Undergraduate Program

This course covers the fundamentals of manipulating and encoding sound in a digital format. Mathematical representations of digital signals are introduced and the effects of simple filters are analyzed in the context of audio. This course further provides students with an introduction to programming in Matlab through a series of assignments exploring sound synthesis algorithms and audio effects processing.    

Location

(MW 9:00AM - 10:15AM)

This course covers the fundamentals of manipulating and encoding sound in a digital format. Mathematical representations of digital signals are introduced and the effects of simple filters are analyzed in the context of audio. This course further provides students with an introduction to programming in Matlab through a series of assignments exploring sound synthesis algorithms and audio effects processing.    

Location

(F 9:00AM - 10:15AM)

This course covers the fundamentals in becoming an audio engineer. Topics covered include: Acoustics, Psychoacoustics, Microphones, Signal Processing, Tape Recording, Digital Audio Theory, Signal Flow, Studio Etiquette, Digital Audio Workstations, Music Business, Recording Audio, and Mixing Audio. You do not need any previous experience in recording, however some familiarity with music and how it is created is needed.

There are four group recording projects that make up the bulk of the course, each with their own guidelines and challenges. This course requires considerable time to be spent on projects outside of the lecture and lab times. The labs are required to take this course.

First-year non-AME Major students are ineligible to take this course.

Prerequisites: None

INSTRUCTOR PERMISSION ONLY.

Location

(TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM)

This course covers the acoustical and psychoacoustic fundamentals of audio recording including the nature of sound, sound pressure level, frequency and pitch, hearing and sound perception, reflection, absorption and diffusion of sound, sound diffraction, room acoustics, reverberation, and studio design principles. The course also provides practical experience in audio recording including an introduction to recording studio equipment, microphones and microphone placement techniques, signal flow, amplification, analog and digital recording, analog to digital conversion, digital processing of sound, multi-track recording and an introduction to mixing and mastering. Each student is required to complete a substantive recording project at the end of the course.

Location

(T 4:50PM - 6:05PM)

This course covers the acoustical and psychoacoustic fundamentals of audio recording including the nature of sound, sound pressure level, frequency and pitch, hearing and sound perception, reflection, absorption and diffusion of sound, sound diffraction, room acoustics, reverberation, and studio design principles. The course also provides practical experience in audio recording including an introduction to recording studio equipment, microphones and microphone placement techniques, signal flow, amplification, analog and digital recording, analog to digital conversion, digital processing of sound, multi-track recording and an introduction to mixing and mastering. Each student is required to complete a substantive recording project at the end of the course.

Location

(T 6:15PM - 7:30PM)

This course covers the acoustical and psychoacoustic fundamentals of audio recording including the nature of sound, sound pressure level, frequency and pitch, hearing and sound perception, reflection, absorption and diffusion of sound, sound diffraction, room acoustics, reverberation, and studio design principles. The course also provides practical experience in audio recording including an introduction to recording studio equipment, microphones and microphone placement techniques, signal flow, amplification, analog and digital recording, analog to digital conversion, digital processing of sound, multi-track recording and an introduction to mixing and mastering. Each student is required to complete a substantive recording project at the end of the course.

Location

(T 7:40PM - 8:15PM)

The course is intended to provide students a basic understanding of SOUND DESIGN and working with sound for picture. The emphasis is on demonstrations and hands-on experience to enable students to gain a practical knowledge of sound and music production using computers.

Topics include synthesizers & samplers; recording and editing with Pro Tools and Logic Pro; sound effect creation; foley & automatic dialog replacement; basic soundtrack composition; and working to picture. Many techniques are explored, employing software and hardware-based sound creation tools throughout the course. Students will complete a major sound design project at the conclusion of the course.

There are no prerequisites.

Location

(TR 3:25PM - 4:40PM)

Interactive Computer Music introduces students to sound synthesis, digital audio signal processing, and real-time interactive technologies through the ChucK music programming language, widely used in laptop orchestras. Students will design and perform interactive computer music using MIDI controllers, synthesizers, laptops, mobile devices, joysticks, mice, and computer keyboards via MIDI and Open Sound Control (OSC) protocols. The course will cover algorithmic composition techniques for generating music and explore the intersection of music and artificial intelligence using the ChAI framework. The midterm project will require each student to design a drum machine piece. At the end of the semester, students will showcase their interactive compositions in an immersive Sonic Showcase, demonstrating their acquired programming skills and creative applications in computer music. All students, including music and technology majors, are welcomed to take this course.

