Sound

History of Music

GH114 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
This course will examine the historical development of the art of music, showing the increasing complexity of music through the great eras in history and the relationship of music to the political, economic, and cultural conditions of these eras. 

Music Appreciation and Analysis: From LPs to CDs

GH113 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
An introductory survey of Western European classical music. Beginning with Gregorian chants and other early liturgies, the course continues through the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Impressionist eras. Students will attend live performances in and out of the classroom. 

Production Sound

F141 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Principles of Production
The basic principles of sound recording. Students learn the proper protocol and practices of sound recording on a professional film or video production and experiment with different sound recording techniques and types of equipment, getting hands-on practice both in and out of the classroom. 

Scoring Your Soundtrack

F144 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Pro Tools or Permission of Instructor
This course teaches how to use a computer with a little help from Pro Tools to create and lay the soundtrack for your short film or documentary, and, eventually your feature film. It is hands-on training, and includes field trips to an actual recording studio. 

Sound Design Aesthetics

F242a (4 units)
Prerequisite: Pro Tools or Sound Design Basics
A practical introduction to the design of sound for film and video. Students use digital editing equipment to develop sound tracks for a variety of original and assigned projects, and learn with greater depth about ADR. They employ music, sound effects and looping to support both commercial and artistic film, learning the uses—and the limits—of sound design, and also create the sound effects they will employ. 

Sound Design Basics

F343a (4 units)
Prerequisite: Production Sound
A straightforward and personal approach to learning the ins and outs of digital audio editing with Pro Tools. Considered to be the industry standard in audio post production, Pro Tools offers an intuitive editing platform paired with an assortment of professional audio plug-ins to enhance your sound. The class includes in-depth lectures and two projects per quarter. 

Sound Design to Final Mix

F342a (4 units)
Prerequisites: Sound Design 1 or Sound Design Aesthetics
Explores the powerful role played by sound in telling a story. Students shoot a short script in a way that will allow sound to make an equal contribution to the emotional aspects of the story, rather than simply narrating the picture. In the editing room they piece visuals and sound together so that the two work in tandem. At the end of this course each student has a finished product for their reel and a stronger, truer understanding of the importance of sound in film and of the sound designer’s role.

Sound Mixing

F143 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Production Sound 1
An exploration of the techniques of advanced sound mixing as currently practiced in professional film and video studios. Students learn to construct a soundtrack using production sound where it is available, as well as creating their own sound environments with special sound effects and music. Voice-over, ADR, looping techniques, and specific sound mixing assignments are all part of the practical exercises in and out of class.