MP 212 syllabus 1/4 FA 14 - Berklee College of Music

MP 212 – PRINCIPLES OF AUDIO TECHNOLOGY 2
Instructor:
Mailbox:
Office:
Course Chair:
A. Rodriguez, J. Wyner, J. Largent
MS 1126-MPE
1126 Boylston/2nd Fl, Room 220
Rob Jaczko
Phone: 617.747.2400
Office Hours:
Description: This course covers the fundamentals and practical applications of digital audio systems, as
well as methods for functioning in integrated Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) & Studio environments.
Course topics include system setup and interconnections, and synchronization; aspects of digital
recording consoles / mixers, such as paged architecture, I/O, word clock, sample rate, and bit depth; and
basics of a DAW, such as the elements of hard-disk recording, track and file management, digital audio,
and sequencing strategies. Emphasis on Pro Tools as the main DAW used.
Course Objective: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have acquired in-depth
knowledge and understanding of the digital studio environment in theory and application. The student
will be able to set up and run a DAW-based session using a small-format digital console, including proper
interconnections and clocking, level management, track and session management, integration of analog
gear, and perform troubleshooting.
Additional online Pro Tools assignments and assessments (quizzes) will be required.
A set of four labs (listed below) will give you practical experience (hands-on) of some of the audio theory
discussed in class, with special emphasis on digital studios signal flow and operation. These labs, as well
as some hands-on practice in class will help you prepare for graded proficiency test(s), where you will
need to show basic knowledge of the use of the Yamaha DM2000 digital console and other gear in a
complex digital studio scenario, like our Studio M27.
Required Text(s):
1. Sound and Recording, Rumsey/McCormick
2. MP 212 Resources, available as downloadable .pdf files at the MP&E website: mpe.berklee.edu
Recommended Text:
•
•
Pro Tools for Musicians, Gina Fant-Saez
Principles of Digital Audio (6th Ed.), Ken C. Pohlmann
Homework, Quizzes, Projects, Out-of-Class Preparation: In addition to the reading requirements for
this course, weekly written assignments will be made. A midterm and final exam will also be given. In
order to maintain satisfactory standing in this class, a minimum of three hours per week of out-of-class
preparation are recommended. Students are expected to complete the Pro Tools online component with
participation at both Pro Tools assignments and quizzes (2 each, both to be submitted online at Inside
Berklee)
Additional handout papers, labs and homework instructions can be found in the following link:
http://mpe.berklee.edu/academics/curriculum/index.php?coursecode=MP-212
Midterm:
Final:
Week of October 27, 2014
In-Class Exam Week of December 15, 2014
Grading:
General information on grading is contained in the Student Handbook. If an assignment,
quiz, or exam is missed, a grade of F will be entered and averaged. The mark “I” (Incomplete) will only
be available in emergency situations; see Student Handbook for policy.
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Grading Criteria:
A (93-100)
A- (90-92)
B+ (87-89)
B (83-86)
B (83-86)
B- (80-82)
C+ (77-79)
C (73-76)
C- (70-72)
D (60-69)
F (below 60)
Final Grade Determination: Your final grade will be determined by considering the following
components at recommended weights. The indicated percentages are approximate and will be set by your
teacher.
Labs
20%
Quizzes and Homework Exercises
15%
Pro Tools Two
10%
Midterm Proficiency
5%
Midterm Exam
10%
Final Proficiency
7.5%
Final Exam
17.5%
Attendance & Participation
15%
Attendance Policy: You are allowed one unexcused absence during the semester. If your 2nd unexcused
absence occurs after the "W" deadline (see below), a course grade of “F” may result. Withdrawal is not
automatic. It is your responsibility to initiate withdrawal proceedings prior to the "W" deadline.
Deadline for Course Withdrawal: 5:00 p.m. November 7, 2014
You may withdraw from this class by completing a Student-Initiated Withdrawal from a Class form at the
Office of the Registrar. The withdrawal form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before the
end of the 9th week of classes in Fall and Spring semesters, or the end of the 8th week in the 12-week
Summer Session. If you submit the withdrawal form by the deadline, you will receive a grade of “W” for
the class. Withdrawing from a class cannot be done after the deadline.
The instructor will not withdraw you from the class for any reason (including absence) or submit the form
for you. It is your responsibility to withdraw from the course.