Location

(MW 10:25AM - 11:40AM)

This course covers the design, planning, and implementation of recording studios, ranging in size from the small home studio to large format commercial studios. A successful recording studio is a living entity composed of numerous interconnected systems that must function together in harmony to facilitate both the creative process and viable business entity. Using the systems of the human body as framework each system of the living studio will be discussed including: recording equipment and amplifiers, digital and analog recorders, loudspeaker systems, wiring, computer infrastructure and digital asset management, construction, acoustic planning and treatment, HVAC, furnishings, staffing, maintenance and budgeting. The course will also include guest speakers and conversations with leading experts from studios in NYC and abroad to share real world expertise and provide virtual (or if possible in person) studio tours of successful facilities. Each student is required to complete a proposal for a large format commercial studio prepared for a client to be presented as their final project. 

Location

(TR 7:40PM - 8:55PM)

Engineering aspects of acoustics. Review of oscillators, vibratory motion, the acoustic wave equation, reflection, transmission and absorption of sound, radiation and diffraction of acoustic waves. Resonators, hearing and speech, architectural and environmental acoustics. Prerequisites:

Linear algebra and Differential Equations (MATH 165), and Physics (PHY 121) or equivalents.

Location

(TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM)

Engineering aspects of acoustics. Review of oscillators, vibratory motion, the acoustic wave equation, reflection, transmission and absorption of sound, radiation and diffraction of acoustic waves. Resonators, hearing and speech, architectural and environmental acoustics.

Location

(M 3:25PM - 4:15PM)

Engineering aspects of acoustics. Review of oscillators, vibratory motion, the acoustic wave equation, reflection, transmission and absorption of sound, radiation and diffraction of acoustic waves. Resonators, hearing and speech, architectural and environmental acoustics.

Location

(W 1:05PM - 1:55PM)

Lectures in this course will involve discussions about ethical use of AI tools in audio production, managing and uploading audio for streaming, designing and ordering physical audio media, writing contracts, royalties, and music promotion.

One major project will be required and will last the entire semester. Students will act as the songwriter and compose a pop song which will evolve over the course of the semester with feedback from the professor acting as producer. The song will be tracked by professional studio musicians on drums, guitar, bass, and piano during a session around the midterm of the semester. The songwriters will then mix it themselves, with input from the professor and their classmates. Students are expected to already be well versed in microphones, signal processing theory, and Pro Tools/Logic/Reaper. Prerequisite: AME 191

Location

(TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM)

This course is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of the process and the skills for creating music for picture. The course emphasizes hands-on experience where students gain practical skills in scoring to picture using computers and it features guest lectures by industry leading professionals, who will share their insights on creating music for TV Shows, Advertising, Movies, Gaming, Animation, and Industrial Work. Topics also include soft synthesizers, samplers and virtual instruments; recording and editing with Pro Tools and Logic. Students will complete a number of projects throughout the course.

Prerequisites: Strong musical ability, basic piano keyboard proficiency, AME 193 or familiarity with either Pro Tools, Logic Pro, or are highly recommended for this course.

Location

(TR 6:15PM - 7:30PM)

The course is intended to provide students a basic understanding of audio for gaming. The emphasis is on demonstrations and hands-on experience to enable students to gain a practical knowledge of the integration of sound and music into video games using middleware. Students will primarily work with Wwise, Unity, Reaper, Pro Tools and Logic Pro X; Topics will include basic soundtrack composition for interactive; Advanced sound effect creation; foley; Dialog recording and editing; Working directly within a game environment; and audio for virtual reality. Supplementary software discussed will include FMod, Unreal, and Nuendo. The course will also feature guest lectures by industry leading professionals, who will share their experience and insights.  PREREQUISITES:  AME 193, AME 194 suggested  or  Instructor’s permission required

Location

(MW 3:25PM - 4:40PM)

In this course, students will develop skills for designing audio/music applications and creating computer music in C and Max. We will begin with the history of computer music, a survey of audio programming languages, and a review of C. Libsndfile, a C library for reading and writing sound files, will be used to explore topics in sound synthesis, analysis, and digital signal processing. Students will use PortAudio, a C library for real-time audio input/output, to design DSP applications. Max is a visual programming language for interactive audio/music and multimedia. Students are required to watch pre-recorded lectures to learn Max and attend recitations for reviews. They will also practice their programming techniques through a series of programming assignments, a midterm drum machine project in Max, and a final research/design project.  

