DMA 326 TV Sound Design (Spring 2012) Instructors: Jody Mahler & Ken Roth Meeting: MW 2:30-3:45pm Place: LCH A201 Recording Studio Jody Mahler Office Hours: MW 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. by appointment Email: [email protected] Ken Roth Office Hours: MW 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or by appointment Office: LIB B-510 Phone: 310.560.8104 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] TEXTBOOK No textbook required. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT Students must have an External Hard Drive of at least 320 GB to store and move project files to and from school and personal workstations, and Studio Headphones with (1/4" (6.3mm) Male to 1/8" (3.5mm) Female adapter). COURSE DESCRIPTION This course gives students instruction and practice in the fundamental operations used for television sound recording on location and for audio post production processes used in sound design such as ADR, foley, ambience, walla-walla, sound effects, VO narration, and music. Students receive training in Pro Tools audio software and also learn similar and complementary processes available in VocAlign, Final Cut Pro, and Encore. COURSE CONTENT & OUTCOMES – by the end of the course students should be proficient in: 1) Setup, installation, and proper use of Lav Mics for recording seated interviews. 2) Setup and proper operation of Boom Mic systems for recording dialogue in drama scenes. 3) Setup and proper operation of Studio Mics for recording VO, ADR, foley, and walla-walla. 4) Use of Pro Tools software to record, edit, mix, and output audio files. 5) Use of Mixing Console to input microphone, set proper level, and ride gain. 6) How to conduct a VO Narration recording session with a professional narrator. 7) How to conduct an ADR Session with actors and sync their dialogue replacement to video using ProTools and VocAlign software. 8) How to conduct a Foley Session and sync sound effects to video using ProTools. 9) How to conduct a Walla-Walla Session to create ambience, applause, and laugh tracks. 10) How to mix a Composite Soundtrack of dialogue, ambience, sfx, and music to proper balance in a documentary or drama sequence. 11) How to author a Breakout DVD with options for separate audio channel playback synced to video using Final Cut Pro and Encore.CLASS PROJECTS – to be completed by separate teams of two students each: Boom Mic Recording Project – make a video recording using a boom mic and single-camera approach that includes master shot, OS, and CU of two actors performing a 1-minute drama scene. Edit the different shots together into a sequence with continuity to demonstrate the consistency of your microphone sound quality across the different shots. VO Narration Recording Project - record a professional narrator’s performance of a tag line for a 30-second PSA using four different emotional tones in the delivery. Sync the best take of your narrator to the video or title card of your PSA. Documentary Sound Design Project – create the sound design for a 3-minute talking head interview segment (use a lav mic to demonstrate proper placement and concealment of the mic on the talent) that includes ambience, sound effects, and music mixed to proper balance in a composite soundtrack and synced to the B-Roll video and talking head audio of the interview. Drama Sound Design Project – create the sound design for a 1-minute edited scene that includes ambience, sound effects, music, and canned laughter and applause tracks mixed to proper balance in a composite soundtrack that is synced to the video and dialogue of the scene. Breakout DVD Project – create a DVD of your Drama Sound Design project with menu buttons to select the following audio channels that can playback separately in sync with the video: Composite – plays all elements of the final sound design mixed together. Dialogue – plays dialogue only. Ambience – plays background wild sound only. SFX – plays sound effects only. Laughter/Applause – plays canned laughter and applause tracks only. Music – plays music only. GRADING CRITERIA – all five equally-weighted projects are averaged to render your final GPA: 20pts - Boom Mic Project 20pts - VO Narration Project 20pts - Documentary Sound Design 20pts - Drama Sound Design 20pts - Breakout DVD Project ATTENDANCE – each absence or tardy reduces your final GPA by 5 points. GRADING SCALE Scale B+ = 90-86 pts. C + = 75-71 pts. D + = 60-56 pts. A = 100-96 pts. B = 85-81 pts. C = 70-66 pts. D = 55-51 pts. A - = 95-91 pts. B - = 80-76 pts. C - = 65-61 pts. F = 50-0 pts.CLASS ENVIRONMENT Students should minimize potential classroom disruptions by: • Making sure all cell phones and other personal electronic devices are turned off or in silent mode during class. • NO FOOD or DRINKS! Consumption of food and beverages in our recording studio and production labs is NOT allowed at any time. Food and beverages must be stored outside of class and labs. Any disruptive behavior will result in the student being asked to leave for the duration of the class period. E-MAIL ACCOUNT REQUIRED In order to receive course information, assignments, and announcements, you must have an e-mail account which you can access daily (Campus accounts can be arranged for free). Should you have an alternate email account you would rather use than your campus one, please supply it during the first class meeting. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic program or class at a campus is subject to discipline as provided in Sections 41301 through 41304 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. Please consult the University Catalog section titled “Academic Integrity” for campus policy on cheating and plagiarism. DISABILITIES Students with disabilities are encouraged to consult the University Catalog for information on Disabled Student Services (x 2028). Any disabled student requiring assistance with exams or other course work may use these