Syllabus
BCST 120 - AUDIO PRODUCTION
INSTRUCTOR:
MEETINGS:
Jeff Kliment
Lecture – Monday & Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 7:35 PM. CRN # 33896
OFFICE HOURS:
TELEPHONE/EMAIL:
LOCATION:
Via telephone or email or by appointment during lab time
415-452-4744 / jkliment@ccsf.edu (email preferred)
Class meets in ARTX165
SPRING 2006, M/W evenings
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course covers the theory and operation of broadcast audio and recording studio
equipment. We will explore the physics of sound and the vocabulary of audio as well as the proper use of microphones,
audio mixing consoles, analog and digital tape recorders, digital audio workstations, and other common broadcast and
studio equipment. Class consists of a mix of lecture and lab time. Students will complete projects both outside of class
and during lab hours.
REQUIRED TEXT: AUDIO IN MEDIA, 7th Edition, Stanley R. Alten, Wadsworth Publishing
GRADING: Your grade is based on projects, quizzes, a midterm exam, a final exam, and class participation both in class
and in group assignments.
Written Quizzes
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Project 1 – basic radio production
Project 2 – analog tape editing
Project 3 – 4-track music production
Project 4 – digital recording – film soundtrack
DAT project
Lab Competency Quiz
Participation
TOTAL
25 points
150 points
150 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
25 points
25 points
25 points
600 points
Graded by Lecture Instructor
Graded by Lab Instructor
Graded by both instructors
A = 540 – 600 points, B = 480 – 539 points, C = 420 – 479 points, D = 360 – 419 points, F = less than 360 points
CELL PHONES: TURN YOUR CELL PHONES OFF BEFORE ENTERING CLASS. You may be asked to leave if you
disrupt class with your cell phone.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: You are expected to attend all classes. If you cannot attend class due to an illness or
emergency, you must call or send an email using the contact info above. After four or more absences, you may be
dropped from class. If you are late for class, you will not receive credit for attending a full class session. Two times late for
class will count as one absence. You are responsible for obtaining any content missed and for making up required course
work. Take note of the class schedule on the back of this sheet. DO NOT SCHEDULE VACATIONS DURING THIS
COURSE. Exams will not be re-scheduled and no late projects will be accepted.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES:
One 7” Reel of 1/4”audio tape. Quantegy 456 is suggested ($7 - $12)
One 30 min. DAT tape, any brand. ($5 - $8)
Five CD-R blank CD media, any brand ($1 - $2 each)
Two 30 min. or longer audio cassettes $1 - $2 each)
Single-edged razor for editing Project 2
Also Recommended:
Headphones with stereo 1/4-inch phone jack
Clipboard
#2 pencils with erasers
Binder or folder for handouts
You may purchase these supplies at:
CCSF Bookstore Annex (Phelan Ave.) 415-452-5210
Leo’s Pro Audio (5447 Telegraph Ave. @55th in Oakland) 510-652-1553
R&M Pro Audio (10th Ave. and Cabrillo St.) 415-386-8400
If you need disability-related accommodations, you may contact Disabled Student Program and Services (DSP&S). If you
have emergency medical information you wish to share with me or wish to discuss disability-related accommodations with
me, please make a private appointment with me as soon as possible.
SCHEDULES: See the other side of this page for detailed lecture schedule. A separate lab schedule will be
distributed by the lab instructor.
WEEK
W 1/18
TOPIC
Introduction/Ears
READING
M 1/23
W 1/25
Physics of Sound
Signal Flow/Connections
Ch. 1, 2
M 1/30
W 2/1
Consoles & Signal Flow
Gain Structure
Ch. 5, handout
Handout
M 2/6
W 2/8
Analog Recording
Microphones
Ch. 6 pp. 101-112
Ch. 4
M 2/13
W 2/15
Microphones, QUIZ 1
Microphones continued
Video, Mic demo
Ch. 10, handout
M 2/20
W 2/22
HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
Analog tape editing
Handout
M 2/27
W 3/1
Acoustics
Monitoring/Speakers, QUIZ 2
Ch. 3
Ch. 9
M 3/6
W 3/8
Listen to Project 1 in class
REVIEW FOR MIDTERM
M 3/13
W 3/15
MIDTERM EXAM
Multi-track Recording/Music
Ch. 13
M 3/20
W 3/22
Multi-track continued
Digital Recording, DAT
Ch. 6 pp. 112-134, Handout
M 3/27
W 3/29
Intro to Digital Audio Editing
Adobe Audition
Ch. 18
M 4/3
W 4/5
Sound for film & video
Project 4 Spotting Session
Ch. 11, 15, 16
M 4/10
W 4/12
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
(Study, study, study!)
(Study, study, study!)
M 4/17
W 4/19
Signal Processing - EQ
Signal Processing - Dynamics
Ch. 8 pp. 147-150
Ch. 8 pp. 155-160
M 4/24
W 4/26
Signal Processing - Time-based
REVIEW
Ch. 8 pp. 150-155
M 5/1
W 5/3
Location Sound / ENG
Synchronization
Ch. 12
Ch. 7
M 5/8
W 5/10
Audio for the Internet
Careers in Audio
Ch. 14
Appendix A, pp. 441-442
M 5/15
W 5/17
LONG LAB NIGHT FOR PROJECT 4 COMPLETION
Play finished projects in class
M 5/22
W 5/24
REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM
FINAL EXAM