In this course students learn the basic concepts of acoustics and electronics and how they can applied to understand musical sound and make music with electronic instruments. Topics include: sound waves, musical sound, basic electronics, and applications of these basic principles in amplifiers and speaker design.
Fundamentals of Audio and Music Engineering: Part 1 Musical Sound & Electronics
Offered By
University of Rochester
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
Week 1 - Introduction RC & Introduction to Electrical Circuits MB
Introduction to oscillations and sound waves, simple oscillating systems, sound pressure, sound waves, the speed of sound, wavelength, frequency and pitch, sound pressure level, loudness, making sound, properties of musical sound versus “noise”. Electronics fundamentals - charge, current, voltage, power, resistance, Ohm’s law, DC circuits, finding currents and voltages in simple circuits.
13 videos (Total 140 min), 8 readings
13 videos
Oscillations in Space and Time 11m
Time and Frequency Domain Representations of Sound 7m
Auditory Perception and Sound Localization 15m
Acoustic Resonance: Helmholtz Resonators 16m
Acoustic Resonance: Loudspeakers 2m
Electrical Charge and Current 13m
Electric Fields and Electric Potential 14m
Electrical Circuits: Kirchoff's Voltage Law 8m
Electrical Circuits: Voltage Dividers 6m
Volume Control and Loudness Perception 7m
Electrical Circuits: Kirchoff's Current Law 13m
Electrical Circuits: Nodal Analysis 13m
8 readings
About the Professors10m
About the Teaching Assistant10m
Syllabus10m
Grading and Logistics10m
Suggested Readings10m
Building the Amplifier and Ordering the Kit10m
Complex Number Proficiency Self-Assessment10m
General Overview10m
Week
22 hours to complete
Week 2 - Acoustic Resonance RC & Electrical Circuits MB
Reflection and absorption of sound, resonances in air columns, resonances in enclosures and rooms, diffraction and diffusion of sound, reverberation, principles of designing a good music studio. AC signals, phase and complex numbers, capacitors, inductors, transformers, impedance, AC circuits and AC circuit analysis, simple filters (high-pass, low-pass, band-pass)
13 videos (Total 84 min), 1 quiz
13 videos
Effects of String Parameters on Resonant Modes 7m
Resonant Modes in a Room 4m
Resonant Modes in a Duct 6m
Reverberation and Room Acoustics 8m
Power and Energy 6m
Power and Energy Dissipation in Circuits 9m
Real Voltage and Current Sources6m
Impedence Matching Derivation 4m
Ideal and Real Current Sources 7m
Operational Amplifiers 6m
Using the OP AMP as a voltage follower 4m
Inverting OP AMP Configuration 4m
1 practice exercise
Test for Weeks 1 and 256m
Week
32 hours to complete
Week 3 - Some Necessary Mathematics MB & AC Circuit Analysis
Transistors, vacuum tubes, opamps, amplification, power gain, single-stage amplifiers.
Converting sound to electrical signals –microphones and guitar pickups, converting electrical signals to sound – loudspeakers
18 videos (Total 148 min)
18 videos
Derivatives 7m
Mathematics: Sample Derivatives and Rules?5m
The Number e; Derivatives of sin and cos 8m
Simple Harmonic Oscillator 11m
Complex Numbers and Arithmetic 10m
Complex Exponentials and Eulers Formula 11m
Phasors 8m
Capacitors 9m
Transient Analysis of an RC Circuit 8m
Frequency Response of an RC Circuit 5m
Inductors 8m
Transient Response of an RL Circuit 5m
RL Lowpass and Highpass Circuits 6m
Phasors in AC Circuit Analysis 8m
Generalized Impedance 9m
Circuit Analysis Example 8m
Impedance Analysis of RL Circuit 6m
Filters as Frequency Dependant Voltage Dividers 7m
Week
43 hours to complete
Week 4 - AC Signals & Loudspeakers and Radiation RC
Electric guitar electronics, pickup design, pickup placement and tone, volume control circuits, tone control circuits. Overview of a simple guitar amplifier, power supply, volume control, preamp, tone control, power amp section.
15 videos (Total 127 min), 1 quiz
15 videos
Fourier Series of a Triangle Wave 3m
Overtone Spectrums and Fourier Series 9m
Graphical Interpretation of Fourier Series Integrals 7m
Spectral Analysis 7m
Spectral Analysis Examples 10m
Filters applied to Frequency spectra 9m
Construction of a Guitar Pickup 8m
Electrical Model of a Guitar Pickup 9m
Guitar Pickup Analysis Continued (wr Q) 7m
Frequency Response of a Guitar Pickup 6m
Loudspeaker Radiation and Directionality 10m
Loudspeaker Radiation, Continued 8m
Electromechanical Model of a Loudspeaker 9m
Loudspeaker and Transducer Parameters 8m
1 practice exercise
Test for Weeks 3 and 4s
4.6
83 Reviews25%
started a new career after completing these courses
22%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
20%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
Absolutely Excellent Course, Fantastic teaching; I found the circuit analysis for the last two weeks really challenging (in a good way). Very glad I stuck with it and finished it.
Good course. I enjoyed watching the lectures, especially from Bocco. The quizzes were also very representative of the course materials. Thanks for a good learning experience.
Instructors
Robert Clark
Provost and Senior Vice President for Research and ProfessorMechanical Engineering
Mark Bocko
Distinguished Professor and ChairElectrical and Computer Engineering
About University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University provides exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by its Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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