Preparing the next generation
of audio practitioners.
Mercer Aplin is Clinical Assistant Professor of Audio Technology in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Purdue University. His primary work at Purdue is with students — designing courses, mentoring sound designers, and maintaining the production audio systems they learn on.
Student-centered, industry-honest.
The work is to graduate audio practitioners who can step onto a load-in, a tech rehearsal, or a project kickoff and contribute on the first day — fluent in the tools, comfortable in the vocabulary, and clear about how to keep learning.
Coursework pairs hands-on practice in Purdue’s production venues with documentation, signal flow, and the business literacy that the audio industry actually rewards. Working professionals join every semester as guest faculty.
Coursework.
New courses written and taught since the appointment began in August 2024, spanning the undergraduate and graduate audio curriculum.
- THTR 29000Spring 2025
Careers in Professional Audio
Exposing students to the practical realities of careers in audio — personal branding, business documents, and conversations with working professionals.
- THTR 29000Fall 2025
Introduction to Audio Systems Documentation
Reading and producing the drawings, schedules, and specifications that move an audio system from concept to construction.
- THTR 35300Spring 2025
Theatre Audio Technology I
Foundations of theatrical audio — signal flow, microphones, console workflows, and playback for live performance.
- THTR 55300Fall 2024
Theatre Audio Technology II
Graduate-level reinforcement, networked audio, and system tuning for performing arts venues.
- THTR 56900Fall 2025
Audio Consulting for Performing Arts
Inside the AV consulting process: scope, fee, documentation, and the collaborative work of design and construction.
A teaching studio, rebuilt.
Purdue's Audio Production Studio was refreshed in 2024–2025 under Mercer's direction, with student technicians shouldering much of the installation work. New 7.1 monitoring, redesigned headphone cue distribution, and a refreshed control surface make the room a daily teaching tool for recording, mixing, and post-production coursework.
- · Yamaha DM7 digital console
- · 7.1 surround monitoring
- · Multi-mix headphone cue system
- · Isolated live room & iso booth
- · Logic Pro recording chain
For students & the department
- Mentorship of undergraduate and graduate sound designers across the production season.
- Chairperson — Department of Theatre & Dance Graduate Committee (Fall 2024 – present).
- Member — Department Evaluation Committee (Fall 2024 – Spring 2025).
- Co-host — monthly First Fridays webinar at Fusion Studio for Entertainment & Engineering.
- Outreach: sound mentor for student productions of RENT at Carver Center for Arts and Technology and Montgomery College.
Where students work
- Hansen Theatre — primary reinforcement and production audio.
- Mallet Theatre — black-box and studio production systems.
- Audio Production Studio — control room and live room upgrades, including replacement of the 7.1 monitor and headphone monitoring systems.
- Dance Studios — playback and monitoring infrastructure.
- Martinson 4D Experience Lab — immersive audio system design contributed to the Fusion Studio for Entertainment & Engineering.
Considering an MFA or BFA in audio technology?
Mercer is glad to talk with prospective undergraduate and graduate students about Purdue’s Department of Theatre and Dance, the audio curriculum, and the production-venue work that students take on each year.