Acoustic Design and Digital Sound – Thematic Units

ASP50: ACOUSTIC DESIGN

Module code: ASP50

ECTS Credit points: 20

Module Type: Compulsory

Year: 1st

Language: Greek

Module Outline

Module general description: The main purpose of this module is to provide knowledge and familiarity with the terms and the physical parameters of Sound and Acoustics, covering both technical and creative aspects related to the design of sound (and audio-visual) projects of artistic expression, including interactive applications and/or sound installations. Students will initially be trained in the basic principles and concepts of Sound and Acoustics, in topics concerning sound recording, processing and synthetic creation/mixing of sound and music, the analysis of sound signals in the time and frequency domains, the organization and execution of (acoustic) experiments for the measurement of perceptual and psycho-acoustic criteria, the design and production of audio (and multimedia) content with an emphasis on the spatial formation of sound (spatial audio), the implementation of acoustic and electro-acoustic studies.

Learning Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• Will know the nature of sound and the fundamental principles of the science of acoustics, the physical phenomena that take place during the propagation of sound and the quantitative measures of sound level on the basis of which calculations are made.
• Will be able to identify the difference between acoustics and psychoacoustics and the objective subjective mechanisms of human hearing.
• Will be able to grasp the qualitative and quantitative concept of the representation of acoustic signals in the time and frequency domain, as well as the concept of the quality of these signals.
• Will be familiar with the stages of music production and the possibilities offered by the use of new sound management and synthesis technologies.
• Will be familiar with the basic principles of designing an electroacoustic installation, taking into account the individual characteristics of the electroacoustic transducers (microphones and loudspeakers) used.
• Will recognize the difference between the art of sound and music
• Will have been taught subjects related to contemporary artistic creations that use sound as a means of creative expression either exclusively or in combination with other art forms, such as painting, as well as the two-way relationship between acoustics and architecture, from a perceptual and historical perspective.
• Will be familiar with individual topics related to virtual acoustics.

Subjects covered:

• Introductory acoustics concepts
• Perception of sound
• Architecture and acoustics
• Electroacoustic installations
• Musical instruments and electronic sound technology
• Sound in space

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

Evaluation: Students are assigned to submit four (4) written assignments during the academic year. The average grade of the four (4) written assignments, weighted at 30%, is taken into consideration for the calculation of the final grade. The grade of written assignments is activated only with a score equal to or above the pass level (≥5) in the final or resit exams.

The grade of the final or the resit exams shall be weighted at 70 % for the calculation of the final grade.

Students have the right to participate in the final/resit exams if (a) at least 50% of the potentially excellent grade has been obtained when adding the total of the four (4) assignments and (b) at least three (3) of the four (4) written assignments have been submitted.

ASP51: Sound insulation – sound protection

Module Code: ASP51

ECTS Credit points: 20

Module Type: Compulsory

Year: 1st

Language: Greek

Module Outline

Module general description:

The aim of the course ASP51 is the understanding of the theoretical background and the familiarization with the problems of Sound Protection – Soundproofing in outdoor and indoor areas with cognitive contents:

• the basic physical properties and the method of measuring sounds,
• the addition and subtraction of sound intensities, the standard sound signals
• the concept, the physic properties and the consequences of noise,
• the basic phenomena of sound propagation in walls, closed air-ducts and the open air
• the calculation of the sound insulation capacity in simple and composite panels
• the effect and the evaluation of sound barriers
• the sound protection and sound insulation regulations

Learning Outcomes:  

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• understand the basic phenomena, the units of measurement and acoustic quantities of individual sound sources or a combination of sources
• assess noise, to calculate and design the sound insulation in buildings, in closed air ducts and in the open air
• assess the sound insulation and sound absorption capacity of building materials and building structures
• know the effects of noise on humans and the basic legislation on noise
• to carry out sound protection/insulation studies for small/medium scale projects

Subjects covered:

• Basic introductory concepts
• Noise measurement and analysis
• Outdoor noise protection and building sound insulation
• Noise suppression and sound absorbing materials
• Noise maps and indicators, regulations
• Physiology & hearing protection, regulations

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

Evaluation: Students are assigned to submit four (4) written assignments during the academic year. The average grade of the four (4) written assignments, weighted at 30%, is taken into consideration for the calculation of the final grade. The grade of written assignments is activated only with a score equal to or above the pass level (≥5) in the final or resit exams.

