2023-2024 Academic Catalog

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Recording Arts (MSRA)

MSRA 5000 -  Introduction to Graduate Studies  (3 Credits)  

Surveys existing literature and research in science, technology, and pedagogy of recording arts. Extensive use of available resources in library, electronic and print, trade and scientific publications are explored. Use of computer applications for research and publication are developed. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5001 -  MSRA Research Seminar  (3 Credits)  

In preparation for their thesis/portfolio, students learn research techniques by: applying skills from MSRA 5000, learning research design, performing research, interpreting results, and writing. Students will discover opportunities to add to the body of audio literature and recording techniques. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5125 -  Sound & Music for Video Games I  (3 Credits)  

This course will give students an overview of the function of sound and music for video games including: history, sound engines, types of audio utilized, stereo and surround sound localization, music capabilities of hardware configurations and future trends in sound for video games. Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

Typically Offered: Fall.

MSRA 5135 -  Sound & Music for Video Games II  (3 Credits)  

Course is a continuation of Sound and Music for Video Games. Topics of study include non-linear music composition and implementation, advanced sound design techniques, optimization, and hands-on experience with modern game engines and game audio engines. Prereq: MSRA 5125. Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: MSRA 5125. Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media.

Typically Offered: Fall.

MSRA 5360 -  Music, Meditation and Technology  (3 Credits)  

Interdisciplinary course on acoustic ecology, sound art, and music technology. Through deep listening, compassionate listening, soundwalking, and interactive music controlled by motion capture, the unifying theme of this course is an engagement with sonic awareness, environment, and self-exploration. Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media. Cross-listed with MUSC 4360. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5380 -  Advanced Electronic Music Production & Performance  (3 Credits)  

This course is designed to take a deeper dive into music, electronic music, as well as perceptions of music. Students will be able to create generative compositions, single sample- based compositions, a performative electronic composition, and incorporate multimedia elements into their compositions. Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media. Cross-listed with MUSC 4380. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5500 -  Topics in Professional Audio  (1 Credit)  

Selected topical subjects to include live or studio sound recording, sound reinforcement, new technologies or practices in the audio industry. Repeatable. Max Hours: 9 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5505 -  Introduction to Audio Post Production  (3 Credits)  

Reviews all aspects of audio synchronized with picture, including music, sound effects, narration, and dialog replacement. Topics studied with respect to film, video and multi-media. Cross-listed with MUSC 3505. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5510 -  Topics in Recording Arts  (3 Credits)  

Selected topical subjects to include live or studio sound recording, sound reinforcement, new technologies or practices in the audio industry. Max hours: 9 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

MSRA 5515 -  History of 20th Century Film Music  (3 Credits)  

This survey of the history of 20th century music in film will acquaint aspiring filmmakers and musicians with a history of the music, as well as concepts of film theory and the creative use of film music. Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5525 -  Multimodal Interaction for Music  (3 Credits)  

This course explores human-computer interaction in music composition and performance. Students will learn to program and use open-source hardware to build novel and creative musical interfaces and instruments. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate Students. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Graduate level students.

MSRA 5530 -  Live Sound Reinforcement  (3 Credits)  

This course focuses on the basic elements of sound reinforcement: acoustics, equalization, equipment and mixing techniques. The major emphasis is the production of the final sonic product. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5535 -  Sound Effects & Foley for Visual Media  (3 Credits)  

Techniques for recording sound effects in the field and recording Foley in the studio. Use of library effects. Use of mixing techniques and plug-ins to create more complex sounds. Cross-listed with MUSC 4535. Prereq: MSRA 5505. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: MSRA 5505.

MSRA 5545 -  Music Editing in Visual Media  (3 Credits)  

Music editing for film and television. Spotting notes, temp tracks, cue sheets, scoring session management, dubbing stage fixes, and Performing Rights Artists notes. Cross-listed with MUSC 3545. Prereq: MSRA 5505. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: MSRA 5505.

MSRA 5550 -  Audio Production III  (3 Credits)  

Advanced studies in sound recording and reinforcement, aesthetics and techniques of multi-track analog and digital recording and stereo imaging. Team lab recording projects. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5555 -  Dialogue Editing & Mixing for Visual Media  (3 Credits)  

Dialogue editing and mixing for film and television. Recording Voiceover, Automated Dialogue Replacement, Group ADR, Efforts. Noise-reduction, mix levels, compression, limiting, EQ and use of reflected sound. Cross-listed with MUSC 3555. Prereq: MSRA 5505. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: MSRA 5505.

MSRA 5560 -  Mastering & Advanced Digital Audio  (3 Credits)  

A study and practice of the art of mastering. Topics covered include: history, monitoring, signal flow, metering, jitter, audio restoration, limiting, creating a CD pre-master, & mastering for new media. Students will get practical experience mastering their own projects. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5565 -  Re-recording Mixing for Visual Media  (3 Credits)  

Techniques for mixing dialogue, ADR, music, sound effects, background ambiences and Foley. Different level standards and deliverables. Cross-listed with MUSC 4545. Prereq: MSRA 5535 or MSRA 5555. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: MSRA 5535 or MSRA 5555.

