DESC9117: Semester 2, 2024

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Units DESC9117 Semester 2 2024 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

DESC9117: Sound Design for New Media

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit aims to introduce essential concepts in sound design for a range of applications in emerging media technologies such as: interactive systems, video games, immersive video and virtual reality. A grounding will be provided in the theory and criticism of sound design in order to develop an understanding of the potentialities of utilizing audio in synergy with accompanying media. The sound designer's role in the process of creation of meaning will be examined in cultural as well as technical contexts, with the aim of developing and extending production practices towards an articulate and coherent aesthetic. The unit will also look at current computer-based tools and techniques available to the sound designer, as well as examine the various underlying strategies, processes, and sound design philosophies. Upon completion of this unit students will be expected to: understand the opportunities and challenges of different media and their essential concepts and terminology. Students will also acquaint themselves with the history, theory and criticism of sound design. Students will develop technical and conceptual skills in audio production including: building and programming physical computing audio systems, general miking techniques, producing sound effects, and mixing sound for different media, video game and interactive audio programming and immersive audio production.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Architectural and Design Science
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Samuel Gillespie, samuel.gillespie@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Samuel Gillespie, samuel.gillespie@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Soundscape Sound Design A study in creating immersive soundscapes.	20%	Mid-semester break Due date: 13 Sep 2024 at 23:59	5min soundscape and 1-page rationale
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interactive Sonification A study in sonification of interactive systems.	25%	Mid-semester break Due date: 30 Sep 2024 at 23:59	5-10 sounds and a 1-page rationale
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Foley Sound Design An exercise to explore Foley techniques for Sound Design.	15%	Week 04 Due date: 23 Aug 2024 at 23:59	Four alternate sound designs
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Immersive Media Prototype A prototype sound design for a game.	40%	Week 13 Due date: 31 Oct 2024 at 23:59	1500-word report, media delivery, demo
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Please see the unit’s assesment brief found on canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

also:

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

See faculty policy for details.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Designing with Sound	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 02	Principles and Patterns of Sound Design	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 03	Intentional Product Sounds	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 04	Sound Design Process	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 05	Sonification and Sound Design	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 06	Sound Design for Immersive Environments	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 07	Sound Design and Autonomous Agents	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 08	Sound Design for Interactive Systems	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 09	Game Theory and Video Game Audio History	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 10	Audio Production for Video Games	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 11	Sound Design and Implementation for Video Games	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 12	Music Integration and Development	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 13	Generative Sound Design	Seminar (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: University of Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning Faculty Resolutions 2022

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Design, develop and implement sound-based interactions for both products and immersive media.
LO2. Understand the requirements and limitations of sound-based designs and develop knowledge of how sound interacts with other interactive aspects of a design.
LO3. Apply interaction design theories and concepts to assess, analyse and interrogate sound-based content in both products and immersive media.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit uses unit of study surveys for improvements each year. Following last years feedback, the timing and focus of assessments has been updated to help form important foundations with the tools and techniques required in this course.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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