Semester 2- 20 credits
Course organiser -Dr. Martin Parker
Taken in year one if part-time
Location – The Sound Lab, Alison House, 12 Nicolson Square, EH8 9DF
Time – 2-3:50 pm Thursdays
Course website – sd.caad.ed.ac.uk/sfm
Students advance through a series of lectures, demonstrations, practical project work, exercises and critique in a group context. Full attendance and punctual arrival is expected of all students whether auditing the course or taking it for credit.
Synopsis
This course introduces concepts and techniques relevant to analysis and design of soundtracks in fixed media productions. The focus is primarily on film and animation but also includes discussion of radio plays, documentary, music video and advertisements. Students are required to analyse examples of film and animation and to develop ways of interpreting and “reading” soundtracks. These studies subsequently inform their own practical design work in this area.
Prerequisites
Essential:
- Familiarity with sound recording, editing and mixing software
- Experience using professional sound recording hardware
- Ability to read and understand academic English
Desirable:
- Experience of integrating sound and image using digital tools
- Experience of film sound or film music theory/analysis
- Willingness to collaborate in a fixed media context
Learning Outcomes
- ability to design sound for visual and fixed formats
- a well developed understanding the role of sound in synchronised media (film)
- a well developed understanding of technologies used in sound design for fixed media
- ability to articulate and discuss the functions of multiple audio components in media (e.g. music, sound effects, soundscape…)
- ability to prepare sound for visual media
- a well-developed appreciation for the value of analysis of the work of others for their own artistic and creative development
Lecture topics
- Introduction to film sound analysis
- Music and moving image
- Larry Sider
- Peter Nelson
- Seminar 1 – Documentary Film Sound
- No lecture – innovative learning week
- Introduction to Surround Sound – recording and playback
- Introduction to Surround Sound – Mixing
- Listening clinic
- Seminar 1 – Documentary Film Sound
- Film maker presentation TBC
Assessment
Project 1 – Film sound analysis, 2000 word essay with analysis graphs (30%)
Project 2 – Sound Design for moving image part 2 (70%)
Work will be assessed on the basis of;
- Demonstrated competence with sound design and synchronous sound and video editing tools
- Skills in creatively deploying allocated resources, whatever their quality
- Precision and competence in presentation
- Clarity of thought and expression in text-based analyses
- Demonstrated understanding of the texts introduced on the course and extent to which wider reading and research has been explored
- Ability to meet the requirements of the project brief and deal creatively with its open-ended aspects
- Design quality of the work in terms of meeting functional requirements, legibility, usability, interactivity, and appropriate use of media
- Account will be taken of the risks taken and degree to which the design deviates from standard solutions
Please note that assessment will take account of trade-offs between the above criteria, particularly taking account of the diverse backgrounds of students in the class. You are encouraged to seek feedback during the development of your work, but please note that adhering to feedback does not guarantee a high assessment of the completed work. Note also that the assessment of the work is not necessarily commensurate with the amount of time spent on the project work.