Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
F/TVD031.
Course Title (CB02)
Audio Post-Production
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course covers the concepts and techniques of audio post-production for film and video including nonlinear audio editing, sound effect scoring, foley, cutting sound to picture, and audio mixing.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is intended to meet the requirement of the A.A. degree in Film/TV: Production and serves as a UC and CSU transferable undergraduate course. The student learns concepts and techniques of audio post-production for film and video, including sound design, non-linear audio editing, cutting sound to picture, mixing, sound effects, scoring, and foley.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly F/TV D063B.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
3.0
Maximum Credit Units
3.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours2.55.0
Laboratory Hours1.50.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
30.0
Laboratory
18.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
60.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
60.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Collaborative projects

Homework and extended projects

Assignments

  1. Reading of assigned text
  2. One analysis writing paper on professional sound design in media
  3. Audio production and editing projects

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes testing comprehension of reading, midterm and final examinations with objective, short answer and essay components on audio theory, sound design, and the assembly of audio elements.
  2. Analysis paper on professional sound techniques in audio post-production. Evaluation will focus on the accuracy of information presented, its relevance to a proposed film/audio career path, and the depth of research and synthesis.
  3. In-class student and faculty screening and critique of production projects. Attention will be given to the quality of sound, creativity of project assembly, and ability to follow the technical standards of the assignment.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Classroom with video projector and audio screening capabilities, audio recording labs, Foley stage, nonlinear audio editing facilities

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Woodhall, Woody. "Audio Production And Postproduction." Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Alten, Stanley R. "Audio in Media." 10th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2013.
Benedetti, Robert, Patrick Williams, et al. "Creative Post Production: Editing Sound, Visuals Effects, and Music for Film and Video." London: Pearson, 2003.
Holman, Tomlinson. "Sound for Film and Television." 3rd ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2010.
Holman, Tomlinson and Arthur Baum. "Sound for Digital Video." 2nd ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2013.
Rose, Jay. "Producing Great Sound for Film and Video." 4th ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2014.
Sonnenschein, David. "Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema." Studio City: Michael Wiese Productions, 2002.
Wyatt, Hilary and Tim Amyes. "Audio Post Production for Television and Film: An Introduction to Technology and Techniques." 3rd ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2004.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Explain the difference between linear and nonlinear recording formats.
  • Observe and participate in the creation of multiple forms of sound effect production
  • Describe applications of signal processing
  • Explain and apply the functions of digital audio and recording in comparison to analog
  • Explain and apply the technique of sound effect recording on a Foley stage
  • Demonstrate the technique of sound effect scoring for film and video
  • Explain and apply the technique of building a soundtrack for picture
  • Apply signal processing and microphone technique for different types of sounds
  • Explain the technique of mastering a sound track for delivery

CSLOs

  • Design and produce multiple track audio projects in linear and nonlinear formats.

  • Demonstrate the technique of mastering a soundtrack for delivery and importing sounds into a master library.

Outline

  1. Explain the difference between linear and nonlinear recording formats.
    1. Linear editing
      1. Cutting and splicing analog and digital audio-tape
      2. Cutting and splicing magtrack and full coat film sound
      3. Electronic editing of audio tape and videotape
    2. Nonlinear editing
      1. Hard-disk nonlinear editing
      2. Destructive and nondestructive editing
      3. Collecting sound effects in the field
  2. Observe and participate in the creation of multiple forms of sound effect production
    1. Prerecorded sound effects and libraries
    2. Live sound effects
      1. Foley
      2. Recording sound effects during production
      3. Collecting sound effects in the field
    3. Electronically generated sound effects
      1. Synthesized sound effects
      2. Sampling
      3. Computer-generated sound effects
  3. Describe applications of signal processing
    1. Spectrum signal processors including equalizers, filters, and psychoacoustic processors
    2. Time signal processors including reverb, delay, pitch shifting
    3. Amplitude procesors including compressors, limiters, and expanders
    4. Noise processors including double-ended and single-ended noise reduction
  4. Explain and apply the functions of digital audio and recording in comparison to analog
    1. A to D and D to A converters, sampling frequency, bit depth
    2. Analogue VU meters vs. Bargraph meters and ballistics
    3. Flash RAM recording and transfer to computer-based editing systems
  5. Explain and apply the technique of sound effect recording on a Foley stage
    1. Import Quicktime movie and prep for recording
    2. Techniques for recording sounds which sound different than one would imagine
    3. Material and layout of Foley stages
  6. Demonstrate the technique of sound effect scoring for film and video
    1. Explain and apply the functions of digital audio and recording in background effects vs. ambient effects
    2. Foreground Effects vs. Background Effects (Hard EFX vs. Soft EFX)
    3. Location sound, Foley recording, Library FX
  7. Explain and apply the technique of building a soundtrack for picture
    1. Import Quicktime movie into a non-linear editing system
    2. Plan the layout of tracks: dialogue, music and effects
    3. Import sounds into master library
    4. Explain and apply the technique of sound effect recording on a Foley stage and place sounds into the EDL
    5. Edit gain and pan using waveform editing
  8. Apply signal processing and microphone technique for different types of sounds
    1. Learn to mix a sound track in a non-linear format
    2. Create groups and assign tracks to submasters
    3. Volume graph to create optimum volume level
    4. Verify peaks and plan the layout of tracks: dialogue, music and effects
  9. Explain the technique of mastering a sound track for delivery
    1. Mastering for digital delivery
    2. Mastering for film and TV
    3. Monitor calibration: subjective and objective techniques for decision-making

Lab Topics

  1. Foley Stage Recording
  2. Signal Processing
  3. Recording Sound Effects
  4. Sound Effects Libraries
  5. Audio Editing
  6. Sound Effect Scoring
  7. Soundtrack Mixing
  8. Audio Mastering
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