Sound Design

Start date: October 2010 | Duration: 3 years | Language: ita
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Sound is an essential, often distinctive ingredient in all communication processes and the sound designer is the one who is capable of combining professionalism with art to use all its forms of communication and production, composing incidental music, creating sound effects and electronic manipulations and building soundtracks for events, theatrical performances, shows, websites, sensorial marketing projects, art installations or presentations.

The cinema, media, DVDs and CD Roms, advertising, multimedia installations, audio and video art, corporate events? there is no limit to the fields where sound designers work? and many of them are still developing now.

Description
Teachings
Teachers

Sound now pervades through all things, and no form of modern communication is without it, from the subway to the internet, from radio to fashion, from video to advertising to the media in general.
The sound designer is able to work with all types of sound communication and to produce soundtracks consisting of music, speech, sound effects and other electronic manipulations, using finished products (including but not limited to music) and tools to create sound � principally the computer, but also recording studios, mixers etc. The applications of sound design are infinite, with many still being actively developed,
such as sound for the web; applications include cinema, media, dvd and cd-rom, advertising, installations, multimedia, audio and video art, company events and exhibitions.

AUDIO SOFTWARE 1
Introduction to the techniques of digital manipulation of sounds: multitrack recording, mixing, editing. Fundamentals of sound synthesis: creation and elaboration of sounds. The referenceprograms on the first year are Pro-Tools and Logic. Teacher: Taketo Gohara e Fabrizio Romagnoli
COMPUTER BASICS
Basic concepts needed to understand and manage a computer system and peripherals. Configuring graphics hardware; audio and videocards; colour technology. Saving and compressing files. Important aspects of digital image manipulation software. The Mac OS X operating system. Teacher: Lorenzo Cassulo
DESIGN 1
The sound narration Introduction to audio design: from the first idea tothe realisation of a sound object. Audio narration: Radio, Audioguides, Audiobooks. Lessons on theory and practice sessions will make students capable of developing their first complete creations, focusing on the design process. Realisation of a personal audio project. Teacher: Pain� Cuadrelli
HISTORY OF CINEMA
The history of cinematographic imagery and its technical and aesthetic evolution. Analysis of the most influential and innovative movements and directors in terms of the language of film. Teacher: Tina Porcelli
HISTORY OF RECORDED MUSIC 1
Recording techniques History of music through recordings.Music is considered as a sound object � the recording - therefore as a piece of work. The topic is addressed both in its historicaldevelopment, since its origins to the current time, and in its technological one, history of recording. On the first year the course focuses on the history of classical music up to the beginning of the 20thcentury and on the history of Popular Music. Teacher: Maria Teresa Arfini e Franco Fabbri
LISTENING
This theoretical and practical module introduces students to the art of listening actively and analytically. Using diverse materials and exercises, students work on improving their ear, leading to manyinvaluable applications and possibilities later on. Teacher: Sergio Messina e Walter Prati
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
Historical and critical analysis of the main movements in modern and contemporary art in relation to the evolution of society and culture. Teacher: Loredana Parmesani
POP CULTURE, MUSIC AND STYLES
History of pop culture, from the most important events influenced by pop music in culture, style and society in the last hundred years(from the birth of jazz), to pinpointing the roots of the concept of �cool�. The course makes use of music, images, video and other original materials. Teacher: Sergio Messina
SEMIOTICS
The sound narration Introduction to audio design: from the first idea tothe realisation of a sound object. Audio narration: Radio, Audioguides, Audiobooks. Lessons on theory and practice sessions will make students capable of developing their first complete creations, focusing on the design process. Realisation of a personal audio project. Teacher: Eleonora Fiorani
SOUND DESIGN
Sound design is active in many different fields, and these are in constant evolution. This brief course gives students a full breakdown of these applications and the various professional opportunities available. Teacher: Pain� Cuadrelli
STUDIO 1
Recording techniques. Theory and practical work. Introducing thevarious technologies for sound processing. Acoustic physics, electronics, production and audio manipulation. The studio: set-up, layout, signal paths, recording tools and techniques. Teacher: Federica Colombo e Gadi Sassoon

