adjustment, audio editor and its options, time and frequency quantisation of audio recording)
  • • Recording a spoken word and its typical editing (input signal level setting, microphone record, record cutting, volume level adjustment, sibilant and breath suppression)
  • • Processing of audio recording, use of Insert / Send effects, equalization (Plug-In program effects library, their use, serial - Insert, parallel - Send, FX effect creation, position Pre - and Post - the main level fader, frequency editing of the recording - EQ, Strip effect strings, use of presets)
  • • Mixing multiple audio recordings, recording automation (mixer operation, signal level automation and other track parameters automation, including effects used)
  • • Final editing, export to the final file (master track, finishing effects, normalization, export, output audio formats)
  • • MIDI and virtual instruments (work with MIDI, MIDI track, Instrument track, virtual instruments library, their activation for MIDI and Instrument track, MIDI record, editing, Key Editor and List Editor, Import MIDI File, Assigning virtual Instruments, editing)
  • • Acquaintance with other program tracks (Arrange Track for editing musical form, Folder and Group Track, Marker Track, Tempo track, Signature and Transpose Track)
  • • Production activities in DAW, utilization of previously discussed topics (work with audio and MIDI loops included in DAW, import of MIDI files created in another program, eg in notation program, assignment of virtual instruments, microphone recording, processing, live recording and virtual instruments mixing, final editing, export to the final audio file of the specified format)
  • • Work with a soundtrack of video in a DAW program (edit the original soundtrack, create a new audio track, link it to a video)
  • • Finish editing of the exported file in a mastering program (familiarization with the program for mastering, setting the environment, importing files, editing, using Plug-ins, export options, rendering, creating audio CDs, burning a disc)
  • • Getting acquainted with other DAW programs, their specific features, comparison, utilization
Literature
    required literature
  • Základní práce s programem WaveLab (PDF) Autor: Ing. Jaroslav Musil
  • Příručka uživatele pro práci s programem Cubase - elektronická učebnice https://publi.cz/ Autor: Pavel Kappler, Vydavatel: DISK Multimedia, s.r.o., Kategorie: Hudba, Rok vydání: 2016, Velikost knihy: 45,9 MB
  • Základní práce s programem Pro Tools (PDF) Autor: Ing. Jaroslav Musil
  • Základní práce s programem Studio One (PDF) Autor: Ing. Jaroslav Musil
  • Základní práce s programem Cubase (PDF) Autor: Ing. Jaroslav Musil
    recommended literature
  • MANZO, V. J. and Will KUHN. Interactive composition : strategies using Ableton Live and Max for Live. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015, xxv, 252. ISBN 9780199973828. info
  • COOK, Frank D.: Pro Tools 101: An Introduction to Pro Tools 11 (with DVD). Cengage Learning PTR, 2013, ISBN 978-1285774848
  • HEPWORTH, Matthew Loel T. Mixing and mastering with Cubase. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Books, an imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation, 2012, xvii, 143. ISBN 9781458413673. info
  • PEJROLO, Andrea: Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production: A Practical Guide to Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer, and Cubase. Focal Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0240522166
Teaching methods
Teaching Methods:

• Descriptive-demonstration method (teacher's interpretation and demonstration)
• The skill-based method (verification of theory, studied in other related objectives on practical examples using individual student workplaces)
• Discussion method (group listening to student results, discussion, evaluation)
• Front education (teacher's interpretation, presentation and demonstrations)
• Group and cooperative teaching (student work on a joint project, commissioned by a teacher)
• Independent student work (student's work on independent work, awarded by a teacher)
• Computer-assisted teaching and other audio devices (complex equipment of teacher's and student's workplace - HW / SW)

Forms of teaching:

• Theoretical preparation - basic concepts and principles used in audio recording and processing, presentation method.
• Laboratory exercise - work in the classroom, where each student has a computer-equipped workstation, an external sound card, a keyboard, a microphone and headphones. DAW programs and the final sound editing program are installed on every computer. The teacher performs individual operations and activities at the teaching workplace, and students work in synergy with him. After discussing the issue, the teacher enters the student's independent work and verifies the results for each student individually. If it is appropriate for the task, it will play the result of each student through the classroom's sound system so that all students can judge it or discuss it.
Assessment methods
Final work: DAW project and final audio set according to assignment for each student individually. Evaluation Criteria: Correct project setup, recording quality and editing, suitability of processing, mixing and parameter automation, correct mastering.
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/ZD_18