I've got COM307 - Digital Audio Production in the fall. What's your take on the course?

7/16/2004 8:59:00 PM

I just took it last semester.

If you have had Elderkin as a professor in the past then it should be no sweat. If not, here are some things to be prepared for: He is a very cool and very slack teacher, so... if procrastination is your one and only flaw, I suggest learning how to set time limits for yourself. The class is point based on the number of projects you turn in, which are not technically due until the last day of class. I set due dates myself in my calender which I think is a good solution to this class. If not, be prepared to sit outside the audio labs waiting for your turn because I guarentee they will be filled to the limit those last two weeks of the semester.

Aside from that, some cool things to think about.. I passed with an A, without taking a single test, mid-term, or final exam. As long as you turn in (and he passes) enough project to get an A then you have the option to not take a single test. (Which is cool because you have the whole semester to complete the projects). The exception is a spring break project where you have to either write a paper or give a speech describing a real audio studio that you visited. If you don't do it all together (which you can if you want), you can have no higher than a B in the class.

Anywho, Elderkin is cool as hell with a cynical yet funny of humor, the class is one of those "fun, I get to be as creative as I want" classes, and overall I recommend it to anyone. P.S. I knew nothing about producing audio before I took it, so if you don't know either, do not be worried.

Ok, I'm done. Good luck, IMO it's a good class with a great teacher!

7/19/2004 4:47:09 PM

Thanks for the info! I had Elderkin for 267 last semester, so I know all about how he runs his class. I was worried that the projects might be a little much, but from your description it sounds quite decent - not as impossible as it sounded.

7/19/2004 8:33:06 PM

I can elaborate on the projects for you...

The first fews weeks you learn how to run the software (which is pretty simple to learn). And then the projects start with simple editing and recording stuff. Then you have a menu of more difficult projects to choose from. This is cool because it lets you play on your strengths and weaknesses when it come to the projects, which range from producing a commercial that is already scripted to recording your own original song. I would say the most annoying part of the process is going through the sound effects cd's to find the right sound effect that you want. I would take all the notes you can about how to use the software because it is easy to forget where buttons are in the pull down menus.

Other than that, generally I would estimate it takes about 2-3 lab sessions to completely finish a project (you get 2 hour blocks in the rooms by yourself)... Something like 2-4 on Mon., 3-5 on Teus., 1-3 on Fri. kind of a thing. I can usually finish a project in a week/week & half. At the beginning of the semester he sends out the sign up for the lab times because you can automatically pick two 2-hour blocks that will be reserved for you the whole semester (HINT: sit at the far ends of the classroom so you can pick first-- he always screws the people sitting in the middle). Then every week you can sign up for as many sessions as you want in all the empty spaces left over. So make sure you pick good times for yourself.

Hope this helps!

7/21/2004 5:08:22 PM