Updated: 11/10/08 1:35 PM

CLASS MEETINGS

FILM 420 (Section 405 #60512)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 9-10:50 AM, KSE-416

INSTRUCTOR

Glenn Bach (Lecture)
bachg@uwm.edu (please include the string, "[FILM 420]" in the subject line of all e-mails pertaining to this class)
Office Hours and Location: Monday and Wednesday 2-3 PM, Mitchell Hall B-60.

Film Department Office: MIT B-70, phone: (414) 229-6015

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course examines the capture, editing, processing, and presentation of sound as a unique medium. We will develop and nurture sincere and authentic listening skills on soundwalks throughout the landscape. We will make works of audio art by capturing field recordings, creating digital recordings in the studio, and documenting improvised live performances.

ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW
There are five graded assignments, along with the general category of Attendance/Class Participation:

AUDIO DIARY
You will document your processes and experiences in this class on your own project page on the course wiki. You will document your soundwalk experience, the results of your research and experimentation, and MP3s of all of your projects and exercises.

SOUNDSCAPE
You will compose a 5-10 minute soundscape built from recordings captured in the field.

COMPOSITION
Using a variety of freeware and shareware audio applications, you will generate a sound composition assembled entirely through digital means. This project may involve generative audio techniques, and may be built on or inspired by the work of your peers from the Soundcape assignment.

FINAL PROJECT
You will be working individually or in groups to generate a proposal for a work of audio art, fixed sound installation, podcast, and/or performance for the final project. The sounds that make up your final project can be created entirely in the studio, recorded in the field, captured from a live improvisation, or a hybrid of the three.

ATTENDANCE/CLASS PARTICIPATION
It is essential that you come prepared for class (bring required materials and any due work), be actively engaged in learning (listening to instructions and observing demonstrations), and participate in critiques, discussions and studio maintenance (setting up, sharing space with peers, and cleaning up).

GRADING POLICY

Audio Diary: 10% (10 points)
Soundscape: 25% (25 points)
Composition: 25% (25 points)
Final Project: 30% (30 points)
Attendance/Participation: 10% (10 points)


          TOTAL: 1000 points

A = 100-90
B = 89-80
C = 79-70
D = 69-60
F = 59-0

A      Excellent and Superior Work.  Performance of the student has been at the highest level, showing sustained excellence in meeting all course requirements and exhibiting an unusual degree of intellectual initiative.

B      Above Average.  Performance of the student has been at a high level, showing consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirements.

C      Average.  Performance of the student has been at an adequate level, meeting course requirements.

D      Below Average.  Performance of the student has been less than adequate, meeting only the minimum course requirements.

F     Failing.  Performance of the student has been such that minimal course requirements haven’t been met.

TECHNICAL FORUM
The Technical Forum is the place to take all of your questions about using the software and hardware required for this class. Please do not e-mail me with a technical question without first searching the Technical Forum for a pre-existing solution or posting your question if you can't find an answer. If we receive an e-mail concerning a technical question that does not reference the Technical Forum, we will send you there before working on troubleshooting your problem. It is your responsibility to follow through on your question after it appears on the Forum . . . don't wait for a reply from us. We will do everything we can to help you troubleshoot the issue, but you have to take charge of the process.

Rules of Technical Forum Participation

1. Complete your Profile as outlined--especially the information about your computer platform (Mac or PC) and the operation system and version you have. This saves Forum users a lot of time, and improves your chances of getting help.

2. Check the topics to see if the question you have has already been asked (posted). If there are fairly unique terms (like a part number, an error prompt or program command name), you can search the terms in the forum's search tool (magnifying glass icon at the top of the Forum Index). For example, if you are getting "-5000 errors," enter "-5000 error" in the "keyword" cell. All posts with the same string will be collected into one query window.

3. If you find another user has posted the same or similar question but it was not answered, don't give up. Scroll down to the bottom post and post a reply to it. State that you are seeking similar assistance and briefly describe whether our situation is similar or slightly different. Add details that you have encountered that might add to the evidence.

4. When posting a question, place it under the most relevant topic you can find. Use the subject line effectively by providing a brief description of what you are trying to do or the problem that persists. If you received a warning or error message, copy the exact wording used, character for character, and include this with your question. Describe exactly what you were doing on the computer when the problem happened. Describe any actions you have taken to resolve the problem even if they didn't work. Include links to the problem if it is online (like a blog) or upload a sample file and include a link to it.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENT
Even though the Film Department has no "Laptop Requirement" (except for students entering the Photography Track), you will need consistent access to a computer with internet access. In addition to the computers in KSE-416, there are several Mac and a few PC platforms in MIT 353 and MIT B-18 on which you can do everything you need for this class.

Campus Computer Labs (locations and hours)

Film Department Labs

KSE-416 Audio Lab
Description:

Mitchell Hall, Room B-18
24/7 access. Use your student ID card for access after the third week in class. Use the two black PCs for SonicStage sound transfers, Audacity, and Quicktime Pro. The Macs will have Audacity and Quicktime Pro. (To get 24/7 access to Mitchell Hall, visit the PSOA Box Office in the Zelazo Center Monday through Friday, 10 AM - 4 PM. The door with the hand scan unit in Mitchell Hall is the basement entrance by the loading dock.)

Mitchell Hall, Room 353
Two PCs for SonicStage transfers, Audacity.
Seventeen Mac platforms with Audacity.