Course Title: Develop sound designs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: VART6416C

Course Title: Develop sound designs

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6150 - Advanced Diploma of Music Industry (Sound Production)

Course Contact: Rebekha Naim

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4849

Course Contact Email: rebekha.naim@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher;

John Phillips
john.phillips@rmit.edu.au

 

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop an overall sound design from production briefs.

It applies to individuals with a good understanding of the physical nature of sound, along with research and creative thinking skills. They collaborate with other creative personnel to develop the overall sound or musical identity of a wide range productions.

The course will cover building blocks for sound design for screen based media and other sound design applications.

 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUASOU503 Develop sound designs

Element:

1. Interpret and confirm sound design brief

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Participate in concept meetings with relevant people to discuss and determine creative and technical sound requirements for a production

1.2 Confirm sound requirements meet the overall production requirements in liaison with relevant people

1.3 Identify and confirm any additional sound design team members required to fulfil the brief

Element:

2. Break down components of sound design brief

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify types of sounds required, and determine content, quality and duration of each sound component

2.2 Determine and document resource and creative requirements for each sound component

2.3 Document and confirm roles of sound design team members

Element:

3. Experiment with sound components to express ideas

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Encourage and motivate sound design team members to generate ideas

3.2 Generate, explore and record a range of ideas and options to serve as a creative base for developing the required sound design

3.3 Select ideas with the most potential for technical and creative development of the required sound design

Element:

4. Assess creative ideas

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Evaluate selected ideas in terms of their viability, cost, technical feasibility and suitability to meet requirements of sound design brief

4.2 Select final ideas for the components of the sound design, based on what is needed to meet the overall requirements of the brief

Element:

5. Design sound elements

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Develop sound design concept, taking into consideration the brief and the ideas generated by the sound design team

5.2 Determine sound components required to implement sound design in line with creative and technical requirements

5.3 Establish clear relationship between sound components and objectives of sound design

5.4 Liaise with relevant people to incorporate additional requirements and ideas to achieve best sound design

5.5 Present sound design in required format to convey design concept

5.6 Confirm final sound design concept is consistent with brief and that potential difficulties are addressed

Element:

6. Evaluate final sound design

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Use appropriate techniques to evaluate whether final sound design meets the requirements of the sound design brief

6.2 Seek feedback and opinions from relevant people, and document results of evaluation

6.3 Communicate results of evaluation to relevant people, and use results to improve future practice

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to record, develop, design and mixdown sound effects from development to final implementation. You will be able to create synthesiser patches, set up and utilise various microphone techniques and record in outdoor environments using field recording techniques.



 


Details of Learning Activities

Welcome to VART6416C, Develop Sound Designs. Over the 16 weeks of semester 1, we will explore and develop the skills and knowledge required to develop an overall sound design for screen-based media from production briefs.

It applies to individuals with a good understanding of the physical nature of sound, along with research and creative thinking skills. They collaborate with other creative personnel to develop the overall sound or musical identity of a wide range productions.

The course will cover building blocks for sound design for screen-based media and other sound design applications.


Teaching Schedule

Weekly Lesson plan

 

               
 

WEEK 

CONTENT

PRACS

Location

ASSESSMENTS COMMENCE

ASSESSMENTS DUE

  
   
   
 

Week 1

Introduction to unit & assessments

  

 LAB

Assessment 1 Commences

    
 

The Sound Designers

  
 

Cinema Sound / Surround Sound

  
 

LOGIC PRO

  
 

Week 2

Surround Sound Formats

OMF PRAC

 LAB

Assessment 0

Assessment 0

  
 

Pro Tools I/O

  
 

OMF & AAF

  
 

FCP > OMF > LOGIC / PRO TOOLS - ASSESSMENT 0

  
 

Week 3

Surround Sound in Pro-Tools

STUDIO

 STUDIO

      
 

Pro Tools I/O

  
     
 

Class will be divided into two groups for this session

  
 

Week 4

LOGIC PRO

  

 LAB

      
 

Sound Design strategies

  
 

Sound Design / roles in film sound production

  
 

ADR / Foley

  
 

Week 5

GUEST LECTURE

  

 LAB

      
 

David Chackman

  
 

Location Recording

  
     
 

Week 6

LOGIC PRO

  

 LAB

Assessment 2 Commences

    
     
 

ASSESSMENT 3 COMMENCES

  
 

Bass Management / Matrix v Discrete / File Management

  
 

Week 7

GUEST LECTURE

  

 LAB

      
 

David Chackman

  
 

Location Recording

  
 

Week 8

LOGIC PRO

  

 LAB

      
     
     
 

Logic Pro / Pro Tools / Adobe Premiere

  
 

Week 9

LOGIC PRO

  

 LAB

Assessment 3 Commences

Assessment 1 Due

  
 

Review of MIP requirements

  
 

FCP > OMF > LOGIC / PRO TOOLS - ASSESSMENT 3

  
 

