• This curricular unit aims to develop competences in audio production and post-production techniques, in order to interpret and design an audiovisual work. It is intended that the student understand the process of creation, manipulation and transmission of audio content for different media, such as cinema, animation or video games.
• The student will also learn theoretical concepts and will know the main technologies and sound equipment. Topics such as digital audio and sound effects will also be considered.
• Another objective is to provide the student with the capacity for analysis and reflection. Thus, the sound phenomenon will be studied as part of an audio-visual system. The communicative and semiotic strategies and mechanisms for the sound/image relation will also be addressed.
• From the consolidation of these concepts and techniques, it is intended that the student can enhance his/her creativity in order to design and implement sound projects using sound editing software.

1. Music in Audio-visual Communication
1.1 Audio Elements
1.2 Socio-Semiotics Perspective of Musical Communication
1.3 Music in Audio-visual Communication (connotations, musical meaning, musical codes)
2. Audio Technologies and Digital Sound Basics
2.1 Acoustics (nature of sound, graphics, vibratory movements, reverb...)
2.2 Signal Conversion Systems (AD/DA converters, sampling rate, bit resolution, dynamic range, SNR, bit rate/compression...)
2.3 Formats / Codecs (MP3, MP4, AAC, WAV, AIFF...)
2.4 Audio Interfaces and Studio Equipment (connectors, mixers, equalizers, speakers, microphones...)
2.5 General techniques about sound capture
3. Audio Production and Sound Projects
3.1 Sound Design (frequency, timbre, amplitude, effects)
3.2 Introduction of audio software
3.3 Editing, Mixing and Mastering (exercises)
4. Audiovisual Projects (sound design of audio-visual contents in conjunction with the digital video editing and 3D Animation I curricular units)

Chion, M. (1994). Audiovision: Sound on Screen. New York: Columbia University Press.
Fonseca, N. (2012). Introdução à engenharia de som (6ª ed.): FCA - Editora Informática.
Pohlmann, K. (2010). Principles of Digital Audio (6ª ed.): McGraw-Hill Education TAB.