Description:

This course deals with advanced topics related to audio technology in recording studios, namely room acoustics, multichannel signal recording and reproduction, digital audio signal processing, its impact on auditory perception, audio signal optimization from the psychoacoustic point of view.

Contents:

1. Acoustics of closed spaces
2. Subjective and objective methods of room acoustics evaluation
3. Design in room acoustics
4. Measuring methods in room acoustics
5. Acoustics in small spaces
6. Sound insulation
7. Sound reinforcement.
8. Audio signal discretization. Dithering.
9. Psychoacoustical optimization of acoustic signals
10. Digital signal recording. Recording formats.
11. Magnetic analog audio recording
12. Mechanical and optical analog audio recording
13. Digital restoration of archive audio recordings
14. Multichannel sound pickup, processing and spatial audio reproduction. Compression of multichannel audio.

Seminar contents:

1. Introduction
2. Room acoustics design
3. Optimum sound reinforcement
4. Measurement in room acoustics
5. Visit to reverberation room
6. Auralization
7. Subjective evaluation of multichannel sound pickup
8. Analysis of discrete signals
9. Analysis of methods of psychoacoustical optimization
10. Noiseshaping, Delta-sigma modulation
11. Measurement of basic properties of recording on CD, DVD and SACD
12. Measurement of a gramophone record, digital restoration of archive audio recordings, removal of typical artefacts
13. Measurement of a magnetophone record, digital restoration of archive audio recordings, removal of typical artefacts
14. Presentations of results, test

Recommended literature:

[1] Kuttruff, H.: Room Acoustics Spon Press 2009
[2] Eargle, J. : Handbook of recording engineering. Springer 2006
[3] Kahrs, M.- Brandenburg, K.: Applications of Digital Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 1998.

Keywords:

Room acoustics, audio signal processing.

Abbreviations used:

Semester:

• W ... winter semester (usually October - February)
• S ... spring semester (usually March - June)
• W,S ... both semesters

Mode of completion of the course:

• A ... Assessment (no grade is given to this course but credits are awarded. You will receive only P (Passed) of F (Failed) and number of credits)
• GA ... Graded Assessment (a grade is awarded for this course)
• EX ... Examination (a grade is awarded for this course)
• A, EX ... Examination (the award of Assessment is a precondition for taking the Examination in the given subject, a grade is awarded for this course)

Weekly load (hours per week):

• P ... lecture
• C ... seminar
• L ... laboratory
• R ... proseminar
• S ... seminar