AUDIO SOFTWARE 2
Theory and practice from editing, arrangement and elaboration of audio tracks to nonlinear programming of sound and music.Management of complex projects, midi and audio production, interactive systems. Software: Ableton Live, Max/Msp, Logic Pro. Teacher: Gadi Sassoon, Roberto Vernetti e Marco Zangirolami
CONTEMPORARY VISUAL COMMUNICATION
A broad evaluation of current trends in graphic design, photography, illustration and digital imagery. The most important works, movements and artists. Teacher: Tiziana Gemin
DESIGN PROJECT 2 - Sound and Communication
Useful strategies to conceive and create the sound materials of different case studies. Theory and real development of projects proposed by the marketing world (TV and Radio advertisements, shops, websites) and by cultural and entertainment fields (museums and themeparks). Teacher: Enrico Ascoli
DESIGN PROJECT 3 - Game Design
Sound Design in interactive applications. Functions and capabilities of the new software and hardware interfaces. Team project together with the Media Design course: creation of an application and its sound,from the idea to the release itself. Teacher: Luca Infante
EDITING VIDEO - Final cut
Rules and principles of video and audio editing. Creating and assembling elements, synchronisation, timing, rhythm analysis,compression formats, streaming technology using Final Cut and Sound Track. Teacher: Alessandro Tacchi
HISTORY OF RECORDED MUSIC 2
In-depth study of some genres introduced in the first year.From ancient to modern and ethnic music: a history of music, of its founding elements and its functions, accompanied by listening extractsor record reference. History of electronic, rock and dance music. Teacher: Maria Teresa Arfini, Franco Fabbri e Gabriele Sacchi
INTERACTIVE SOUND - Game Audio
The sound in its interactive and game applications. Analysis of techniques, formats, technologies, platforms and workflows of a sound design process with reference to videogames and application packages.From consoles to hand-held technologies, computer games and systems of the latest generation. Teacher: Giovanni Ricciardi
PSYCHOLOGY OF SOUND
The effects of sound and registers on the mind, from the greek modes to modern music therapy. The role and function of sound in religion, work, politics and in fashion and style. A brief review of the psychology of listening. Teacher: Edoardo Acotto
SOCIOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION
The course covers the historical relationship between the media and society. The various meanings of �communication�; a short history of the media up to the advent of the internet; the current �global village�phenomenon. Teacher: Giovanni Emilio Simonetti
STUDIO 2
Theory and practical work The recording studio: mixer, outboardand microphones. Sound recording. Sound effects and manipulation.The mix and mastering. Practical experience to work autonomouslyor in tandem with a sound engineer. Teacher: Federica Colombo

AUDIO/SOFTWARE 3
Fundamentals of digital mastering, sound spatialisation, multichannel systems. Formats, conversions and dithering. Live and studio electronics. Pro Tools Avanzato, Max MSP. Teacher: Paolo Solcia e Marco Zangirolami
CULTURAL SEMINARS
Interdisciplinary seminars on design with emphasis on current issues.
DESIGN PROJECT 4
Historical analysis of soundtracks, study on the functional and emotional relation in the audiovisual. The connection between music, voice and sound. Production of original soundtracks for documentaries, short-films and video art. Teacher: Claudio Gabbiani
DESIGN PROJECT 5
Designing complex and interactive systems and performance. From the impromptu audiovisual installation to permanent installations, audio and video lives, interdisciplinary projects, working in team, problem solving, from the first ideas to the final application. In collaboration with the Video and Media Design courses. Teacher: Pain� Cuadrelli e Tiziana Gemin
FINAL PROJECT
Students will work on their final project in groups, and will tackle complex issues in project design. The primary goal is to identify research pathways that simulate real professional situations, and to develop competency and autonomy in project design. The groups will be monitored by senior and junior members of the teaching facultyas well as professionals. The final project is usually organized in collaboration with an external partner (a company, public or private body or association) which is the client for the project. The project is augmented by various seminars on specific issues of cultural,�� technological or professional relevance. Topics and organizationalstructure of the project are determined and announced at the start of each academic year.
MANAGEMENT AND RIGHTS
Legal issues pertaining to sound, recordings and music. Rights of authors and producers, synchronisation royalties etc.: how to manageproducts which make use of other people�s music.
PRODUCT FINALISATION
Different types of output of sound products: formats, supports, technologies. Forms and techniques for self-promotion. Creation of one�s own portfolio/showreel. Teacher: Sergio Messina
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Seminars on topics in communication, marketing, business studies, project presentation skills, client relationship management, entrepreneurship, administration, finance and laws relatedto the profession.
STUDIO 3
The third year will address the practical part of the activities in a studio: from short term project management to communication with the different professionals in the audio world up to finalisation. Teacher: Vittorio Cosma

Alberto Campo