Fundamentals of Sound
Lecture
- Language of instruction
- English
- Semester offered
- SS 2025
- Schedule
Weekly
- Date(s) & Time
- Thu, 12:30 – 14:00
- Contact hours per semester
- 32
- Location
- Large Sound Studio 351
- Instructor(s)
- Lorenz Schwarz
This lecture introduces the fundamental aspects of sound, its production, propagation, recording, and reproduction by explaining the underlying principles of physics, physiology, and psychology. The course aims to provide a theoretical foundation in sound technology and audio-related topics to support independent problem-solving and creative expression in media art, sound design, acoustic communication, and electronic music.
Students will engage in weekly lectures covering topics such as acoustics, psychoacoustics, audio processing, and digital and analog audio technology. Assignments include practical tasks like acoustic measurements, field recordings, binaural rendering, and multitrack editing. Oral presentations on selected topics in audio technology or acoustics will also stimulate in-class discussions.
Course Content
Prerequisites
- No prior knowledge required; open to students from all departments
- Software Audacity (install instructions provided during the course)
- Suggested resources Smith, Julius O. III (online textbooks and course materials for CCRMA signal-processing courses), Sengpiel, Eberhard (forum for microphone recording and studio technology)
Learning Objectives
- Understand the physical, physiological, and psychological principles of sound
- Analyze and interpret the fundamentals of acoustics, psychoacoustics, and audio technology
- Develop problem-solving skills applicable to sound-related artistic and technical projects
Credits
- Leistungsnachweis Fachtheorie Medienkunst (graded Theory Course Credit)
- Leistungsnachweis Basis-Lehrveranstaltung (graded Basic Course Credit)
Methods
- Weekly lectures building on core topics
- Practical assignments to reinforce theoretical knowledge
- Oral presentations to encourage active engagement and discussions
Assessment tasks
- Complete practical tasks including field recordings, sound synthesis, impulse-response measurements, and psychoacoustic tests
- Deliver an oral presentation on a selected topic in audio technology or acoustics
Recommended literature
- Ballou, Glen M. Handbook for Sound Engineers. Elsevier, 2008.
- Bregman, Albert S. Auditory Scene Analysis: The Perceptual Organization of Sound. MIT Press, 1990.
- Dickreiter, Michael. Handbuch der Tonstudiotechnik. Vols. 1–2, 9th ed., De Gruyter Saur, 2022.
- Puckette, Miller. The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music. World Scientific, 2007.
- Roads, Curtis. Composing Electronic Music: A New Aesthetic. Oxford University Press, 2015.
- Smith, Julius O. Spectral Audio Signal Processing. W3K, 2011.
- Weinzierl, Stefan, editor. Handbuch der Audiotechnik. Springer, 2008.
- Yost, William A. Fundamentals of Hearing: An Introduction. 5th ed., Academic Press, 2007.
Course material
https://teaching.medienkunst-sound.de/fundamentals_of_sound/