Course Title: Develop sound design

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: VART5856C

Course Title: Develop sound design

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5198 - Diploma of Creative Industries

Course Contact : Adam Lovell

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4976

Course Contact Email:adam.lovell@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Andrew Harrison
Email: andrew.harrison@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

There are no pre-requisits or co-requisits for this unit

Course Description

Sound designers apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. They work in live theatre, film, television and radio and are responsible for collaborating with other creative personnel to develop the overall sound or musical identity of productions.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUSSOU16A Develop sound design

Element:

1. Interpret and confirm sound design brief

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant personnel to discuss creative and technical sound requirements of productions
1.2 Continue liaison with relevant personnel until all sound requirements have been confirmed in the context of overall production requirements
1.3 Identify and confirm additional personnel needed to fulfil the sound design brief

Element:

2. Breakdown the components of the sound design brief

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify and document the sound sources specified in the design brief to determine the content, quality and duration of the required sound components
2.2 Determine and where necessary document the creative and resource requirements for each sound component
2.3 Confirm and document the role of personnel required for the process of developing sound design projects

Element:

3. Investigate and experiment with sound components for the
expression of ideas

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Cultivate and create an energy and environment that will promote the generation of ideas among team members and provide the motivation and incentive to bring ideas to fruition
3.2 Gather information from a variety of sources and generate, explore and record a range of ideas and options as a creative base for developing the required sound design
3.3 Transform and manipulate the ideas generated and select those ideas that have the most potential for technical and creative development of the required sound design

Element:

4. Assess creative ideas

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Contemplate and consider the ideas selected from the creative base, reflecting on and evaluating their viability, cost, technical feasibility and suitability to meet the requirements of the design brief
4.2 Continuously evaluate and verify creative ideas for the components of the design brief based on the overall sound design concept

Element:

5. Develop the sound design

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Develop sound design concepts taking into consideration the brief and the ideas generated
5.2 Determine the relevant sound components required to implement the sound design in line with creative and technical requirements
5.3 Establish a clear relationship between the use and integration of sound components and the function, context and objectives of the work to determine the sound design
5.4 As required, hold ongoing discussions with relevant personnel to consider, confirm and incorporate additional or changed production requirements and new ideas to achieve best sound design concept
5.5 Present the sound design in a specification that best conveys the concept to relevant personnel, including those responsible for implementing the design
5.6 Confirm final design concept with relevant personnel to ensure that implementation is consistent with the design and that potential difficulties are addressed

Element:

6. Evaluate the completed sound design

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Discuss and obtain agreement from relevant personnel on evaluation techniques to evaluate the completed sound design
6.2 Focus the evaluation on whether the sound design meets all aspects of the design brief, and on the viability of the implementation plan
6.3 Obtain detailed information and opinions from legitimate sources and document results for evaluation
6.4 Communicate results of evaluation to relevant personnel and use results to improve future practice

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to apply creative sound design techniques to a range of media productions.


Details of Learning Activities

Learning Activities will consist of
• demonstrations
• workshops
• practical exercises
• productions
• discussions
• screenings
• reading set texts
• research
• presentations
• planning and development of sound design assessments
You will be responsible for your learning and will be expected to engage in independent research, reading, study, practice and screenings


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.


