DAT050 Music Fundamentals 3(3, 0)
Introduction to basics of music literacy and the rudiments of music. Score notation and common music notation symbols, music manuscript practices, treble and bass clef reading and writing. Rhythmic notation, meter and rhythmic patterns. Dynamics, phrasing and articulation, tempo indications. Major and minor scales, key signatures and the circle of fifths. Beginning solfege and ear training. Piano keyboard layout. This course does not fulfill any degree requirement.
Prerequisite: None
DAT100 Music Theory I 3(3, 0)
Major and minor scales, intervals, triads and seventh chords, key signatures, diatonic modes, elements of rhythm, common music notation practices, dynamics and articulations, phrase structure, diatonic chord function. Beginning ear training and harmonic analysis.
Prerequisite: Placement test. Co-requisite: DAT101
Beginning solfege, rhythmic studies and keyboard musicianship.
Prerequisite: Placement test. Co-requisite: DAT100
Diatonic part writing up through secondary dominants. Elements of counterpoint. Modality and tonality. Tonal forms. Nonharmonic tones. Ear training and functional analysis.
Prerequisite: DAT100. Co-requisite: DAT106
Intermediate solfege, rhythmic studies and keyboard musicianship.
Prerequisite: DAT101. Co-requisite: DAT105
Introduction to the methods and practices of desktop audio production, video editing and DVD authoring. Topics include setting up work environments, importing audio and video files, editing and processing audio and video assets, and rendering audio and video files to disk. Techniques of professional DVD authoring.
Prerequisite: None
Application of the principles, methods and essential tools of audio production in a desktop workstation environment. Topics include the seven basic elements of music (pitch, rhythm, timbre, texture, form, dynamics, spatialization), the methods and practices of MIDI sequencing and digital orchestration, elements of MIDI 1.0 Standard, Standard MIDI Files, fundamental concepts of digital audio, digital audio production techniques, audio file formats, effects processing and plug-ins, and basic concepts of soundtrack creation.
Prerequisite: DAT110
Chromatic harmony in part writing and functional analysis. Counterpoint in a tonal environment. Continuation of ear training and harmonic analysis.
Prerequisite: DAT105. Co-requisite: DAT201
DAT201 Comprehensive Musicianship III 1(0, 3)
Intermediate solfege, rhythmic studies and keyboard musicianship.
Prerequisite: DAT106. Co-requisite: DAT200
Jazz theory and basic arranging concepts. Counterpoint in jazz.
Prerequisite: DAT200. Co-requisite: DAT206
Advanced solfege, rhythmic studies and keyboard musicianship.
Prerequisite: DAT201. Co-requisite: DAT205
Introduction to the methods and techniques of waveform synthesis and sampling. Topics include timbre, waveforms and spectra, basic synthesis methods (additive synthesis, subtractive synthesis, amplitude modulation, and frequency modulation), digital sampling methods and practices and voicing. This course also introduces digital orchestration concepts, including acoustic instrument ranges and characteristics, acoustic instrument families, virtual ensembles and using effects chains.
Prerequisite: DAT115
Introduction to recording in a studio environment. Basics of hard disk tracking, editing and mixing. Introduction to studio automation and audio processing with plug-ins. File management. Microphone selection and placement. This course includes the Digidesign courseware for Pro Tools 101 and 110.
Prerequisite: DAT115
Theory and practice of motion picture sound. Focus on the aesthetics, theory and techniques of field and studio sound recording for motion pictures. Practice in sync recording, sound effects, narration, Foley, ADR production, multi-track mixing and audio editing for video post-production.
Prerequisite: DAT115. Co-requisite: DMP240
Supervised audio project that demonstrates the first two years of student achievement in the DAT curriculum. This project will provide a working model for Portfolio I & II. The lecture part of this course will concentrate on project management. Students will give an oral presentation of their projects along with the URL of web-based written presentation.
Prerequisites: DAA109, DAT210
DAT300 Style and Idea in Music 3(2, 3)
Focus on craft of arranging musical ideas to various musical styles. Topics include developing melodic and rhythmic structure, chord substitution and harmonic elaboration, formal elaboration, developing textures, characteristics of selected musical styles, steps in adapting melodies to different styles, arranging acoustic instruments and working in a hybrid acoustic/digital environment.
Prerequisites: DAT205 and Upper Division Status.
Techniques of orchestration applied to a digital music production environment, based on models of Carlos, Bhatia, Tomita and others. Examination of traditional orchestrational techniques along with methods specific to digital instruments. Application to both studio music and soundtrack production projects.
Prerequisite: DAT280 and Upper Division Status
Application of digital production environment to creation of soundtracks for motion pictures. Examples drawn from acclaimed soundtrack composers such as Herrmann, Williams and Morricone, as well as electronic and digitally orchestrated film scores. Focus on relating musical ideas to setting, character, and/or action.
Prerequisite: DAT310
Applications of digital production environment to creation of soundtracks for videogames. Examples drawn from classic videogame soundtracks. Focus on creating adaptive music that varies interactively according to context.
Prerequisite: DAT310
Intermediate level of tracking, editing, mixing and automation. In-depth coverage of the use of plug-ins. Introduction to control surfaces. This course includes the Digidesign courseware for Pro Tools 201.
