Course Title: Develop sound designs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2023

Course Code: COMM7380C

Course Title: Develop sound designs

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities. 

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption. 

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus 

 

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance. 

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6171 - Advanced Diploma of Music (Sound Production)

Course Contact: John Phillips

Course Contact Phone: +61399254913

Course Contact Email: john.phillips@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher & Program Coordinator:

John Phillips
e: john.phillips@rmit.edu.au
ph: 9925 4913

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 learn the skills and knowledge required to develop an overall sound design.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUASOU513 Develop sound designs

Element:

1. Confirm sound design brief and organise resources

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Confirm production brief and requirements with required personnel

1.2 Participate in concept meetings and determine creative and technical sound requirements for production

1.3 Confirm sound requirements meet the overall production requirements in consultation with required personnel

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

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

1.6 Identify any additional personnel required to fulfil the brief, and confirm and document roles of each sound design team member

Element:

2. Generate and assess ideas for sound designs

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Assist and encourage sound design team members in generating ideas for sound design

2.2 Generate, discuss and record different ideas and options that will form the basis of developing required sound design

2.3 Select ideas that are most aligned to technical and creative requirements of sound design brief and production requirements

2.4 Evaluate viability, cost and technical feasibility of selected ideas in line with sound design brief, and adjust ideas as required

2.5 Select final ideas for components of sound design, according to overall requirements of the brief

Element:

3. Design sound components

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Develop sound design concept using brief and ideas generated by sound design team

3.2 Refine and develop sound components required to implement sound design in line with creative and technical requirements

3.3 Establish clear relationship between sound components and objectives of sound design and overall production

3.4 Share work in progress with others and incorporate feedback and additional ideas and requirements

3.5 Identify and address any difficulties with sound design as required

3.6 Confirm final sound design concept is consistent with brief

3.7 Present sound design to required personnel in required format to convey design concept

Element:

4. Evaluate final sound designs

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Evaluate whether final sound design meets sound design brief requirements

4.2 Seek feedback and opinions from required personnel on final sound design concept and document results of evaluation

4.3 Communicate results of evaluation to required personnel and develop strategies to improve future practice


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.


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.

WEEKLY OUTLINE

WEEK  CONTENT PRACS Location ASSESSMENTS COMMENCE ASSESSMENTS DUE  
 
Week 1 Introduction to unit & assessments    LAB

EOP

ASSESSMENT

 
The Sound Designers  
     
   
   
Week 2 FCP > OMF > LOGIC / PRO TOOLS - IN CLASS PRAC        
Week 3 Surround Sound in Pro-Tools STUDIO  STUDIO      
Pro Tools I/O  
STUDIO BASED CLASS  
Class will be divided into two groups for this session  
Week 4 Studio Prac STUDIO STUDIO      

Surround Sound in Pro-Tools

 
Pro Tools I/O  
   
Week 5 OMF demo    LAB

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

   
OMF Prac  
ASSESSMENT 2 COMMENCES  

Remix demonstration / instruction

 

Review examples of genres and consider production approaches

 
Week 6 LABOR DAY - NO CLASS       Assessment 1  
   
   
   
Week 7

ASSESSMENT 3 COMMENCES

   LAB Assessment 3    

 ADR v Foley

Sound Design / roles in film sound production (KK)

ADR / Foley Fight Club process explained

 
Fight Club allocations finalised  

SSCC
The last half hour of class will be allocated to SSCC feedback. Feedback may be from allocated SSCC reps or any students in cohort

 
Week 8

 

   LAB      
Remix review - review process and listen to previous examples  
Sound for games (Vegetables) / Wilhelm / Foley  
Bass Management / Matrix v Discrete / File Management  
Week 9

LOGIC PRO
Examine sessions & processes:

Simple Logic Pracs

"American Pie", "Of God" and others

   LAB   Assessment 2  

LOGIC PRO PRAC
Export from Logic to  ProTools, Examine sessions & processes

Look at "Nothing to See"

Logic PRAC (Sik-O)

 
FOLEY - Walter Murch - Gunshot compression  
GLE: Introduction to CHICAGO requirements  
Review Previous remixes & Idiot Boxes - ASSESSMENT 2 DUE  
Week 10      LAB      
Game Sound  
Producer Kits  
Week 11 Sound Design / Foley - Ben Burtt     Assessment 5    

Exporting LOGIC PRO sessions to PRO TOOLS

Exporting sessions from week 9 +

 
Assessment #1 "Research" doc; completed in class  
   
Week 12      LAB Assessment 1    
SOUND DESIGN FOR GAMES  
Converting Logic sessions to Pro Tools  
OMF revision Pracs  
Week 13

 

SURROUND I/O in PRO TOOLS

   STUDIO   Assessment 3  
STUDIO SESSION  
   

Revision and check in on Surround I/O prac

 
Week 14 ASSESSMENT 3 & 5 DUE   STUDIO   Assessment 5  
MPSD  
FINAL REVIEW  
Week 15 ASSESSMENT 4    LAB Assessment 4    
Assessment and Review  
Look at a selection of back catalogue music productions  
Week 16 Volca Master Class    LAB   Assessment 4  
Music Inspired Animation review  
ASSESSMENT 4 DUE  
Complete Ass 4 in class, plus Ass 1 & documents for Ass 2 & 3  
   

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:


The learning Lab
www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
English for uni workshops
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/workshops/english-uni-workshops


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral/written presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency.  To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

 

Assessment Task 1 Research

Knowledge assessment where you are required to answer 6 questions as a project in your own time (away from class).

Due week 12

 

Assessment Task 2 Practical Assessment (Genre)

You will be supplied with a song (Genre) to remix.

Due week 11

 

Assessment Task 3 Foley & ADR Project

For this project you will work in groups to record ADR, foley & atmos, then work individually to complete the sound edit and final mix.

Due week 14

 

Assessment Task 4 Game Sound

This assessment will look at processes for completing game sound editing and sound design. Using the DAWS Reaper and F Mod.

Due week 16

 

Assessment in this course uses the following grades:

CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. These matrices are available through 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.

Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. You are strongly advised to 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.

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.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview