EE417: Acoustics and Audio Engineering
Instructor
Prof. Robert C. Maher
Office: |
610 Cobleigh Hall (northeast corner of 6th floor inside the ECE main office) |
Phone: |
Office: 994-2505 |
Email: | |
Class Page: | |
Office hours: |
Tuesday and Thursday 11AM-noon |
Prerequisite:
PHYS 212 GENERAL AND MODERN PHYSICS II
Textbooks and Materials
- Kinsler, Lawrence E., Frey, Austin R., Coppens, Alan B., and Sanders, James V., Fundamentals of Acoustics, 4th ed., Wiley & Sons, 1999.
- Handouts and reprints (in class)
Class Objective
The students obtain sufficient background and technical knowledge to understand contemporary issues in audio engineering.
Course Outcomes
At the conclusion of EE 417, students will be able to:
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Understand the linear acoustic wave equation and explain the relationship between pressure and particle velocity for plane waves and spherical waves.
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Calculate and interpret the near-field and far-field response of a circular piston radiator mounted in an infinite baffle.
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Explain the basic physiology of the human hearing system and elementary psychoacoustical principles (e.g., sensitivity as a function of frequency, simultaneous masking, and difference limens).
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Use geometrical measurements and material properties to calculate Sabine reverberation time for a room.
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Explain the basic operation of dynamic (moving-coil) loudspeakers and condenser (capacitive) microphones.
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Understand the principles of recording studio signal flow.
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Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of modern perceptual audio coders such as MP3.
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Describe the attributes of CD, DVD, and DAT storage media.
Class Outline (subject to change)
Week 1:
Intro, audio and acoustics subdisciplines, survey
Fundamental quantities, Fourier review, mass and vibration
Damping, complex exponential solutions, forced oscillation
Week 2:
Resonance, electrical circuit analogies
Acoustic wave equation
Week 3:
Harmonic plane waves, intensity, impedance
Spherical waves, sound level, dB examples
Radiation from small sources
Week 4:
Baffled simple source, piston radiation
Near field, far field
Radiation impedance
Week 5:
Recap and review
Demos, speed of sound measurement
EXAM #1
Return exam, continue ear/hearing
Week 6:
The ear, hearing, etc.
Demos, hearing and detection
Week 7:
Environmental acoustics and noise criteria
OSHA, architectural isolation
Guest Lecture TBD
Week 8:
Example calculations
Architectural acoustics, reverb
Absorbing materials, direct-reverberant ratio
Week 9:
Relationships among music, audio, acoustics, and electronics
Audio engineering introduction
Audio engineering, units, concepts
Week 10:
Microphones
Studio electronics
Week 11:
Studio electronics
Analog storage history (tape, LP disc history)
Loudspeakers
Week 12:
Loudspeakers
EXAM #2
Week 13:
Digital audio
THANKSGIVING
Week 14:
CD and DVD principles
Audio DSP
Multimedia audio, MP3, etc.
Week 15:
SMPTE and synchronization
MIDI
Final review
Course Grading:
Homework, Concerts, and Written Report: | 25% |
→ Homework will be required periodically. Homework is due on the due date at the
BEGINNING of class. No late homework will be accepted. |
Exam 1: | 25% |
→ Written in-class exam given late in September. |
Exam 2: | 25% |
→ Written in-class exam given in mid November. |
Final Exam: | 25% |
→ The final exam is: |
100%
|
Grade guarantee: course letter grades may be higher (but will not be lower) than indicated by the following scale:A- = 90%
B- = 80%
C- = 70%
D = 60%
F = 59%A grade of F will also be given automatically if a midterm and/or final exam is not taken, regardless of the student's aggregate score total.Policies
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All students must have an electronic mail address listed with the MSU My Info system. Announcements and reminders for EE417 will be sent occasionally via email.
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You are responsible for all material covered in class and in the textbook reading assignments.
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Late submissions of assignments (homework and reports) will not be accepted. Plan ahead and notify the instructor prior to justifiable absences, or if a bona fide emergency prevented you from attending class.
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Homework problems will sometimes require Matlab or an equivalent computer tool. Matlab is available in the ECE computer labs.
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There will probably be several guest lectures, field trips, and out-of-class presentations scheduled during the semester. Although it is not reasonable for me to make out-of-class events mandatory, I do expect the students to take advantage of all learning opportunities provided in the course.
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Among other details, Section 310.00 in the MSU Conduct Guidelines states that students must be prompt and regular in attending classes, be well prepared for classes, take exams when scheduled, and act in a respectful manner toward other students and the instructor.
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Academic Misconduct: Unless group work is explicitly assigned, homework and exams must be prepared individually. Submitting the work of others is dishonest, constitutes academic misconduct, and is grounds for dismissal from the course. Paraphrasing or quoting another's work without citing the source is also academic misconduct. Even inadvertent or unintentional misuse or appropriation of another's work (such as relying heavily on source material that is not expressly acknowledged) is plagiarism. If you have any questions about using and citing sources, you are expected to ask for clarification.
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If you have a documented disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodations, please know that you are welcome and encouraged to participate fully in this class!! Contact the instructor and Disabled Student Services (994-2824) as soon as possible.
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All records related to this course are confidential and will not be shared with anyone, including parents, without a signed, written release from the MSU Dean of Students. For more information contact the Dean of Students office at 994-2826.