If you withdraw from this class, you continue to be financially responsible for the class and are not
eligible for a tuition refund or replacement course. Please be aware that withdrawing from a class may
affect scholarship, financial aid, and/or international student visa status. If you receive financial aid or
veterans’ benefits, your eligibility for aid may be reduced by withdrawing. If you are an international
student, you may jeopardize your F-1 visa status.
In case of doubt about your status and options, ask the instructor, department chair and/or the Counseling
& Advising Center.
E-Mail Communication
All official communication in the MP&E department will be conducted through your assigned berklee.net
email account. It is your responsibility to ensure that emails delivered to your Berklee student account
are received, read, and acted upon in a timely fashion. You may choose to forward your berklee.net email
address to another account, but you are still responsible for maintaining access to this account, checking it
and regularly keeping space available for new email deliveries. Please ensure that your berklee.net
account does not exceed its allotted storage space. The department is not responsible for your missing
communications delivered to berklee.net email accounts.
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Class Start and End Time
All classes begin promptly on the hour, and end at ten minutes to the hour.
Class Cancellations
In the event that class is cancelled due to inclement weather, all of the course material will still be covered
during the semester.
TOPICAL COURSE OUTLINE
Labs:
Lab #1 – DM2000
Lab #2 – DM2000 and Pro Tools
Lab #3 – Mixing in Pro Tools and using the DM2000 as a controller
Lab #4 – Synchronization
Topical Outline
! Class introduction/Digital Audio Basics (review from MP 211)
Standard formats (Redbook, DVD-A, DVD-V, etc.) A/D and D/A issues, Dither, Jitter,
Oversampling, etc.
! Digital consoles - the DM Series from Yamaha and digital data transmission formats
I/O (analog & digital), Digital interconnections, Word clock; AES/EBU, S/PDIF, ADAT
Optical, TDIF; Interface, pages, bussing, EQ, dynamics, aux sends and onboard effects;
Latency issues, A/D and D/A conversion issues, Dither
! Setting up a DAW – components
Computer based systems; PCI cards, audio interface, hard drives; Installing software,
OMS and related helpers; Native versus host-based processing dedicated hardware
systems– Radar, MX2424, etc. Interconnections & component cabling, Analog and
digital I/O; Clocking options; Troubleshooting
! DAW recording basics
The DAW environment, Inputs and outputs; Levels, meters, and level management,
sound file management, tracks, voices and channels; playlist editing; Simple 2-track
recording; Multi-track recording; Hard disk allocations; main Pro Tools setup windows
(I/O setup, Hardware setup, Session Setup)
! Synchronization – speed and address
Digital and analog audio and video sync, timecode, frame rates Synchronizers – MTP
A/V, Sync I/O Integrating devices – DAW, DA-88, etc…
!
!
Mixing in the digital domain
Plug-ins and plug-in architecture: TDM explained, DSP resources and plug-ins; Native
processing: realtime RTAS, HTDM, VST, Direct-X; non-realtime; Automation concepts.
Understanding latency.
Digital interconnections
Word clock; AES/EBU, S/PDIF, ADAT Optical, TDIF; Superclock and Digidesign
connections, configurations and systems—DAW, digital console, MDM
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!
Analog audio integration
DAWs and analog processing gear, consoles & recorders Levels and metering,
synchronizing, flying out and in
Berklee provides free English Language Tutoring and free access to the College Writing
Center!
The English Language Tutoring Program provides assistance to native and nonnative Englishspeaking students with all aspects of the language: writing, reading, speaking, listening,
grammar, and vocabulary development. The tutors are trained Berklee students, and they meet
with students needing additional help with their English and coursework one hour per week
for the whole semester. Peter Gardner is the coordinator of the program
([email protected]), and he can be contacted with any questions or the names of students
interested in the service.
The Berklee College Writing Center: The CWC sessions are conducted by professors and
grad. students who can help you with any kind of writing assignments for Berklee (not just this
class). They can also help with resumes, scholarship and internship applications, press packets,
website text, or anything else related to your study at Berklee. Unlike with the student tutors
(above), you sign up for tutorials on an as-needed basis. Session sign-up is online. Go to the
following website: < http://rich65.com/berklee>. If you have not done so, register yourself, sign
in, and sign up for a time that works for you. The sessions are 50 minutes long and held in 22
The Fenway, Room F23 (2nd floor). See the CWC website for details (and other useful writing
resources): <http://www.berklee.net/wc>
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