MSRA 5575 -  Graduate Surround Sound  (3 Credits)  

This lecture-lab course deals with surround sound in film, digital TV and DVD's. Topics include monitoring, microphone techniques, recording, mixing, mastering, delivery formats and psychoacoustics. Students work on two lab projects in the semester. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5576 -  Surround Sound II  (4 Credits)  

Students will work on advanced surround sound projects and study mixing aesthetics, high-definition technology and authoring. Students will have advanced knowledge of these topics and produce professional, competitive material for their demo. Prereq: MSRA 5550, 5575 and 5505, or permission of instructor. Max hours: 4 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5580 -  Graduate Audio Seminar I  (3 Credits)  

Faculty and majors of the music engineering program assemble to discuss and demonstrate issues of artistic and technical applications of recording technology. Student projects, faculty, and guest lectures provide topical focus. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5581 -  Graduate Audio Seminar II  (3 Credits)  

Capstone project based course in which students complete professional quality projects in music production and/or post production. Students refine their engineering skills and develop new skills required for integration in the music industry such as portfolio design and resume development. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5590 -  Graduate Audio Production  (3 Credits)  

Deals with advanced audio skills for music recording, including technical and artistic considerations. This is a required course for the MSRA degree. Max hours: 4 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 4.

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5600 -  Topics in Music  (1-3 Credits)  

Various topics relating to the study of music performance, music technology and music business. Repeatable. Max Hours: 9 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

MSRA 5605 -  Audio Post Production II  (3 Credits)  

Students will learn advanced Pro Tools techniques by designing, conceptualizing, and completing sound for a student film project. This interdisciplinary course prepares students for working relationships between Recording Arts, Film and Video areas and an entry level job in post production. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5820 -  Digital Music Techniques  (3 Credits)  

Studies the general principles and applications of digital music technology, emphasizing the function and operation of specific computer software. Topics include digital audio workstations, MIDI sequencers, digital signal processing programs, and distribution on optical discs and computer-based mediums. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 5840 -  Independent Study for MSRA  (1-3 Credits)  

Allows graduate students to pursue in-depth study of an audio-related topic, to be discussed with and approved by the Graduate Advisor. A final report or other tangible results will be determined on a case- by-case basis. Repeatable. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.

MSRA 5939 -  Master of Science in Recording Arts Internship  (1-3 Credits)  

Master of Science in Recording Arts Internship. Restrictions: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

MSRA 6214 -  Forensic Audio Analysis  (3 Credits)  

Students learn concepts through the application of techniques related to audio enhancement, digital media authentication, acoustic analysis, and automatic speaker recognition. The acquisition and analysis of digital evidence applying reliable methods prepares students for forensic audio analysis in the laboratory. Coreq: MSRA 6254 and admittance to Certification in Forensic Audio Analysis Program required. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Coreq: MSRA 6254

MSRA 6224 -  Forensic Video and Image Analysis  (3 Credits)  

Students learn concepts through the application of techniques related to forensic video collection and image enhancement, authentication, photogrammetry, and comparison. The acquisition and analysis of digital evidence applying reliable methods prepares students for working on forensic imagery in the laboratory. Coreq: MSRA 6264 and admittance to Certification in Forensic Video and Image Analysis Program required. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Coreq: MSRA 6264

MSRA 6254 -  MATLAB for Forensic Audio Analysis  (1 Credit)  

Advanced application of MATLAB for the forensic analysis of audio will be presented including file access, FFT and waveform plotting, and signal detection. Through the exploration of correlation and using mean quadratic difference students will be prepared for media authentication. Coreq: MSRA 6214 and admittance to Certification in Forensic Audio Analysis Program required. Max hours: 1 Credit.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Coreq: MSRA 6214

MSRA 6264 -  MATLAB for Forensic Video and Image Analysis  (1 Credit)  

Advanced application of MATLAB for the forensic analysis of images will be presented covering image processing and analysis techniques. Through exploring analyses such as Photo Response Non-Uniformity and the Bi-Dimensional DFT, students are prepared for image authenticity examinations. Coreq: MSRA 6224 and admittance to Certification in Forensic Video and Image Analysis Program required. Max hours: 1 Credit.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Coreq: MSRA 6224

MSRA 6510 -  Graduate Audio Studies Pedagogy  (3 Credits)  

Surveys available resources for audio education. Interdisciplinary materials in physics, acoustics, engineering, music, broadcast, medicine, psychology, multi-media, theater, and film or video are reviewed. Emphasis on design and development of new methods and materials are pursued. (MSRA graduate students only.) Prereq: MUSC 5000. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 6550 -  Sound Design  (4 Credits)  

Deals with designing sound for live theater, film, video, television, theme parks, games and soundscapes. Focuses on using technology to achieve specific esthetic aspects of audio production. This is accomplished through lectures, listening assignments, research and lab practice. (For graduate students only.) Max hours: 4 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

MSRA 6950 -  Thesis in Professional Audio  (4 Credits)  

With the guidance of a thesis advisor, each candidate for the MSRA degree select an approved topic for scholarly review, research and publication. The approved materials are evaluated for written and oral defense. Prereq: MUSC 5000, 5590, 6510, 6580, 6530. Max hours: 4 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media

MSRA 6951 -  Professional Audio Portfolio Thesis  (4 Credits)  

With the guidance of a portfolio advisor, each candidate for the MSRA degree produce specified documentation and audio materials that reflect the career intentions of the candidate. A completed "Show kit" or professional "Demo" of the candidate's specialty are produced. The approved materials are evaluated for written, audio and oral defense. Max hours: 4 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Restriction: Restricted to RCDA-MS majors within the College of Arts and Media