ZDK_20 Sound design for Live Performance

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Michal Cáb, Ph.D. (lecturer), doc. PhDr. Martin Flašar, Ph.D. (deputy)
prof. PhDr. Lubomír Spurný, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Marie Sedláková (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Lubomír Spurný, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Ing. Alena Albíniová
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
ZDK_17 Design of multimedia
Basic knowledge of sound related physical quantities, properties and relationships.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the one-semester course is to acquire practical competences in designing and realizing the sound component of a live performance, orientation in the field of basic sound sources and signal processing (sound timbre, effect processing and surround sound). Students will learn the basic software tools suitable for live performance (VCV Rack, Pure Data/Plug Data) and methodologies for creating sonic gestures and sound themes so that these support the dramaturgical and semantic line within the overall work. The course also includes an explanation of the historical context of sound design.
Learning outcomes
- Course will prepare students for creating sound system design.
- Methods of fullfilling creative requirements of the performance.
- Students will be capable to read the aesthetics and dramaturgy of art piece.
- Collaboration in the process of creating musical sound elements.
Syllabus
  • Introduction to sound reinforcement history.
  • Sound system design in prediction software, space issues.
  • Methods of realisation (physical data, measuring, tuning of sound system, sound system management).
  • Sound sources in space, its properties and capturing in live sound.
  • Colour of sound and its meaning.
  • Signal path. Effect processing.
  • Analysis of selected examples. Resources of sound dramaturgy, impact of sound on listeners.
Literature
    required literature
  • CÁB, Michal, Pure Data - Rukověť postdigitálního umělce. Disertační práce. Praha: AVU, 2014. URL: https://ticho.multiplace.org/disertace_michal_cab.pdf
  • Audio culture : readings in modern music. Edited by Christoph Cox - Daniel Warner. New York: Continuum, 2009, xvii, 454. ISBN 0826416152. info
  • MCCARTHY, Bob. Sound systems: design and optimization : modern techniques and tools for sound system design and alignment. Third edition. New York: Focal press, Taylor & Francis group, 2016, xx, 579. ISBN 9780415730990. info
  • BROWN, Ross. Sound : a reader in theatre practice. First published. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, xvi, 248. ISBN 9780230551879. info
    recommended literature
  • BAŽANT, Jan. Technologie, loutky, magie. V Praze: KANT - Karel Kerlický, 2022, 302 stran. ISBN 9788073315870. info
  • Akustika hudebních prostorů v České republice 1-4. Akademie múzických umění v Praze, 2012.
  • SYROVÝ, Václav. Hudební akustika. 3. dopl. vyd. V Praze: Akademie múzických umění, 2013, 440 s. ISBN 9788073312978. info
Teaching methods
Theoretical basics and practical aplications. Workshops, analyses of selected works.
Assessment methods
Presentation of personal project.
Creating of system design.
Analysing existing work of sound art.
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/phil/jaro2025/ZDK_20/index-slJxsy.qwarp
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Teacher's information
The combined form of study will take place concurrently with the present form. The subject will be taught by an external expert in a bloc.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/ZDK_20