Week 10

GUEST LECTURE

  

 LAB

      
 

David Chackman

  
 

Location Recording

  
 

Week 11

    

 STUDIO

Assessment 4 Commences

Assessment 3 Due

  
 

Assessment 4 - Analog Recording Project

  
     
     
 

Week 12

    

 STUDIO

      
 

Assessment 4 - Analog Recording Project

  
     
     
 

Week 13

    

 LAB

  

Assessment 4 Due

  
 

GUEST LECTURE

  
 

GUEST LECTURE - Cameron Mckenzie

  
 

Nathanael Bates

  
 

Week 14

    

 LAB

  

Assessment 2 Due

  
 

ASSESSMENT 2 DUE

  
 

FINAL REVIEW

  
 

Week 15

    

 LAB

      
 

Assessment and Review

  
     
 

Week 16

    

 LAB

      
 

Assessment and Review

  
     
     
     
               

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Headphones and data storage required


Overview of Assessment

Students will be able to create, record and produce original sound effects from scratch using advanced synthesis techniques and basic microphone and field recording techniques.


Assessment Tasks

Task Number

1 of 5

Task Name

OMF

National unit/s code

CUASOU503

National unit/s title

Develop Sound Designs

National qualification code

CUA60515

National qualification title

Advanced Diploma of Music Industry

RMIT Program code

C6150

RMIT Course code

VART6416C

 

About the assignment

Open Media Format (OMF) file transfer - in class assignment 

Tasks to complete:

  • Download Adobe Premiere session from the link provided below (this will be live in week of assessment)
  • Download Logic Music file from link provided below (this will be live in week of assessment)
  • Open Adobe Premiere
  • Open supplied session
  • Export OMF fromAdobe Premiere
  • Export Quicktime movie from Adobe Premiere
  • Quit FCP
  • Open Logic Pro
  • Open supplied session
  • Insert small (~3 seconds) blank regions @ start (zero) of all tracks
  • Consolidate all tracks
  • Export all tracks as audio files
  • Quit Logic Pro
  • Open Pro Tools
  • Import OMF file created earlier
  • Import Quicktime file created earlier
  • Import music tracks as audio files
  • Mix & bounce Quicktime file
  • Ensure file contains video and both music & SFX audio
  • Upload video bounce to Canvas assessment submission.

 

 

Assessment #2

 

Task Number

2 of 5

Task Name

Genre Remix

National unit/s code

CUASOU503

National unit/s title

Develop Sound Designs

National qualification code

CUA60515

National qualification title

Advanced Diploma of Music Industry

RMIT Program code

C6150

RMIT Course code

VART6416C

Section A – Assessment Information

Assessment duration and/or due date

Assessment Commences Week 1, and is due week 9 of class.

Task instructions 

 Summary and Purpose of Assessment

This assessment is one of the four Sound Design projects required to demonstrate competence against the unit.

Each Sound Design assessment focusses on specific Sound Design skills or knowledge.

This assessment looks at developing your skills in realising client brief requirements, as well as developing a suitable range of research skills. It will allow you to adapt to culturally unfamiliar requirements, and allow you to collaborate with others to reach your final goal.

 

Assessment Instructions

For this assessment you will undertake a song remix of a supplied song.

You will be supplied with the completed video, and the separate audio tracks for the song as individual audio stems. Files are stored online in Google folders, and links are supplied in the relevant Canvas shell.

You will also be supplied with a choice of two (2) randomly assigned musical Genres. You must then choose to remix the song to ONE (1) of the two supplied genres, and indicate your choice in the online list provided through Canvas.

You will be required to rework the song according to the following specific requirements: 
- Rework song to supplied Genre 
- Re-arrange song structure to supplied structure request 
- Add a minimum of one tuned instrument sound in song’s key 
- Add a minimum of one rhythmic component to song

 

 

What

The final submission is a bounced audio file of your final submission. However within this, it must demonstrate that you have addressed all “Client Brief” requirements. Note that these requirements also make up the basis of the final marking rubric. Please look at the rubric for details, and note that like all client submissions, timely submissions and file management conventions are essential.

 

Whilst compressed files are permissible, please check compressed file before sending.We advise avoiding low bit rates etc as it will degrade audio quality. Aliasing issues and other will be considered part of submission.

 

Where

You will have dedicated time in the computer labs to complete this project, however we encourage you to utilise RMIT facilities outside of class time, utilise DAW equipment you can access outside of the university, and collaborate with others.

 

How

Please review the Assessment Rubric, located in the Canvas shell for details on the assessment.

 

Conditions for assessment 

·       Your completed and submitted file will evidence your ability to realise assessment requirements

·       You must submit the assessment file to Canvas as directed

·       This is an individual task that you must complete. However seeking advice and assistance from others is appropriate for the collaborative nature of the assessment criteria. In any case remember you are responsible for your submission

·       Please make arrangements with your assessor at least one week prior to the assessment due date if you feel you require special allowance or allowable adjustment to this task

·       Your submitted assessment file should address all assessment requirements, listed in the assessment rubric, including timely submission, correct file considerations and naming conventions

·       You will be assessed and graded according to the marking rubric

 

You can appeal the assessment decision according to the RMIT Assessment Processes (Links to an external site.)