Prerequisite: ECE114 or instructor permission

Location

(TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM)

In this course, the students will develop the ability to design applications in C and Max for audio/music research and computer music. The course will begin with an introduction to computer music and audio programming. After a quick review of C, we will use the Libsndfile, a C library for reading and writing audio files, to develop programs for peak normalization, stereo panning, envelope and waveform synthesis, additive synthesis, table-lookup oscillators, and other digital signal processing tools. We will also use Max, a visual programming language, to explore topics in sound synthesis, signal processing, sound analysis, and computer music design. The students will practice their programming techniques through a series of programming assignments, a midterm drum machine project using Max, and a final design/research project.

Prerequisite: ECE114 or instructor permission

Location

(F 10:25AM - 11:40AM)

This course is a survey of audio digital signal processing fundamentals and applications. Topics include sampling and quantization, analog to digital converters, time and frequency domains, spectral analysis, vocoding, digital filters, audio effects, music audio analysis and synthesis, and other advanced topics in audio signal processing. Implementation of algorithms using Matlab and on dedicated DSP platforms is emphasized.

PREREQUISITES:  ECE 114 and basic Matlab programming, ECE 241 or other equivalent signals and systems courses.

Location

(TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM)

This course is a survey of audio digital signal processing fundamentals and applications. Topics include sampling and quantization, analog to digital converters, time and frequency domains, spectral analysis, vocoding, digital filters, audio effects, music audio analysis and synthesis, and other advanced topics in audio signal processing. Implementation of algorithms using Matlab and on dedicated DSP platforms is emphasized.

Location

(M 2:00PM - 3:00PM)

This course is a survey of audio digital signal processing fundamentals and applications. Topics include sampling and quantization, analog to digital converters, time and frequency domains, spectral analysis, vocoding, digital filters, audio effects, music audio analysis and synthesis, and other advanced topics in audio signal processing. Implementation of algorithms using Matlab and on dedicated DSP platforms is emphasized.

Location

(F 2:15PM - 3:15PM)

This is a follow on course to AME233, Musical Acoustics. In this course students will complete a major project in acoustics, such as the acoustical characterization of an architectural space, design or re-design of an architectural or studio space, development of acoustical computer simulation tools, design or characterization of acoustic musical instruments, design and fabrication of loudspeakers, design and implementation of a live sound or sound reinforcement system, or any other project in acoustics with the agreement of the instructor. Weekly meetings and progress reports are required.

REREQUISITE: AME 233

Location

(M 9:40AM - 10:55AM)

Audio amplification concepts and design techniques focused on the use of both solid state and vacuum tubes. Shall cover concepts related to impedance matching, preamps, op amps, class A, AB, D, H and G power amplifiers, circuit board layout, power supplies and grounding techniques.

PREREQUISITE: AME 295 or Instructor permission. INSTRUCTOR: DAN PHINNEY

Location

(T 8:00AM - 9:30AM)

Audio amplification concepts and design techniques focused on the use of vacuum tubes.  Will cover some concepts related to MOSFET amplifiers as well.  A mixture of lab based projects and LTSpice simulation.  Shall cover concepts related to impedance matching, preamps, class A and class AB power amplifiers, power supplies and grounding techniques. Prerequisite: AME 295 or Instructor permission

Location

(W 10:25AM - 1:45PM)

This is a follow on course to AME 223, Audio Electronics. In this course students will complete a major design/build project in the area of audio electronics. Examples include a solid state or tube-based instrument amplifier, audio power amplifier, audio effects processor, audio analog/digital interface or any other audio electronic project with the agreement of the instructor. Weekly meetings and progress reports are required. PREREQUISITE: AME 233

Location

(W 9:00AM - 10:15AM)

Senior Design Project in Audio and Music Engineering. In the second semester of the year-long AME Senior Project course students will complete their projects including final system level designs, detailed sub-system designs, prototype building, testing, evaluation and final presentation to the customer.

PREREQUISITE: AME 386

Location

(W 2:00PM - 5:00PM)

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Location

( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)

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( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)

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Location

( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)

This course is a hands-on, workshop style course devoted to the technology and art of spatial sound recording with a focus on stereo methods. The concept of audio stereophony and the practice of using microphone techniques to produce stereophonic sound recordings will be discussed and analyzed in detail, with an emphasis on critical listening. For the majority of the semester, one of the bi-weekly meetings will be on-site in the Strong Auditorium to explore the various techniques by making recordings of River Campus ensemble rehearsals. Students will be required to complete a final recording project utilizing at least 3 of the techniques discussed in class. Prerequisties: AME 192

Location

(MW 4:30PM - 6:00PM)