The grade of the final or the resit exams shall be weighted at 70 % for the calculation of the final grade.

Students have the right to participate in the final/resit exams if (a) at least 50% of the potentially excellent grade has been obtained when adding the total of the four (4) assignments and (b) at least three (3) of the four (4) written assignments have been submitted.

ASP60: ROOM ACOUSTICS

Module Code: ASP60

ECTS Credit points: 20

Module Type: Compulsory

Year: 1^st

Language: Greek

Module Outline

Module general description: The purpose of this module is to provide the necessary knowledge regarding the understanding of the phenomena and mechanisms of sound propagation in closed spaces, the ways and tools for analyzing the acoustics of these spaces as well as the tools for predicting the acoustic behavior with the aim of optimal acoustic design of a space depending on its intended use and its size. Therefore, the categorization of closed spaces according to the existing literature is studied, the parameters and criteria of acoustic behavior, the mechanisms and materials of sound absorption and the general design principles of closed listening spaces as well as the design requirements for different spaces are examined. The students are trained in the use of equipment and software for measurements and analysis of the acoustic behavior of spaces, in the classical statistical methods of calculating the basic parameters, but also in the use of 2-dimensional design software and in acoustic modeling using 3-dimensional prediction software.

Learning Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• describe the basic concepts that determine the propagation of sound in enclosed spaces,
• distinguish the basic theories of sound propagation inside buildings,
• distinguish what a travelling and standing wave is and how it affects the sound field of an enclosed space,
• distinguish what reverberation time is, how it relates to the use of a room, what its effect is on the acoustic behaviour of rooms, and how this can be improved by the use of sound absorbing materials,
• analyse the response of a space in the time and frequency domain,
• define the general principles of design of enclosed listening rooms and the design requirements for different rooms,
• manage the information obtained from acoustic measurements in the assessment of the acoustics of listening rooms.

Subjects covered:

• Indoor sound propagation and analysis
• Acoustic parameters for measurement and evaluation
• Geometric and wave acoustics
• Sound absorption mechanisms and materials
• Design of lecture halls, concert halls, multi-purpose halls
• Measurement software and acoustic prediction of rooms

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

Evaluation: Students are assigned to submit four (4) written assignments during the academic year. The average grade of the four (4) written assignments, weighted at 30%, is taken into consideration for the calculation of the final grade. The grade of written assignments is activated only with a score equal to or above the pass level (≥5) in the final or resit exams.

The grade of the final or the resit exams shall be weighted at 70 % for the calculation of the final grade.

Students have the right to participate in the final/resit exams if (a) at least 50% of the potentially excellent grade has been obtained when adding the total of the four (4) assignments and (b) at least three (3) of the four (4) written assignments have been submitted.

ASP61: DIGITAL SOUND

Module Code: ASP61

ECTS Credit points: 30

Module Type: Compulsory

Year: 2nd

Language: Greek

Module Outline

Module general description:  The purpose of this module is to provide knowledge and familiarity, both, in acoustic design using appropriate acoustic simulation software and in the basic concepts of the digital audio technology. Students will initially be trained in the use of acoustic simulation software and the use of noise measurement and evaluation software. They will then be trained in the basic concepts of digital audio technology applied to the sound storage, reproduction, transmission and music data retrieval and identification.