Prerequisites: DAT220 and Upper Division Status
Application of studio recording skills to music production. Professional editing techniques, synchronization, sends, inserts, mix buses and groups. This course includes the Digidesign courseware for Pro Tools 210M.
Prerequisites: DAT320
Application of studio recording skills to film/video post-production. Professional editing techniques, synchronization, multi-channel mixing, importing video and mixing to picture. This course includes the Digidesign courseware for Pro Tools 210P.
Prerequisites: DAT320
Survey of digital audio technologies. Topics include disk and tape media and formats, network protocols, basic DSP, error detection and correction, sub-codes, and data compression.
Prerequisite: MATH120, Upper Division Status
Survey of research on perceptual and cognitive theories of sound and music. Topics
include characteristics of sound, anatomy of ears, hearing function, cognitive skills
related to music perception, memory in music, and the perception of musical time.
Prerequisite: SCI220
Introduction to programming plug-ins for audio applications. Study of features of commercial plug-ins. Introduction to plug-in architecture. Implementation of basic DSP operations. Course culminates in a final project.
Prerequisites: MATH120, SWE110, Upper Division Status
Design and development of audio resources for real-time interactive systems. Focus on technical aspects of. audio integration into a game build. Adaptive audio techniques. Requires a collaborative project which successfully applies course concepts.
Prerequisites: DAT350
DAT420 Audio Mastering 3(2, 3)
Final preparation of a recording for disk manufacture. Advanced use of audio compression and EQ for mastering. Understanding of manufacturing standards for optical media. Includes some treatment of SACD and multi-channel surround mastering.
Prerequisites: DAT324 or DAT326
DAT424 Advanced Studio Recording 3(2, 3)
Advanced recording, editing, automation and synchronization within a music production environment. Configuration and troubleshooting. Expert mixing concepts. This course includes the Digidesign courseware for Pro Tools 310M.
Prerequisite: DAT324
DAT426 Advanced Digital Sound Design 3(2, 3)
Advanced recording, editing, automation and synchronization within a film/video postproduction environment. Linear and non-linear conforming. Advanced layoff. This course includes the Digidesign courseware for Pro Tools 310P.
Prerequisite: DAT326
DAT440 Computer Music I 3(2, 3)
Advanced study of the creative and expressive applications of computer technology. The first term will present an overview of the aesthetics and methods of computer music and include the study of landmark computer music compositions. The practical focus of this course will be on the acquisition of the skills specific to computer music in the areas of advanced waveform synthesis, algorithmic music generation, alternative input devices and controllers, signal processing and techniques of multi-channel mastering.
Prerequisite: DAT324 or DAT326
DAT445 Computer Music II 3(2, 3)
The second term of the computer music sequence will focus on the creation of one or more original works which demonstrate the unique sonic capabilities of computer audio technology. Practical instruction will introduce the role of pre-compositional planning, creating gestural and timbral models, project organization and global expressive considerations. The course will culminate in a performance of student works.
Prerequisite: DAT440
DAT450 Music Software Development 3(2,3)
Design and implementation of software applications for MIDI and digital audio. Subsystem architecture. Real-time MIDI playback and recording engines, audio streams, and audio capture. Sample processing and plug-in design. Course project will include implementation of a real-time MIDI and digital audio application.
Prerequisite: SWE310
DAT460 Digital Audio Electronics 3(2, 3)
Applications of DSP concepts to DSP devices. DSP chip architecture and opcodes. Circular buffers and convolution. Algorithm design and cross-compilation. Digital audio systems architecture and design considerations. Lab experiments taken from real-world applications such as digital filter design, reverberation and special audio effects.
Prerequisite: DAT210, ELE350
DAT480 Portfolio I 3(2, 3)
Part I of the senior capstone project. The practical focus will be on project planning and gathering resources. The lecture part of the course will be on intellectual property as it applies to audio production and distribution. The course will culminate in a written progress report.
Prerequisites: DAT314 or DAT316, DAT324 or DAT326
DAT485 Portfolio II 3(2, 3)
Part II of the senior capstone project. The practical focus will be production. The lecture part of the course will be music distribution, with special emphasis on web delivery mechanisms. Final delivery of the project will include an oral presentation and a URL to a web-based written presentation.
Prerequisites: DAT420, DAT480
DAT497 Internship 3-5 credits
Students will have the opportunity to work and learn in a “real-world” professional environment while earning credits towards their degree. The average requirement for
a 3-credit internship is 10-15 hours per week during the 16-week semester. Cogswell has local, national and international placement opportunities available to students.
Students interested in pursuing an internship must start the application process the semester before they intend to work.
Prerequisite: Upper Division Status
DAT498 Special Project 1 - 6 credits
Individual or group research and development on a special area of interest in digital audio. Topics are developed in consultation with a faculty advisor.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean of the College
DAT499 Special Topic 1 - 4 credits
Advanced course on a special topic in digital audio. May be used as a technical elective and repeated as topic changes.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and advisor
DATx7x Applied Music 1-4 credits
Applied music includes private study in vocal and instrumental performance or music composition, as well as participation in performance ensembles. Students may transfer applied music credits for elective credit or may take applied music from an approved instructor for Cogswell credit. In either case, the number of credits transferred or awarded will be determined by the DAT faculty as described elsewhere and will require a successful performance evaluation by Cogswell faculty to qualify. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of the DAT Coordinator
DAT course descriptions for students enrolled under 2004 - 2006 catalog
Programs
