Introduction to Audio for Multimedia and the World

This course provides participants with the technical background in audio they will need for effective Multimedia and Web-based use of sound. Topics begin with the fundamental concepts of audio signals, recording and reproduction systems, and proceed to a more in-depth understanding of digital audio recording, signal processing, and data compression. Parameters such as sample rate, bit rate and dither will be linked to sound quality issues of frequency response, noise floor and dynamic range so that informed decisions can be made about sound performance versus data requirements. The course will explore the audio concepts and capabilities unique to Audio Compact Disc, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, CD-Rom, MP3 and streaming. Students' projects will integrate audio into Multimedia and/or Web-based products satisfying priorities for sound quality, media effectiveness, user experience and bandwidth constraints.