DT2410 Audio Technology 7.5 credits

• Educational level

  Second cycle

• Academic level (A-D)

  D

• Subject area

  Electrical Engineering
  

• Grade scale

  A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• Course web page

• Course page on KTH Social

Learning outcomes

The participants shall upon completion of this course

• be able to specify at a block diagram level the functions/components that must or may be included in audio systems for various applications; with regard for technical constraints such as channel count, converter types, data reduction methods, power requirements and storage
• be able to assess audio systems with regard to sound quality and suitability in given applications
• be acquainted with how real-time audio data are usually managed in audio software and in operating systems
• have obtained basic experience with using a mixing desk and its major peripherals such as dynamics processor, reverb unit and equaliser
• be able to understand the first few pages of data sheets for audio integrated circuits
• be able to participate in the planning, deployment and maintenance of new and existing systems
• have a broad perspective on how transforms, signal theory, discrete mathematics, information theory, electronics and physics all come together in audio applications

Course main content

Two- and three-dimensional sound reproduction, surround formats. A/D and D/A conversion for audio in detail. Studio signal processing. Data reduction methods. Integrated circuits for audio. Hard disks and audio. Optical disks in audio. Sound quality assessment. Software architectures for audio. Audio in broadcasting. The course assignment involves writing an in-depth article on a self-selected sub-topic in audio.  Several guest lecturers contribute with their expertise. For a detailed  description, please see the home page of this course.

Eligibility

Single course students: 90 university credits including 45 university credits in Mathematics or Information Technology. English B, or equivalent.   

Prerequisites

The prerequisite knowledge varies with the background of the participant. This course is elective for Media 3-4, E4 and D4. In the Media Technology programme, the course is taken as part of a major (with thesis) or a minor (without thesis) in Sound.
For Media 3-4: DT1174 Sound as an information medium and DT1120 Spectral transforms for Media.
For E4: EQ1100 Signals and Systems part II.
All others: some fundamentals of electrical engineering with signal theory and signal processing, and some acoustics. If in doubt, please e-mail the examiner with your course record. 

Media Technology: the theory for perception of sound and for what is communicated to the listener. Electrical Engineering: the theory of audio signals and digital technology in audio systems.  Computer Science: the theory for sound-based man-machine interaction, and systems programming.

Literature

Ken C. Pohlmann:Principles of Digital Audio,sixth edition, McGraw Hill 2011. ISBN 978-0-07-166346-5.

Audioteknik idag, a collection of articles written by earlier course participants (some in English).

A wide range of supplementary material and course notes is distributed during the course.Workbook and laboratory materials.

Examination

• ANN1 - Assignment, 1.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
• LAB1 - Laboratory Course, 1.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

In this course all the regulations of the code of honor at the School of Computer science and Communication apply, see: http://www.kth.se/csc/student/hederskodex/1.17237?l=en_UK.

Offered by

CSC/Speech, Music and Hearing

Contact

Sten Ternström, tel: 790 7855, e-post: stern@kth.se

Examiner

Sten Ternström <stern@kth.se>

Add-on studies

Please discuss with the instructor.

Version

Course plan valid from: Autumn 09.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 07.