Course Title: Develop sound designs
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2017
Course Code: VART6416C
Course Title: Develop sound designs
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6151 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media
Course Contact: Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email: mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nat Bates
ph: 9925 4815
e: nat.bates@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
In this course you will cover 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.
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 have developed skills and knowledge required to develop sound designs across a number of screen and media platforms.
Details of Learning Activities
In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:
• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• WIP (work in progress) reviews
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT
Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:
• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT
Teaching Schedule
Week |
Class Content |
Assessments |
1 |
Overview of course Introduction to assessment tasks
Overview of teacher’s freelance sound design experience. |
|
2 |
What is sound design? How to analyse audio visual material to reveal how the soundtrack works. Parts of a soundtrack (music, atmos, sfx, dialogue/VO) Ways to make a soundtrack Recording (including foley) Synthesis Sourced Audio formats Mono, Stereo, Surround Sample rates, bit depths File types (WAV, mp3 etc) Homework - next class bring in a donatable foley object to record. |
|
3 |
Audio Recording your foley prop dynamic and condenser microphones, recording techniques Close, normal, distant and reverberant recordings Microphones |
A01 - Foley prop recording Complete in class Submit to Blackboard |
4 |
Edit audio recordings Acoustic theory - sound waves, amplitude, frequency. Editing digital audio. A01 - Feedback and review. |
|
5 |
Sound design for animation Designing sound for animation - no sounds come with the image, they all have to be created from scratch. |
A02 - Sound design for animation In class group assessment Submit to Blackboard |
6 |
Evaluate sound design for animation A02 - Feedback and review. |
|
7 |
Sound design for Triple Threat (TTT) game WIP |
A03 - TTT sound design WIP (Work in Progress) Feedback and review. |
8 |
Sound design for game DUE individual |
A03 (part 1) - TTT Game Individual sound design |
9 |
Consolidation of Triple Threat Game audio - three into one A03 - Feedback and review. |
|
10 |
Sound design for Design Project 4 Studio class |
|
Mid semester break | ||
11 |
Sound design for Design Project 4 Studio class |
A04 - WIP (Work in Progress) review |
12 |
Sound design for Design Project 4 Studio class Stereo and location recording atmosphere sound |
|
13 |
Sound design for Design Project 4 Studio class Dialogue and voice over recording |
|
14 |
Sound design for Design Project 4 Studio class ADR |
|
15 |
Studio class / WIP |
A03 (part 2) Group TTT finished game A04 - Design Project 4 Sound Design |
16 |
Feedback and review |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
None |
References
Cancellaro, J 2006, Exploring sound design for interactive media, Thomson Delmar Learning, Clifton Park |
1401881025 |
Farnell, A 2010, Designing Sound, MIT Press, Cambridge |
0262014416 |
Gibbs, T 2007, The fundamentals of sonic art & sound design, AVA Academia, Lausanne. |
2940373493 |
Sonnenschein, D 2001, Sound design : the expressive power of music, voice, and sound effects in cinema, Michael Wiese Productions, Seattle |
0941188264 |
Other Resources
Students are encouraged to make full use of class time, open studio time and University computer lab resources. Please consult the RMIT University web site for details of access times and locations.
Other required resources include, but are not limited to: an A4 or A3 visual diary, drawing materials (pencils of various grades (1B & 2B), erasers, coloured pencils and pens, graphic markers such as Copic brand) broadband internet access, suitable digital media storage such as a portable hard drive or USB flash drive, with at least 32Gb capacity.
Headphones - professional studio headphones, preferably ‘closed’.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks in this course are Graded and Ungraded.
To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the components of the assessment to a satisfactory standard. Once you have demonstrated competency, your final assessment task will be graded. For further information on the assessment and grading criteria, please refer to the myRMIT.
Assessments
Ungraded
A01 - Foley prop recording - Record a small object suitable for use as a foley prop for making sound effects for a screen project.
Due week 3
A02 - Sound design for animation (group) In small groups you will create a sound design for the short animation clip provided. All sounds must be able to be produced by objects that have been collected in the class ‘foley box’. You will then exchange your completed sound design with another group – you will evaluate and attempt to produce their sound design, and they yours.
Due week 5
Graded
A03 - Triple Threat Game - A joint Game Project between the Design Games, Develop Sound Designs and Design Digital Simulations courses. Students will be required to develop their concepts from the initial Pre Production stage to the Final realised Production. The TTT Game will be developed using Unity Software for either a 2D or 3D environment.
- part 1 Individual sound design - submit an individual design document detailing the sound design for the game
Due week 8
- part 2 finished game sound (group) - submit the finished game with finished sound
Due week 15
A04 - Design Project 4 Sound Design - Develop a sound design for your individual Design Project 4 including an animatic or interactive walk through or game demo.
Due week 15
Graded assessment in this course uses the following grades:
CHD - Competent with High Distinction
CDI - Competent with Distinction
CC - Competent with Credit
CAG - Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency.
The assessment matrix for this course can be found on Blackboard through myRmit, or from your teacher.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students
Cover Sheet for Submissions:
You must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions.
http://mams.rmit.edu.au/s1llva641yxuz.pdf
Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises
It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Assessment Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/assessment-policy
Student Progress:
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress
Adjustments to Assessment (eg. applying for an extension of time):
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/adjustment
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit
Course Overview: Access Course Overview