Course Title: Edit sound

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2021

Course Code: VART6412C

Course Title: Edit sound

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5350 - Diploma of Screen and Media

Course Contact: Andrew Harrison

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4350

Course Contact Email: andrew.harrison@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Mark Johnson

Email: mark.johnson3@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 65

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 edit sound material to meet production requirements. This involves assessing the quality of source materials, preparing source materials for sound editing, making technically accurate sound edits, and applying sound effects to enhance the final product.

It applies to individuals who work as part of a production team to edit sound material for a range of productions. It also applies to individuals working in film and sound archives. Individuals work with minimal supervision and guidance, and may supervise others.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUASOU407 Edit sound

Element:

1. Prepare for sound editing

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Discuss production requirements and procedures with relevant people1.2 Confirm necessary copyright releases have been obtained1.3 Consider impact of using different release sound formats1.4 Confirm sound editing software and equipment is operational and appropriate for production requirements1.5 Prepare team work plan as required, and brief relevant people accordingly1.6 Obtain original or copies of sound sources, and assess their quality against production requirements1.7 Advise relevant people if sound sources do not meet production requirements, and propose options to resolve issues as required1.8 Anticipate problems that may arise during sound editing, and plan accordingly

Element:

2. Edit complex sound sequences

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Confirm format of sound sources is compatible with sound editing software and equipment2.2 Follow work health and safety (WHS) procedures, and use safe work practices when using sound editing software and equipment2.3 Listen critically to sound sources to determine extent and range of required edits2.4 Use sound editing software and equipment to achieve technical and creative production outcomes, and to resolve identified problems2.5 Collaborate with relevant people to meet production requirements

Element:

3. Create overall sound context

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Determine purpose for which sound is being used in production3.2 Select or produce appropriate sound effects that enhance the purpose, genre and technical/creative outcomes of the production3.3 Incorporate sound effects and elements to meet creative and production requirements

Element:

4. Finalise editing operations

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Listen to final sound mix with relevant people, and make adjustments as necessary4.2 Save final files in correct format4.3 Conduct quality check of final sound mix according to production requirements and enterprise procedures4.4 Archive edited files, and complete relevant documentation according to production requirements and enterprise procedures4.5 Confirm work environment is cleaned after use and restored to pre-editing condition4.6 Collaborate with relevant people to organise a sound effect library for future productions4.7 Provide feedback to production team members as required4.8 Evaluate own performance and note areas for improvement

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit you will achieve an understanding of the skills and knowledge required to perform sound editing for screen based productions.


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

Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:

• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT Google Drive account
• 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

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

Assessments and tutorials

 

Week 1

What is sound?  The physics of sound.  The 6 properties of sound.  Hearing - sensitivity to sound.  Measuring sound.

 

Receive Assessment Tasks.

 

Assessment Task 1 - knowledge task

 

Week 2

Sound Formats. Wavelength, amplitude and frequency. Analogue vs Digital.  Sample Rate and Bit Depth explained.


Work on Knowledge Task

In class exercises

 

 

 

Week 3

Recording techniques. 

Field recording. 

Using recording apps and how to achieve best results. 

Naming sounds. 

Creating a sound library. 

Categorising sound for film.

In class exercises - record edit and upload your local ambient sound.

Week 4

Introduction to Adobe Audition.  The interface.  Changing the session settings. 

 

 

 

Week 5

Microphones - types of microphones and their purpose.  Practical demonstration

Finish AT1

Submit Assessment Task 1

Week 6

Sounds.  Foley sounds.  Recording foley. 

In class exercise.  Submit foley sounds to sound library

 

Introduction to Assessment Task 2

 

Week 7

Creating a sound design plan.  Building the resource

Planning sounds for webisode

Week 8

Using loops in developing sound design.  Introduction to Loopslab (in place of Garageband)

 

In class exercise

Week 9

Continue working on Loopslab.  Develop 2 musical mood pieces for  use in webisode

 

In class exercise

Week 10

Using Dynamic Link  - working between Audition and Premiere  - sound design workflow.

 

Practical task

Week 11

Cleaning up audio in Adobe Audition.  Noise reduction techniques.  Compression, limiting - optimal level adjustment

 

In class demonstration.  Practical task

 

 

Week 12

Audio effects.  Spatiality - reverb.  Equalisation.  Simulating natural spaces. 

 

In class exercise

Week 13

Loudness.  Using loudness meters to standardise output levels.  Revisit suggested track levels for principle narration, SFX, walla, music etc. 

 

Work on sound design for webisode

Week 14

Work on sound design - submit preliminary mix for evaluation

 

Work on sound design for webisode

Week 15

Submit final sound design together with webisode project

 

Submit Assessment Task 2

Week 16

Review final sound mix - Webisode

 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Other resources for this course are available on Canvas


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will include class based practical exercises and project work undertaken in the computer lab for submission.


Assessment Tasks

For each assessment task you will receive a detailed brief specifying requirements.

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

Assessment Task 1 - Knowledge Assessment Task.This assessment is a short-answer knowledge assessment designed to assess the knowledge relating to editing sound material to meet production requirements. Due Date: week 5

Assessment Task 2 - Edit Sound for Webisode. For this task, you will edit the sound for a webisode which you have produced throughout the semester. Due Date: week 15

Assessment tasks 1 and 2 are to be finalised by no later than end of Semester 2 Week 16.

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved

NYC: Not Yet Competent

DNS: Did not submit for Assessment


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

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

 

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.

 

Information about your studies:

You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.

 https://www.rmit.edu.au/students

 

Assessment:

Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment

 

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.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/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.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit

Course Overview: Access Course Overview