MTA 400

Documentary and Experimental Audio Theo Lipfert

theo.lipfert@gmail.com VCB 223

MTA 400 is a 3-credit summer intensive course on the basics of audio production, Podcasting, and the Sound
Documentary. The course is geared toward students either with or without extensive prior experience in audio
production.

In the class we will listen to some of the most interesting Podcasts being created today, and explore the expanding
world of audio festivals and web sites. In addition, we we examine several on-going attempts to create a new
“public radio” for a younger, more diverse audience.

Students will learn basic audio recording and editing during the two-week intensive class. Then, you will work on
your own to produce a finished audio piece suitable for submission to an audio festival, launched as a Podcast,
posted on the Internet, or pitched to Public Radio. You will submit your finished piece to my website, where the
class (and others) can comment and give feedback. You will have a blog on my website, www.theolipfert.com,
where you will hand in all assignments, post questions and comments, and critique your fellow student’s work. No
plastic discs (CDs or DVDs) or sheets of paper will be accepted in this course!

We will use the training website www.lynda.com for technical instruction. Students will have access to the training
materials for the entire summer if they choose.

Grading:

Why is this funny? 5%

Find the Podcast 5%
Audio Restoration 5%
Archival Mashup 15%
“Book Report” 15%
Final project 35%
Critique 10%
Tech Quiz 10%

All Montana State University rules and expectations governing student conduct and responsibilities are in effect for
this course.
Documentary and Experimental Audio
May 16 Monday
Course introduction Audio Gear Petting Zoo Sign up for Lynda.com
Lynda.com Field recording fun! Write “contract” on blog
Assignments Laptops anyone? (Audacity)
The Blog! The Final Project

May 17 Tuesday
Learn Pro Tools in One Day! Lynda.com Podcasting /
Import, Edit, EQ, Compression, Mixing, Bounce to Disc. Vidcasting course

Labor Day
May 18 Wednesday
Podcasting 101 Read: “Radio, an Illustrated
Tech talk: RSS feeds, Libsyn, Tindeck, Feedburner Guide” (download)
Tour of Web-based resources Read: “Quirked Around”
Listen: Radiolab “In the Running” (links)
Listen: Kevin Smith’s “Smodcast”
May 19 Thursday
Radio 101 Find: examples of experimen-
Listen: Do Gooders tal audio on the Web. Post
Discuss: “Quirked Around,” “Radio, an Illus. Guide” links

May 20 Friday
Experimental Sound 101 Research for The Interview
Listen: Third Coast Audio Festival Write questions on Blog
Background reading

May 23 Monday
The Interview Lynda.com on your own

May 24 Tuesday
Using the Sound Room Fix iZotope Samples
Archival Audio and Restoration using Design your Final Project
iZotope RX2 Archival Mashup
Documentary and Experimental Audio
May 25 Wednesday
Archival Audio Mashup (work in class) Do as much Lynda.com
Project Proposals to Theo (individually in class training as you can!
Work on Final Projects!

May 26 Thursday
Project Proposals (to the class) For help: email me and post
Lynda.com in class work on your blog or my blog.

Labor Day
May 27 Friday
Tech Quiz posted to website (due June 3)
Breakfast at Western Cafe
Tour of recording studio

June 20 Monday
Final Project posted and functioning, linked to your blog.

June 24 Friday
Critiques of Final Projects posted on your colleagues’ blogs.
Final day of “class.” Make sure your blog is up-to-date and complete.
Please complete the “course evaluation!” VERY IMPORTANT!