Sound Design

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes used for the presentation of specific concepts and techniques in sound design. Practical laboratory classes to carry out listening , sound analysis and composition exercises. Application of sound design techniques in an interactive media project.

Learning Outcomes

Understand current concepts and techniques for sound design in interactive media, games and installation environments.
Understand the notion of acoustic ecology, and the communicative potential and limitations of the sound dimension in media contexts.
Understand the sound phenomenon from a physical, psychoacoustic and cognitive perspective
Understand sound composition, analysis and synthesis methods
Know the fundamental equipment and software used in capturing, manipulating, processing and controlling audio
Explore the dynamics and processes of sound design in the transformation of sound and interactive experiences
Develop a sound design project in a practical and experimental context.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. introduction to the key concepts of sound design
2. Concept of acoustic ecology, study of natural and humanised soundscapes
3. Techniques for analysing and composing soundscapes. Computational instruments and techniques in sound design
4. Physical, psychoacoustic and cognitive perspectives of sound. The role of sound in modifying perception.
5. Principles of synthesis and analysis
6. Composition methods. Real-time/delayed-time composition. Interactive composition.
7. The practice of creating, processing and combining audio elements in the composition of sound for various media.

Head Lecturer(s)

Mariana Seiça Paiva de Carvalho

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Critical Essay: 25.0%
Continuous evaluation: 25.0%
Project: 50.0%

Bibliography

Collins, K. (2020). Studying Sound: A Theory and Practice of Sound Design. The MIT Press
Schafer, R. M. (1993). The soundscape: Our sonic environment and the tuning of the world. Simon and Schuster.
Truax, B. (2000). Acoustic Communication, Santa Barbara.
Sonnenschein, D. (2001). Sound design: The expressive power of music, voice, and sound effects in cinema. Studio City: Michael Wiese Productions.
Murch, W. (2001). In the Blink of an Eye (Vol. 995). Los Angeles: Silman-James Press.
Farnell, A. (2010). Designing sound. Mit Press.
White, H. E., & White, D. H. (2014). Physics and music: the science of musical sound. Courier Corporation.
Luís L. Henrique. (2007) Acústica Musical. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
Dean, R. T. and McLean, A. (2018). The Oxford handbook of algorithmic music. Oxford University Press.
Michel Chion. (1994) Audio-Vision. Sound on Screen, Columbia University Press
Lewis, H. (2018). French Musical Culture and the Coming of Sound Cinema. Oxford University Press.