Fundamentals of Sound Reinforcement – CMUS 329

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/20/2023

Course Description

This course provides training in sound system setup, design, implementation and front of house and monitor mixing for venues, tours and houses of worship. Students will apply their production skills in sound mixing projects using digital console show files and virtual sound check.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Those who pursue music as a career often need skills in live sound reinforcement scenarios for miking, mixing, and music production. This is particularly true for those training in commercial music. This course will prepare students to understand the fundamentals of sound reinforcement terminology, design sound systems, and apply techniques for live concert production, digital console operation, and live mixing.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings, videos, articles and lecture presentations

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module 1: Week 1.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 250–300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150 or more words.

The student will prepare relevant live sound production documentation such as a tour rider, input list, stage plot, and show flow (run) sheet in formats as described in the course materials.

Microphone Setup Assignment

The student will video themselves setting up a mic and recording a vocalist into any computer based Digital Audio Workstation software (Audacity, Reaper, Garage Band, etc.). The student will also video themselves setting up a mic and recording an instrumentalist in a similar manner to above. 

The student will design a simple sound system, providing appropriate brands and models, quantities, and published prices.

The student will view the Audinate Dante Level 1 Certification materials (provided) and then take the Audinate Dante Certification exam, providing proof of completing the certification for points in the course.

The student will attend 2 concerts or events in his/her area with a high level of live audio production, and the student will take notes that will assist him/her in answering the essay questions. Each essay answer must be at least 250 words.

Each quiz/exam will cover the Learn material for the assigned module. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain multiple-choice, true/false, and multiple answer questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. Each quiz may be attempted twice.

The Quiz: Mid-Term will cover the Learn material for Module 1: Week 1 – Module 4: Week 4. It will be open-book/open-notes, contain multiple-choice, true/false, and multiple answer questions, and have a 1-hour-and 30-minute time limit.

The Quiz: Final will cover the Learn material for the entire course. It will be open-book/open-notes, contain multiple-choice, true/false, and multiple answer questions, and have a 2-hour time limit.