Equipment/resources students must supply (if applicable):

Equipment/resources to be provided by RMIT or the workplace (if applicable):

·       You will need access to a DAW system of your choice

·       You may choose to engage in other acoustic / electronic instruments of your choice, and recording facilities if required.

·       You will need to ensure you have internet access for research, file exchange and assessment submission

·       Ensure you have backup drives to backup media, and also utilise online “cloud” storage for backup

 

 

Onsite computers with Pro Tools, Logic Pro & Ableton Live DAW software installed

 

 

 

 

  Edit Manage      

Assessment #3

 

Unit name:  Develop Sound Designs

Unit national code: CUSSOU503

Unit RMIT code: VART 6416c

Name of Assessment Task: ADR / Foley assessment (Idiot Box)

Number of Assessment Task: #3 of 5

Week assigned: 6

Week due: Week 14

Summary of assessment


ADR & Foley project

Details of assessment


Retain Copies of all Documents


Graded Assessment


Individual and Group assessment



Assignment Brief


You will provide the entire audio soundtrack for a short segment of a commercial release film. You will provide all sound effects (atmosphere & synchronised), as well as dialogue recording (ADR).

You will be provided with a script detailing required sound effects and dialogue.

This document will be supported by a face-to-face in class client briefing, and assessment criteria is laid out in assessment rubrics below.



Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed individually on the basis of:

  • Your ability to effectively record required sound effects and dialogue according to the “client brief”, and script.
  • Your ability to compile, edit, synchronise & mix (balance) sound effects into an effective and realistic sounding audio track, according to supplied client brief / script.
  • Your ability to adequately present all requested files.
  • Your ability to work effectively in a team
  • Your ability to fight and swear

Assessment submission

Please submit the following for assessment:


Assignment Deliverables


  1. A completed Quicktime file of the film clip with your finished soundtrack embedded into the quicktime file – delivered via upload to Canvas.

Criteria for assessment

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

Assessment Tasks

Part 1 - GROUP

  • As a group, students will record all sound effects and dialogue required for use in the sound-track in one (or more if necessary) “field recording” session, using a mobile recording kit, primarily consisting of a shotgun microphone with boom and a mobile digital recorder. Recordings will be made in your “mix groups” as per the online "Fight Club" group allocation sheet.

Part 2 - INDIVIDUAL

Students will then INDIVIDUALLY compile, edit, synchronise & mix recorded audio to the film segment. These tasks will be conducted individually in the audio lab (or similar workspace).  Each student will use sounds they were involved in the recording of, and ONLY those sounds may be used in the score. Evidence of other audio being used in finished soundtrack will mean failure of this assessment.

See marking rubric for details

 

 

   

Assessment #4

   

Task Number4

 4 of 5

Task Name

Review

National unit/s code

CUASOU503

National unit/s title

Develop Sound Designs

National qualification code

CUA60515

National qualification title

Advanced Diploma of Music Industry

RMIT Program code

C6150

RMIT Course code

VART6416C

 

About the assignment

You will complete a review questinnaire

 

To complete the assessment, upload your completed questionnaire to Canvas

QUESTIONS:

Describe the production requirements that may impact on sound designs
Describe the information that is typically found in sound design briefs
Explain the formats that could be used to present design concepts
Describe techniques for developing ideas and enhancing innovation
Describe techniques for evaluating sound designs
Explain the issues and challenges that typically arise when developing sound designs, and how to address them.

 

 

Assessment 5 - Analog Sound Design Group Project

     
NUMBER OF ASSESSMENT TASK:   5 of 5 NAME OF ASSESSMENT TASK:   ANALOG SOUND DESIGN
NATIONAL UNIT(S) CODE: CUSSOU503 NATIONAL UNIT(S) TITLE: DEVELOP SOUND DESIGNS
NATIONAL QUALIFICATION CODE:           NATIONAL QUALIFICATION TITLE: CUA60515
RMIT PROGRAM CODE:    C6150 RMIT COURSE CODE: VART6416C
DURATION AND/OR DUE DATE:    This assessment will be completed during studio sessions on either week 11, 12 or 13 of semester, and you will have 2 hours to demonstrate the requirements as listed.  
This assessment is a group collaboration assessment.

 

Summary and purpose of assessment

You will be required to complete a 5 minute (approximately) sound design piece within 8 hours (2 x 4 hours) in a supplied studio location (94.1.2), using specific supplied audio equipment (listed below).

You will work in a small group of three or four students. Please make sure you are assigned to a work group via this online document:


Assessment Matrix

Assessment matrices are stored centrally and are available by contacting program administration

Other Information

N/A

Course Overview: Access Course Overview