Audio Processing

2020/2021

Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Human Senses and Perception, Programming of Complex Software Systems, Mathematics for Multimedia Applications

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives:

The objective of this course is to give the students an introduction to audio processing, including a basic understanding of audio and music signals, how these are generated and what their properties are. The course takes its starting point in the physics of sound and how audio signals are measured using computers by sampling and quantization. The course then covers how to manipulate audio signals using filters and audio effects, like chorus, flanger, phaser, reverb, and equalizer, and how to design and analyse such effects. Moreover, it covers how to synthesise sound and music signals using, for example, physical models. Finally, the course covers how to analyse audio signals using the Fourier transform and auto-correlation.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the module will obtain the following qualifications:

  • Apply knowledge from auditory perception in working with sound
  • Knowledge of the physics of sound
  • Knowledge of how to measure physical properties of sound
  • Understand sampling, aliasing, quantization and signal-to-noise ratio
  • Understand the time and frequency domains
  • Understand the properties of audio signals in the time and frequency domains
  • Understand filters and filtering in the time domain and frequency domain
  • Understand convolution, impulse responses and transfer functions
  • Understand correlation
  • Understand basic sound synthesis techniques
  • Understand basic filter-based sound effects
  • Understand aspects of audio processing in real-time and off-line

Skills

Students who complete the module will obtain the following qualifications:

  • Implement filters for processing digital audio (application)
  • Quantitatively analyse audio signals using correlation and the Fourier transform
  • Implement sound effects and sound synthesis techniques (application)
  • Express and analyse filters as rational functions (application)
  • Apply complex numbers, finite/infinite sums, and integrals to analyse signals and filters (application)

Competences

Students who complete the module will obtain the following qualifications:

  • Students who complete this module will be able to build audio processing systems for interactive multimedia applications (synthesis)

Type of instruction

Refer to the overview of instruction types listed in the start of chapter 3. The types of instruction for this course are decided in accordance with the current Framework Provisions and directions are decided and given by the Study Board for Media Technology.

Exam

Exams

Name of examAudio Processing
Type of exam
Written or oral exam
In accordance with the current Framework Provisions and directions on examination from the Study Board for Media Technology:

To be eligible to take the exam the student must have fulfilled:
• handing in of written assignments or the like
• completion of certain – or all – study activities

Note that if admittance to the exam or parts of the assessment is to be based on written work or exercises, a deadline is stipulated for when the work must be handed in.

Individual oral or written examination with internal censor.

The assessment is performed in accordance with the 7-point grading scale.
ECTS5
Permitted aids
With certain aids:
See semester description
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleLydbehandling
Module codeMSNMEDB4142
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterSpring
ECTS5
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg, Campus Copenhagen
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Study BoardStudy Board of Media Technology
DepartmentDepartment of Architecture, Design and Media Technology
FacultyTechnical Faculty of IT and Design