Week Class Content Assessment Elements
Week 1 Orientation to the course
• Introduction to resources, assessments and course expectations
• Screening – sound design film excerpts
• Introduction to sound mixing in FCS3 – overview
• Class exercise and discussion		 Assignment 1:
Research project and
Assignment 4: Major Project
Handed out		 1, 2, 3
Week 2 Introduction to principles of sound design
• Introduction to digital audio principles
• File management: FCP, Soundtrack Pro
• Script analysis and breakdown
Includes – class exercises and discussion		 ssignment 4: Major Project
Develop MP idea, prepare production documentation and draft version		 1, 2, 3, 5
 Week 3  Introduction to
• Foley
• Sound Effects
• Sound Formats
• Microphones
Includes – class exercises and discussion		  Assignment 1:
Research project - finalise film choice’s and student presentation order		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 Week 4  • FCP/Soundtrack Pro
• Integrating music
• Understanding (film and TV) genre and style
Includes – class exercises and discussion 		 Assignment 1:
Research project due next week		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 Week 5  
Assignment 1 – Research project presentations		  Assignment 1:
Research project due		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 Week 6  • Assignment 2: Creative Exercise – Interpret the brief using foley, sound effects, dialogue and music integration
• Introduction to soundtrack design
• Technical and creative liaison
• Studio Session – Assignment 2 		 Assignment 1:
Research project - results and feedback
Assignment 2: Creative Exercise – Interpret the brief using foley, sound effects, dialogue and music integration Handed out
  1, 2, 3
 Week 7  • Assignment 2: Creative Exercise – Interpret the brief using foley, sound effects, dialogue and music integration
• Audio recording and dubbing
• Track laying and mixing
• Feedback off students work – Assignment 2
• Studio Session – Assignment 2		  Assignment 2: Creative Exercise – Interpret the brief using foley, sound effects, dialogue and music integration due next week
 Week 8  • Assignment 2: Creative Exercise – Interpret the brief using foley, sound effects, dialogue and music integration due  Assignment 2: Creative Exercise due  4, 5, 6
   MIDSEMESTER BREAK – 29 AUGUST to 2 SEPTEMBER    
 Week 9  • Assignment 3: Creative Exercise – Confirm sound design brief that creates audio mood, space and texture
• Soundtrack design and genre
• Track mixing and sound effects in FCP/Soundtrack Pro
• Studio Session – Assignment 3
  Assignment 2:
Creative Exercise - results and feedback
Assignment 3:
Creative Exercise due week 11
Assignment 4: Major Project
Production documentation and draft version due week 13		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 Week 10  • Assignment 3: Creative Exercise – Confirm sound design brief that creates audio mood, space and texture
• Technical faults and troubleshooting in FCP/Soundtrack Pro
• Feedback off students work – Assignment 3
• Studio Session – Assignment 3		  ssignment 3:
Creative Exercise – due next week		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 Week 11  Assignment 3: Creative Exercise – Confirm sound design brief that creates audio mood, space and texture due
  Assignment 3: Creative Exercise due
Assignment 4: Major Project production documentation and draft version due week 13		  4, 5, 6
 Week 12  • Assignment 4: Major Project – Draft version
• Preparing the final mix, normalization, mixing and final output in FCP/Soundtrack Pro
• Feedback off students work – Assignment 4 Draft Version
• Studio Session – Assignment 4		  Assignment 3:
Creative Exercise - results and feedback
Assignment 4: Major Project
Production documentation and draft version due next week		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 Week 13  • Assignment 4: Major Project – Draft version due
• Assignment 4: Major Project – Present to class for comment and feedback		  Assignment 4: Major Project
Production documentation and draft version due		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 Week 14  • Assignment 4: Major Project – Final version: Refine the sound design
• Feedback off students work – Assignment 4 Final Version
• Studio Session – Assignment 4		  Assignment 4: Major Project
Production documentation and draft version results and feedback
Assignment 4: Major Project Final version due week 16		  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 Week 15  • Assignment 4: Major Project – Final version: Prepare to finalise
• Feedback off students work – Assignment 4 Final Version
• Studio Session – Assignment 4		  Assignment 4: Major Project Final version due next week  3, 4, 5, 6
 Week 16  • Assignment 4: Major Project – Final version: Output and submission  Assignment 4: Major Project – Final version due  4, 5, 6
 Week 17  Assessment and review    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Plummer, M 2005, Soundtrack Pro: Professional Sound Design, Peachpit Press, USA


References

Plummer, M 2005, Creating Suspense with Sound Design in Soundtrack Pro, Peachpit Press, USA (not available in the library)
Sobel, J 2009, Sound Editing in Final Cut Studio, Peachpit, USA (not available in the library)
McGuire S 2009, The Video Editors Guide to Soundtrack Pro: Workflows, Tools and Techniques, Focal Press, USA (available in the library)
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

• Portable Hard Drive – Firewire 800
• USB Stick or passport drive
• HDV/DV Tapes
• Production documents on Creative Industries blackboard
• Creative Industries Production Guide
• Creative Industries Safety Checklist


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will involve practical exercises, knowledge assessment tasks and practical group projects.


Assessment Tasks

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.

ASSESSMENT TASKS:
N Assessment Task Value Due Date
1 Research Project: Class Presentation 10% TBA
2 Creative Exercise: Interpret brief 20% TBA
3 Creative Exercise: Audio mood and texture 20% TBA
4 Major Project: Develop sound design
Production documentation and draft version 30% TBA
Final version 20% TBA
Total 100%

The details on these assessments and the grading criteria for this competency can be found on the course blackboard site.

Grades used in this unit are as follows:

80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrated alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration

Other Information

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;

Course Overview: Access Course Overview