Foundations of Sound Design (382-0-70)
Topic
Sound Production
Instructors
Spencer Striker
Meeting Info
Northwestern Qatar Room 1-225: Mon, Wed 2:30PM - 3:45PM (AST)
Overview of class
Sound design is crucial to the success of visual storytelling and interaction design. While often subtle, skillfully produced sound design immerses the viewer, listener, or product end-user, shaping the emotional landscape of the piece and guiding the audience along. It's an observable phenomenon that people can watch and even enjoy a scratchy, jumpy, low-quality image, (e.g. The Blair Witch Project (1999)), but they cannot bear poorly produced audio. Therefore, artfully crafted sound design is a vital component of effective audio-visual media. This course explores the history of sound design, its theoretical underpinnings, and the core features of a compelling soundscape. We will explore the workflow of a professionally produced soundtrack—including capturing, editing, repairing, mixing, and applying effects. Students will breakdown and analyze soundscapes by listening to examples from different periods and media formats, produced via a variety of methods, (both analog and digital). Students will examine the state of the art and potential futures of sound design, discussing the core concepts of immersive and 3D audio. Finally, students will apply the knowledge and skills developed in the class to produce original sound design projects to strengthen their portfolios, win awards, and attract real-world clients.
Registration Requirements
- Prerequisites: None
- Open to sophomores and above, MIT majors only
- MIT Technical-Practical Course
- Satisfies Film and Design Minor
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for COMM Majors who are Sophomores and above.