Description
While contemporary culture is saturated with visual imagery, it is sound that provides texture to image, experience, and memory. State-of-the-art surround sound effects are integral to summer blockbuster movies, and a strong soundtrack can become the pulse of an independent film. Sound can communicate information, establish atmosphere, evoke emotion, and suggest connections. This course offers students a creative introduction to digital sound theory and practice and provides a foundation for understanding audio convergence in a desktop environment. Areas of concentration will include creative audio design, sound art, experimental techniques, and web-based distribution. The course will stress technical competency, conceptual sophistication, and expressivity.

Requirements
This is a fast-paced course. You will complete six individual and group projects over the course of the semester as well as assigned readings, required lectures, listening exercises, in-class discussions, and critiques. We meet just five and a half hours per week; plan on spending at least an equivalent amount of time on work for this course outside of class. Preparation for and participation in discussions and critiques is essential.

Attendance is mandatory. More than two absences will result in a reduction of your semester grade. Late work will only be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and may result in a reduction of your project grade. Work not appropriately prepared for critique (e.g. not in the proper file format or media) will be considered late.

Texts
Middleton, Chris. The Complete Guide to Digital Audio (Boston: Muska and Lipman, 2003).
Bull, Michael and Les Back, eds. The Auditory Culture Reader (Oxford: Berg, 2003).

Evaluation
You can earn up to 100 points over the course of the semester; the final grading scale is based on a 10-point increment scale (A=90, B=80, etc.). The breakdown for the points follows:
Projects 1-3: 10 points each
Project 4 & 5: 15 points each
Final Group Project: 20 points
Podcast Report: 10 points
Participation: 10 points