Audio is an important part of multimedia animations, videos, computer games and films. Students need to understand the nature of sound and its main characteristics. To explain what and how people can hear and how they perceive different sound pressure levels and the frequency content of sound and how a person perceives the direction of the sound source. To present the audio signals (speech and music) in more detail, digital audio-formats and equipment for recording and playback, as well as the tools for analysis and processing of sounds in multimedia environment on a computer. To explain how both the transmission and perception of sound are influenced by enclosed areas. To describe how to evaluate the acoustic quality of professional studies, concert halls, conference halls, as well as sound recording and playback systems. To learn the principles of designing and installing sound systems for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Students will learn how sound waves are produced and how they propagate, what a human being can hear and how sound affects humans, as well as how sound is recorded, transmitted and reproduced. They acquire the necessary knowledge of voice and music signals, digital audio signal formats, as well as software tools for analyzing and processing of audio signals in a multimedia environment. They will understand the differences in the behavior of sound both indoors and outdoors. They will be able to evaluate the acoustic environment (in terms of speech intelligibility, quality of listening to music), and to select and place audio-equipment for recording of speech, music, and ambiental sound, as well as to design sound systems. They will get skills to use the computer for processing of audio clips and fit them into a multimedia environment.

•The physical characteristics of sound (the rules for the formation and propagation of sound waves). •Sound perception (auditory area; binaural localisation, sound masking effect, speech and music features). •Microphones, loudspeakers and headphones (principles and characteristics, microphone areas for 3D sound recording). •Audio mixers (audio-visual controls, level regulation, filters, regulation of dynamics and reverberation, monitoring and sound editing, multi-channel recording (5.1, 7.1, 10.2,...)). •Acoustical quality of both professional rooms and systems for sound recording and reproduction (objective measurements and subjective assessments of sound area features, optimal conditions for sound recording and reproduction). •Audio systems for recording of voice and music program and audio effects (selection and placement of microphones, sound for film and video). •Formats for recording, transmission and storing of audio information in multimedia environment on a computer (MIDI, MPEG, HD and 3D sound). •Virtual space sound (3D-space sound processing using 2D recording and reproduction, coding and decoding in systems for shaping of virtual space sound). •Computer-based professional audio systems for sound recording and reproduction, audio mixer driving, software tools for music arrangement and processing, multichannel systems and their compatibility, program material exchange (Sound Forge). •Sound systems design for both indoors and outdoors. Microphone and loudspeaker systems for high quality reproduction.

Lectures are performed with PowerPoint presentations accompanied by numerous audio and video attachments and animations. The first part of the course (acoustics) is followed by auditory exercises, while the second part (audio engineering) is followed by exercises in the Laboratory of Acoustics and Speech Technologies at FTS. A visit to Radio Novi Sad is arranged, where students see acoustically processed studios with audio-equipment, the anechoic rooms and the audio-theater complexes. The exam prerequisites are a seminar work and 3 of 4 tests - the condition for entering the exam is 25 of 50 points. Seminar works are done individually, while the best from some topics are presented and bring additional points. The first part of the exam can be passed through the colloquium in the middle of the semester. Independent student work is supported through the web portal of the Chair of Communications and Signal Processing - www.telekom.ftn.uns.ac.rs.