Course Overview:
This course builds on the concepts of the Forensic Audio Fundamentals course. Students will learn through lecture and hands-on exercises, how to work with audio hardware and software tools, to perform more complex audio editing, processing, and signal analysis. Multiple hands-on exercises will be included during each module.
Advanced Forensic Audio Processing and Analysis is designed as a follow up to the LEVA Forensic Audio Fundamentals course and builds on the concepts and skills learned, and covers more complex editing, processing, and analysis tasks that analysts are frequently faced with. This 5-day hands-on course will cover topics including recording audio from analogue sources utilizing hardware audio interfaces, capturing audio from proprietary players and websites, extracting and replacing audio streams from video, batch processing, multitrack editing techniques, cross channel adaptive filtering, and how to address sync issues with audio acquired from variable framerate video files. Students will learn and practice basic audio authentication techniques, and how to answer probative questions from audio including gunshot analysis.
Prerequisites:
Must have successfully completed the LEVA Forensic Audio Fundamentals course within the previous two years. LEVA membership is NOT required.
Noteworthy:
Following successful completion of the Forensic Audio Fundamentals and Advanced Forensic Audio Processing and Analysis courses, maintaining a current LEVA membership, and performing audio processing for at least one year, the student will receive LEVA certification as a Forensic Audio Technician. Certification remains valid for three years and is renewable.
Instructor:
Allen Combs is LEVA Certified and chief forensic analyst for Combs Forensic Services. He has completed hundreds of forensic audio, video, and image investigations for criminal and civil cases in the United States and abroad. Allen provides forensic audio and video training to top law enforcement agencies, foreign governments, and public and private sector forensic specialists from all over the world. Allen also serves as a technical assessor for the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, has provided consultation to several media outlets, and is an active member of multiple professional industry organizations.
Software and Hardware:
Students must provide their own laptop with admin rights (to load demo software) and the following operating system:
Mac: OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion–macOS 10.15 Catalina
PC: Win 7–Win 10
A pair of earbuds or headphones to use when doing practical exercises.
Credits and certificate:
Graduates of the course receive a LEVA certificate indicating successful completion of the 40-hour curriculum. That certificate should NOT be interpreted as a certification of any type. Registering for any LEVA class indicates they fully understand they are not receiving certification from any one LEVA course and must refer to this training as LEVA’s on their resume, CV, or any discoverable document. This class is not conducted to officially endorse any product or service.
Additional Information:
Contact Troy Lawrence, LEVA Executive Director, troy.lawrence@leva.org