Learning Outcomes:  Upon completion of the unit, the student will be able to:

• describe the principles of acoustic simulation used by acoustic design software.
• follow a specific methodology to create a complete acoustic/electroacoustic simulation project.
• identify the standards and norms that apply in relation to noise protection legislation use the basic steps of mapping rooms for noise prediction and understand the operation of sound protection software.
• describe the concept of signal and system for sound and acoustics applications
• identify the frequency spectrum of a signal and describe the basic classes of ideal filters
• recognise the importance of digital coding and compression of audio data
• summarise the types and sources of distortion and noise in audio signals
• briefly describe the purpose and general principles of digital equalisation of sound systems
• identify specialised programming languages for the creation of sound/interactive applications
• describe the most important digital audio transmission protocols on devices and on the Internet
• briefly describe the spatial (3D) sound coding and reproduction methods
• briefly describe the Music Information Retrieval and Audio Identification methods.

Subjects covered:

• Acoustic design and sound protection software applications
• Digital processing and analysis of sound signals
• Digital audio applications
• Response measurement of sound and acoustic systems
• Software for music applications, recording and sound reproduction
• Audio applications on the Internet
• Semantic analysis and retrieval of musical information
• Technologies for 3D sound

Prerequisites: The choice of ASP61 requires the simultaneous choice or completion of ASP60.

Evaluation: Students are assigned to submit five (5) written assignments during the academic year. The average grade of the five (5) written assignments, weighted at 30%, is taken into consideration for the calculation of the final grade. The grade of written assignments is activated only with a score equal to or above the pass level (≥5) in the final or resit exams.

The grade of the final or the resit exams shall be weighted at 70 % for the calculation of the final grade.

Students have the right to participate in the final/resit exams if (a) at least 50% of the potentially excellent grade has been obtained when adding the total of the five (5) assignments and (b) at least three (3) of the five (5) written assignments have been submitted.

ASPDE Postgraduate Diploma Thesis

Module code: ASPDE

ECTS Credit Points: 30

Module Type: Compulsory

Year: 2^nd

Language: Greek

Module Outline

Module general description: The postgraduate diploma thesis PDT provides the opportunity to synthesize and utilize knowledge gained in specific applications as well as skills in using the tools, methods and techniques necessary in audio and acoustic design and management, digital audio processing and multimedia audio analysis.

The general categories of subjects for PDT are determined by the program Director after consultation with the Coordinators of the course modules and are posted on the HOU website, before the start of the period for submission of the relevant statement by the students.

The thematic fields are indicative and are linked to the specialized knowledge areas of the Thematic Units of the ASP postgraduate study program. The subjects proposed by the students may combine dimensions from two or more of these thematic fields.

Examples include:

• Sound design, sound interfaces and soundscapes
• Applications of digital audio processing, analysis and evaluation
• Semantic analysis and categorization / classification of sounds
• Sound protection of outdoor spaces
• Sound insulation of closed spaces
• Acoustic design of closed and open spaces
• Acoustic measurements
• Design of electro-acoustic installations
• Music composition and production

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon completion of the unit, the student will be able to:

• Design original research and/or original study and/or project in the subjects of acoustic design and digital sound using a scientific methodological approach.
• Conduct literature research and literature review.
• Search for sources related to the topic of the thesis, in international scientific journals, conference proceedings, scientific books, online publications, company websites, etc.
• Record, classify and evaluate research material in order to produce the existing research situation (state-of-the-art) in the topic undertaken.
• Develop and follow a schedule for the implementation of original research, study and/or project.
• Develop algorithms and/or operate specialized software and/or perform on-site acoustic measurements and/or design specialized hardware and/or implement hardware and/or implement software.
• Design and implement an evaluative study (objective and/or subjective) of hardware, software, educational (multimedia) application, audio examples, listening tests, etc.
• Conduct and write a comprehensive master’s level academic thesis.

General Regulation for Preparing Graduate Dissertations in PC with an annual Module Correspondence

For more information regarding the Specifications – Useful Material for writing Master’s Theses and uploading a Thesis at the H.O.U. Repository, you can go to the Digital Training Area http://study.eap.gr and especially to the Program of Studies section.

Prerequisites: The presentation of the Postgraduate Diploma Thesis takes place after the successful completion of the program’s Course Modules