Specialization in Audio Post-Production

Available to music production and engineering majors, the audio post-production specialization builds on the skills and creativity gained in the music production and engineering major to equip students for the wide range of professional and creative opportunities in the field of audio post-production. In a five-course program spanning three semesters, students learn the history of film as an art form; the historical development of synchronized sound; modern workflows in audio post-production; the use of up-to-the-minute technology in restoring, cleaning, and enhancing recorded dialog; the gathering, creation, editorial enhancement, synthesis, refining, and mixing of sound effects, Foley, and backgrounds; music production in visual media; and surround sound mixing of completed soundtracks. In the process of covering these topics, students will acquire advanced skills in DAW editing, project and data management, and in-depth collaboration and interaction with colleagues.

Entrance Requirements

This specialization is open to music production and engineering majors only.

Students must complete the following coursework before beginning the specialization and follow the regular declaration of minor/specialization procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This specialization is managed by the Music Production and Engineering Department.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this specialization, students will be able to:

  • synthesize the history, terminology, procedures, workflows, and creative implications of professionally-produced audio in film, television, video games and other multimedia formats;
  • demonstrate top-level skill in recording, editing, replacing and repairing dialog for film and television;
  • apply advanced skill in music editing and temp score creation;
  • apply creativity in sound-effects creation and sound design;
  • apply in-depth knowledge to assessing, troubleshooting, fixing and finalizing audio for visual media;
  • apply immersive and proscenium mixing in all its modern formats, ranging from webisodes to VR game audio and object-oriented cinematic sound such as Dolby Atmos;
  • record and mix large music ensembles for use in scoring;
  • apply deep skill in DAW editing, data management, and manipulation and mixing of dialog, sound effects, and music;
  • collaborate with colleagues and virtual “clients” in creating complete and professional audio soundtracks; and
  • demonstrate professional-level command of procedures and practices for project and data management.
Curriculum and Courses

Required Courses (five courses; 10 credits)

  • MP-321: Introduction to Audio Post-Production (2 credits)
  • MP-424: Advanced Editing Techniques for Audio Post-Production (2 credits)
  • MP-425: Creating Audio Worlds with Sound Effects, Sound Design, and Foley (2 credits)
  • MP-436: Orchestral Recording Techniques for Film Scoring (2 credits) or MP-435: Orchestral Recording Techniques (2 credits) 
  • MP-451: Multiformat Post-Production Mix Techniques (2 credits)