Week One - Introduction
Week Two - Computer Hardware and Operating Systems: An Overview
Please read pages 1-22 in the Course Reader (Smashwords version) and 1 - 17 (if you have a paperback version), which cover the following topics:
- Bits and Bytes
- CPU
- RAM
- Operating Systems
- Files Types
- Computer Desktop
- Navigation
- The Dock and Taskbar
Week 3 - File Management, Text File Formats, Peripherals
Please read pages 22-57 from the digital version of the Course Reader (pages 18 - 47 if you have the paperback version), which include the following topics:
- ASCII
- Using a Text Editor
- Text File Formats
- File Organization
- Saving Files
- Finding Files
- Taking a Screen Shot
- Your System Specs
- Monitors
- Printers
- Connectors
- Optical Drives
- Storage Drives
- Optimizing Performance
- Choosing a System
Week 4 - Understanding Graphics
Please read pages 75-84 from the Course Reader (digital version) and 64 - 72 if you have the paperback version which include the following topics:
- Images Matter
- Understanding Graphics
- Vector Graphics
- Bitmap Graphics
- Understanding Pixels
- Drawing on your Computer
- Digital Cameras
- Scanner
Week 5 - Editing Graphics
Please read pages 84 - 96 (85-99) from the digital course Reader and 73 - 85 in the paperback version. See also: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-elements-9/using-the-toolbox-in-photoshop-elements/
Topics include:
- Common file formats
- GIF
- JPEG
- PNG
- Other Formats
- Summary of Compression
- Storing your images
- Color for the web
- Why photoshop…
Week 6 - Image File Management and Color for the Web
Please read pages 84-99 from the Course Reader, including the following topics:- Storing your Images
- Hexadecimal Color
- Web-safe color
- Why Photoshop?
Week 7 - Broadband, Internet and HTML
Please read the Course Reader pages 57-74 which include the following topics
- Internet Service Providers
- Connectivity
- Internet Basics
- Email Basics
- Using a Web Browser
- Understanding HTML
- File Transfer
- Copying from the Web
- Searching the Web
- Browser Add-ons
- Server Types
Week 8 - Audio Overview
Read the Audio Overview: pages 99 - 111 in the Course Reader (digital version) and 86 - 95 (if you have the paperback version).Topics include:
Waveforms
Frequency
Timbre
Amplitude
Microphones and Speakers
Mixers and Multitracks
Digital Audio: Sampling and Bit Depth
The Sound Envelope
Soundcards and Audio Interfaces
Digital Recording: Hardware and Software
Week 9 - Recording Digital Audio
Read the Audio Overview: pages 99 - 111 in the Course Reader (digital version) and 86 - 95 (paperback version).Topics covered:
Midi and Sequencing
Audio Mastering/CD Burning
Understanding Audio File Size
Compressed vs. Uncompressed Audio File Formats
Delivery Methods - Streaming vs. Downloading
Recording Set Up
Environmental Considerations
Creating and Setting Up a New Session Using Audacity
Getting Familiar with the Audacity Interface
Goals:
- To learn to record sound into your computer
- To learn the basics of audio editing with examples given for ProTools and Audacity, but you can use any audio application
- To understand the different ways your audio can be saved
- To complete this week's assignment
- To record the list of sounds for your audio project
"Remember where you're saving files! If you save them to your desktop, make sure to file them away into an appropriately labeled folder before the desktop is a mess."
Week 10 - Editing Digital Audio
Read pages 126 - 130 in the course reader (digital version) and 110 - 112 in the paperback version to help you through this aspect of your audio project. This week you will take all of your audio tracks and work with them to edit them into a concise audio soundscape.Topics include:
Editing in Audacity
A Quick Edit
Importing Audio Into Your Project
Using Sound Effects
Saving Your Files
Week 11 - Mixing and Mastering Digital Audio
Read pages 130 - 140 in the digital version of the course reader (113 - 123 in the paperback version).
Topics include:
Creating a Mixdown
Exporting Uncompressed Audio
Understanding Digital Audio Compression
Compressing and Encoding Audio Streaming for the Web
How To Place Audio on the Web
Satellite and HD Radio
Careers in Audio
Week 12 - Understanding Video
Goals:
- To understand some of the elements of how video works
- To understand how video works on your computer
- To understand the basics of how a video camera works
- To complete this week's assignment by reading and scripting
Student Tip:
"It really helps when you save your files with all lower case letters, rather than some upper- and some lower-case. Sometimes case matters, and if you are consistent you'll never have to worry if you called your file Camera.jpg or camera.jpg"
Transcript:
Weeks 12 - Video can be an extremely powerful and suggestive medium to express your ideas. Partially video is so powerful because we've all grown up with so many moving images. We've all been raised to believe what we see on television. And because most video also includes audio, there's an incredible suspension of disbelief that draws us into the story.
While this course is not a film or video course, I hope you'll get inspired to make some interesting connections between video, audio and graphics. Both how they can all be combined in your computer and how you can think about them together as an integrated coherent medium to express emotions and tell stories. This week talks about the how's of video - how it works, why a bunch of still images over time can fool you into believing they're moving and how to get video into your computer. I'm sure some of you have video cameras, some might even have HD video cameras. And others don't. It's not a problem if you don't have a video camera, because if you don't have one - now might be an excellent time to either test one out (at Fry's or your favorite electronics store) or find a friend that has one you can borrow. And remember, many digital still camera shoot video and even some cell phones can.