Sound Design and Acquisition
Overview
This unit introduces students to the practices of sound acquisition as an integral part of film and television, animation, games and screen production. The unit will examine sound recording procedures for single camera shoots and field recording techniques. Students will examine basic concepts and practices behind audio post-production and sound design. The creative use of sound and its role in storytelling will be explored. Students will learn how to undertake sound editing and basic sound mixing on a range of screen-based projects.
Requisites
Admission into:
Animation, OR FTV Production, OR Games and Interactivity Minor
OR
Screen Production Co-Major
OR
Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours)
OR
Bachelor of Screen Production or its related double degrees
OR
Bachelor of Games and Interactivity or its related double degrees
OR
Bachelor of Animation or its related double degrees
01-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply best practice methodologies for location sound recording on single camera shoots
- Apply basic procedures and principles of sound acquisition to a screen-based project
- Evaluate basic concepts behind the production of a film or animated soundtrack
- Compare sound design treatments used in fiction and non-fiction film-making
- Implement effective production and audio post-production techniques to a project by using sound editing software
- Review the impact of production methodologies and practices on the social and natural environment
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Specified Activities Various | 8.00 | 3 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 4.00 | 8 weeks | 32 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 4.83 | 12 weeks | 58 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Individual | 40% | 3,4,5 |
| Main Creative Project | Individual | 50% | 3,4,5,6 |
| Presentation | Individual | 10% | 1,2 |
Content
- Introduction to sound basics – understanding sound, critical listening skills
- Uncovering the importance of sound in film and television, animation, games and screen production
- Sound Acquisition – Portable digital audio recording
- Sound Acquisition - Location Sound Recording
- Introduction to sound post-production
- Practical instruction in using sound post production software, preparing audio sessions for export to Pro Tools, setting up a session, importing sound, editing sound, and working with picture, basic sound mixing
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.