ECE 49595 - Sound Reinforcement System Design

Course Details

Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3

Counts as:

Experimental Course Offered:

Fall 2010, Fall 2011

Requisites:

Prerequisites: ECE 25500 or consent of instructor Concurrent Prerequisites: ECE 30100 or consent of instructor

Requisites by Topic:

Prerequisites: Basic electronic components and circuit design principles Concurrent Prerequisites: Basic understanding of signals and systems

Catalog Description:

An introduction to computational tools used in the measurement and analysis of electro-acoustic systems, and their application to sound reinforcement system engineering. Service learning based projects, serving the needs of community clients, provide the context for application of sound reinforcement system design principles and practices.

Required Text(s):

  1. Sound Systems: Design and Optimization , 2nd Edition , Bob McCarthy , Focal Press , 2009 , ISBN No. 9780240521565

Recommended Text(s):

  1. Sound System Engineering , 3 Edition , Don Davis and Eugene Patronis , Focal Press , 2006 , ISBN No. 0240808304

Lecture Outline:

Week(s) Topics
1 Physics: radiation of sound
3 Sound: transmission, summation, and reception
3 Design: evaluation, prediction, variation, and specification
3 Optimization: examination, verification, and calibration
3 Component selection: loudspeakers, power amplifiers, signal processors, mixing consoles, microphones, racks, wiring
1 Project presentations
1 Demos, design project overview, midterm exam

Engineering Design Content:

  • Establishment of Objectives and Criteria
  • Synthesis
  • Analysis
  • Testing
  • Evaluation

Engineering Design Consideration(s):

  • Economic
  • Environmental
  • Ethical
  • Health/Safety
  • Social

Assessment Method:

Outcome Evaluation Instruments Used (i) Sound System Design and EASE Simulation for Assigned Venue (ii) Concept Questions on Midterm and Final Exams (iii) Service Learning Report for Community Client (iv) Essay Questions on Midterm and Final Exams (v) Written Project Report and Presentation Students must demonstrate basic competency in all the course outcomes, listed above, in order to receive a passing grade. Demonstration of Outcome (i) will be based on successful completion of a sound reinforcement design for an assigned venue (e.g., 2000-seat general-purpose auditorium with balcony), for which a minimum score of 60% will be required to establish basic competency (based on technical content and design constraint satisfaction scores on project report). Demonstration of Outcome (ii) will be based on successful completion of concept questions on the midterm and final exams, for which a minimum score of 60% will be required to establish basic competency. Demonstration of Outcome (iii) will be based on successful completion of an audio-related service learning project for a community client and submission of a written report detailing the work completed, for which a minimum score of 60% will be required to establish basic competency. Demonstration of Outcome (iv) will be based on successful completion of essay questions on the midterm and final exams (that address economic, environmental, ethical, safety, reliability, and social issues associated with sound system design), for which a minimum score of 60% will be required to establish basic competency. Demonstration of Outcome (v) will be based on the written project report (technical writing style score) and oral presentation, for which a minimum score of 60% on each will be required to establish basic competency.