Sound Production of Audio-visual Arts
55.05.02 Sound Production of Audio-visual Arts
It is impossible to talk about modern cinema and not to notice how the attitude to sound in films has changed dramatically. It would not be an exaggeration to say that over the past two decades, the sound seemed to have re-conquered the screen. We are witnesses of how technical progress has introduced new sound formats, creating unlimited opportunities for creativity.
Today, the profession of sound engineer is an incredible fusion of technical knowledge and skills of developing and implementing the most complex sound scores. Experts in the field of sound engineering are in extreme demand in the film industry.
Only two universities in Russia – our University in St. Petersburg and VGIK in Moscow – offer complex modern bases for teaching sound engineering. We have developed unique techniques that allow students to learn the basics of mastery in creative workshops on the cutting-edge equipment.
A project-oriented style of education allows students to create their own works each year of study. From the first days at the university, students stay in a common creative space with playwrights, directors, and producers. It lays the basis for forming fruitful creative cooperation for many years of the future professional activity.
The training is organized at the Audio Engineering Department. Among the teachers are well-known sound engineers: A. Hasan-Zade, Honored Artist of Russia, Laureate of State Award ("Boys", "PE of regional scale", "Year of the Dog"); S. Sokolov, State Prize Laureate ("Cuckoo"); V. Persov, Honoured Artist of Russia, Laureate of the NIKA Award ("Sorrowful Insensitivity", "Save and Preserve", "Mother and Son"); V. Dinov, Honoured Worker of Culture, leading sound engineer of the St. Petersburg Recording Studio; S. Vartsan, a leading sound producer at Studio Century, a winner of the TEFI award; Y. Kubitsky, a laureate of international film festivals ("I remember a wonderful moment", "I am returning your portrait", "V. Vysotsky. Songs and monologues", "Break the Line"); E. Sladkovskaya, the sound producer of the concerts of such "stars" of the world of music as Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Rene Fleming, Jose Carreras, Mirrei Mathieu, Joseph Kobzon, Patricia Kaas, Goran Bregovic, Vanessa May and others; M. Scheinman, a winner of the International Film Festival, a winner of the national Golden Mask Award; Contreras Koob A., operator Level in Music PRO TOOLS HD 7.
Students of the department participate in University Film Festival "PiterKiT" and prestigious international festivals, presenting their creative works. They also participate in joint international projects with different Film Schools from France, Spain, Finland, the USA, etc.
Some of the students, who graduated recently from the Department, became distinguishing specialists: Kirill Vasilenko, Sound Producer of films like "The 9th Regiment", "Inhabitant Island"; Mikhail Nikolaev, Sound Producer of films like "The Cargo 200", "The Crime and Punishment" serials.
Our graduates work at film studios, television and radio companies in Russia, as well as abroad. They find a vocation not only in the field of cinematography and television, but also in related fields – musical and theatrical sound engineering, concert activities and media industry.
Curriculum Disciplines
Basic part: basic professional foreign language; foreign language in professional area; history; philosophy; economics; science of law and basis of copyright; Russian language and speech standards; economics; basis of cultural politics in Russian Federation; methods of teaching of professional disciplines; history of Russian literature; history of foreign literature; history of national cinematography; history of foreign cinematography; information systems and technologies; history of fine arts; music theory and history; basis of cinematography art; film dramaturgy; basis of editing theory and practice; practical issues of recording music; music in cinema; sound engineering of audio-visual arts; basics of acoustics; electro acoustics; architectural acoustics; musical acoustics; sound equipment; modern audio technologies; physical basics of sound electronics, physical basics of sound; director's work with actor; production technology of primary phonograms; sound technology; technological basis of noise sound; technological basis of speech sound; work of the sound engineer in the process of sound; technical basics of the montage of phonograms; creative basics of montage phonograms; technical aspects of movie rewriting; creative aspects of movie rewriting; theory of sound image; audio analysis; the art of speech; the art of musical phonography; workstations for audio; technology and practice of sound design; sound recording skills for recording music for audiovisual arts; aesthetic of film-phonography; analysis of music scores and instruments.
Variable part: psychology of perception of audio-visual art works; history of recording; analysis of music scores and instruments; work of a sound engineer with a production director.
Electives: audiovisual film analysis; film production; work with film music scores; work with TV programmes music scores; festival distribution of audiovisual works; postproduction.
