Audio

CONCEPTS

• Key concepts: Definition, Waveform, Wavelength, Amplitude, Frequency, Pitch, Sampling & Quantizing, Export formats for different outputs, Current industry standard software & hardware, Audio-centric industries and careers.
• Sample slides
• Other useful resources:
  • How Stuff Works: Sound Waves
  • Wickiemedia Video: Digital Audio Explained: Samplerate and Bitdepth
  • SoundWorks Collection: Gary Hecker – Veteran Foley Artist

TUTORIALS

• Download Audacity (free)
• Audacity tutorials:
  • Editing Audio
  • Making Crossfades
  • Saving and Exporting Projects

ASSIGNMENT AND RUBRIC

• Guidelines: Create a story with sound. The story can be real, fictional, surreal, funny, sad, scary, it can be centered around an interview etc. The piece must have a clear beginning, middle and end. It should be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. It should include at least five, well sequenced/layered/mixed tracks (i.e: sound effects, narration, music etc). One of the tracks must be one recorded or created by the student (i.e: using a microphone or using a platform such as Narakeet). All tracks that are not created by the student must be under Creative Commons or in the Public Domain, and must be credited appropriately.
• Grading rubric
• Creative Commons licensed sounds resources for projects (make sure to properly credit them in your statement – see below). : freesound.org, Ben Sound, Narakeet.
• Files to submit: 1. The script and/or list of sounds you created to plan the project (in Word, PDF or JPG – here’s an example) | 2. The Audacity file (.aup3) | 3. The exported .mp3 file | 4. The completed statement, exported to PDF