To describe main characteristics of sound and how humans hear. To explain how both the transmission and perception of sound are influenced by enclosed areas. To present the audio equipment for recording and reproduction of audio signals in more detail. To describe how to evaluate the acoustical quality of both professional rooms and systems for sound recording and reproduction. To learn principles of sound systems design for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Students will learn how a human being can hear and how sound affects humans, as well as how sound is recorded, transmitted and reproduced. They will understand the differences in the behavior of sound both indoors and outdoors and learn to design a sound system. They will be able to evaluate the acoustic environment (in terms of speech intelligibility and quality of listening to music), and to select and place audio-equipment for recording of speech, music, and ambiental sound.

(1) Physical properties of sound: sound velocity, frequency and wavelength, sound spectrum. Sound sources, acoustic power, source directivity, sound intensity and level. (2) Effects related to sound propagation: reflection and absorption, diffusion, sound refraction, standing waves, Doppler effect. (3) Perception of sound: threshold of hearing and threshold of pain, sound pressure level (dB vs. phons), equal-loudness contours. Perception of sound intensity, pitch and timbre. Anatomy of the sense of hearing. Binaural localization of the source and masking effect. (4) Audio signals: speech, music and noise. Digitalization of audio signals, formats and audio media. (5) Room acoustics: direct and reverberant sound, absorption and reverberation. Acoustics of sound direction rooms, studios, conference rooms and concert halls. (6) Electro-acoustic transducers: microphones, loudspeakers and headphones (types, electro-acoustic properties, principles of operation). (7) Audio mixers (audio-visual control, mixing, filters, regulation of level, dynamics and reverberation, echo, panning, audio monitoring and sound editing, digital audio effects). (8) Recording of speech and music programmes, sound for film and video. Stereo and surround systems. Multichannel recording and reproduction of sound (5.1, 7.1,...). Mix, remix, mastering. (9) Sound systems: design and layout in open and closed spaces (loudspeaker systems, loudspeaker and microphone setups, audio feedback, audio monitoring).

Lectures are performed with PowerPoint presentations accompanied by numerous audio and video attachments and animations. The first part of the course is followed by auditory exercises, while the second part is followed by exercises in the Laboratory of Acoustics and Speech Technologies at FTS. Visits to Radio Novi Sad and Studio Berar are arranged, where students see acoustically processed studios with audio-equipment, the anechoic rooms and the audio-theatre complexes, as well as audio systems. 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.