Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | MUS-2160-VO01 - Music & Audio Recording

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Ken Topham
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Dana Lee

General Education Requirements

Arts and Aesthetics

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

In this course, students learn basic principles of recording music using a digital audio workstation (DAW). Topics will include recording live instruments or voice, MIDI sequencing, Impulse Response (IR) loaders, sampling, software synthesizers, editing audio files, and looping techniques. Introductory computer and music skills required.

Essential Objectives

1. Discuss the basic physics of sound and its perception, including wavelengths, frequency, and amplification.
2. Describe the relationship between sound and its electrical and digital representations, as well as some of the processes used to manipulate these representations.
3. Discuss the history, theory, and processes of analog and digital recording.
4. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of analog vs. digital recording.
5. Explore processes (microphone techniques) for recording vocal/live instruments and the simulation of live instrumentation within DAWs or IRs.
6. Record music digitally using external MIDI devices and DAW-related applications (music notation, composition, and sequencing).
7. Create original compositions and/or arrangements using both analog (live instruments/voice) and digital processes.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Integrated: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges the use of AI is an essential skill in today's world. By using genAI for specific purposes, students become equipped with relevant skills and tools necessary to thrive in a technology-driven society. Emphasizing the mastery of generative AI should empower you to harness its potential, enhancing your problem-solving abilities and preparing you for future challenges and opportunities. Be aware, however, that any time generative AI is used at any point in the assignment without attribution it may be considered a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Methods

• weekly group discussions
• interactive projects and/or activities
• multimedia presentations and resources
• readings, writing, and inquiry-based research

Evaluation Criteria

This course uses a weighted categories system to calculate final grades.

• 20% - Formative Assessments
• 30% - Discussion Participation
• 50% - Projects

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Students’Participation portion of their grade will be determined by their willingness to participate in our weekly Discussion Forum. In these discussions, students should not feel as though they need to be submitting a deepdive report on a topic, however they should be substantive and demonstrate college-level writing and thinking. Just as in a conventional, face-to-face conversation, there is no minimum or maximum word count requirement.A substantive post is well-developed and references the material and/or appropriate source. A substantive post is NOT one or two sentences of general statements or unsupported opinion.

Generally, students will be required to share an initial post by 11:59pm Thursday.

Students will respond to at least two peers’ forum posts by 11:59 pm Sunday. Students should provide more substance than a simple single- or two-word response. Please think critically and constructively, and communicate with each other in the same manner. Engage each other with your content!

Finally, the Golden Rule applies to this Discussion Forum. Disagreements and potential differences of opinions are part of the experience. Students will show the same level of respect to each other that we expect from each other. We are all encouraged to speak and share freely and respectfully. Any deviation from this norm will ultimately result in the loss of points for anyone who violates it.

Missing & Late Work Policy

• Late assignments can be submitted up to one week past the deadline. You will lose 10% each day that an assignment is late. After a week beyond the due date, the assignment is locked. Any student work submittedwill no longer be accepted for credit.
• Late work is not accepted in the discussion forum. Interacting with classmates is an essential part of online discussions and cannot be made up after the fact.
• Extensions will be granted only in extenuating circumstances. If a lengthy medical problem or other emergent personal issue will result in missing weekly discussions and/or assignments, please contact me as soon as possible.
• Students who know that they will not have course access for any given week should make arrangements with me to complete assignments and participation requirements prior to the absence.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.