Music Technology and Audio Production - BSc (Hons)

This module introduces students to important concepts that underpin sound and sound technologies, starting from an understanding of how sound is produced, how it travels and how we perceive it. The module also explores the principles by which sound can be recorded and encoded in both analogue and digital formats. Practical demonstrations and experiments are used to investigate scientific theories, providing students with a solid understanding of theory that will inform future practical work in the recording studio and with the digital audio workstation.

The module explores the current creative industries, particularly focusing on music industry characteristics and structures, music organisations and relevant arts groups. Students will be guided to appreciate a broad range of career opportunities in these areas and they will develop an understanding of the skills and specialisms required for specific areas. This will provide a clear context for their further studies on their chosen degree programme. Students will also develop their critical awareness by examining recent historical trends in music and the creative industries.

Students will deepen their understanding of a broad range of topics concerning recording, processing, mixing and mastering in the studio environment. Advanced concepts of audio manipulation will also be studied in order to perform audio signal processing and post-production disciplines. Mixing and mastering techniques will be studied in some detail including delivery formats for music industry distribution. Students will work on an individual project, recording others in the studio and editing, processing, mixing and mastering their work to produce a final product.

The purpose of this module is to make students aware of the technological resources used in contemporary music events, how to use these resources effectively and creatively, and how to ensure good practice with regards to health and safety. Students will be introduced to standard technological set ups for a variety of venues during lectures, with opportunities to gain practical experience during workshops. Two extended workshops will allow time for setting up and de-rigging more complex systems, with time for critical evaluation and experiment. Students will work in small groups to develop a live sound project, which they will present in the summer term.

This module provides students with an overview of the history of sound synthesis, placing important techniques in context. Musical examples will be drawn from composers, pioneers and inventors such as Don Buchla, Robert Moog, Max Mathews, Jean Claude Risset and John Chowning.Students will be guided to explore important components of synthesis, such as waveforms, filters, modulators and low frequency oscillators using industry-standard software.

The module will explore critical listening and sound within the wider framework of the environment as a whole, helping students to develop a comprehensive understanding of sound relationships, sensitise their hearing and enhance their expert listening skills. Students will learn to recognise structural elements of sound, they will learn new concepts and be introduced into novel areas of sound-making. The module will culminate in the production of a substantial piece of creative work and a detailed evaluation that links theory and contextual issues with practice, strengthening students' critical listening and sound-making skills.

This module will provide an overview of standard digital audio workstation architecture, file management and good practice in the handling of digital audio and MIDI data. Recording principles will be introduced to students, including the recording chain, microphones and their placement, signal paths, use of DI boxes and establishing correct audio levels. The structure of the mixing desk, including inserts and auxiliary sends will also be examined. Students will be introduced to industry-standard software for the recording, manipulation and mixing of sound. Students will be taught through a combination of lectures and workshops.

In this module, students will develop an understanding of a broad range of topics concerning recording and post-production processes in the studio environment. Topics covered will include digital formats, sampling, filter design and compression. Concepts of data manipulation will be studied in order to perform audio signal processing such as delay, chorus, reverberation and equalisation. The module will also cover stereo and spaced microphone techniques.

Basic electronics theory is accompanied by practical, hands-on circuit design in this module. Students will be introduced to the standard components used in electronic circuits, and will develop an understanding of how components are used to make some of the key types of circuits used in audio applications. These range from microphone amplifiers to electric guitar electronics, through effects units and synthesis modules. Students will gain practical experience of soldering which will also cover studio maintenance as well as circuit construction.

The module investigates music for media in both theory and practice. The focus will be on music used in moving image media, including an exploration of musical languages and compositional techniques commonly deployed in relation to moving images. Students also study film music history, gaining insight into critical approaches that have informed the practice.

The module introduces students to the field of media sound in both theory and practice. The focus will be on sound production techniques, including postproduction crafts such as Foley (sound effects), ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording) and sound design (special audio effects). Students also study film-sound theory and the history of film sound gaining insight into critical approaches to the analysis of sound and sound design for moving image and its impact of view engagement.

Students will build on their knowledge of basic electronics and will be introduced to a processor based computer interface (e.g. Arduino). Students will learn how to write code for the interface, and will work towards an assessed design project that includes some electronic circuit design as well as some programming in order to create an interface to control audio. Some design and construction using wood, metal and/or plastic, will be necessary for building final projects.

The module explores advanced audio design techniques and critical listening skills demonstrated and applied in specific music contexts. Students will develop the ability to discern and analyse sound characteristics, record and sculpt sonic events to create original sound design, and produce advanced creative work that explores the rich potential offered by sound processing and arranging techniques. Students will look into works of significant composers in the field, and will be taught through a series of interactive seminars, studying both the aesthetics and the technology of audio-based composition and sound design.

Spatial sound is a powerful tool for immersion and is fast becoming a must-have knowledge for many different media and technologies including cinema, theatre, sound installations, exhibitions, live performance and game sound. This module will explore spatial sound, multi-loudspeaker and surround sound formats, including an outline of the developments of spatial sound music and the work of significant composers in this field. Students will study both the aesthetics and technology of multichannel music, including live diffusion techniques, large sound distribution systems and multichannel sound installations. Students will be led to produce creative work that explores the rich potential offered by sound spatialisation techniques, which will culminate in a live performance with the Music and Audio Arts Sound Theatre (MAAST) system.

In this module, students will be exposed to a variety of song-writing techniques and will develop and nurture the wide-ranging skill set necessary to succeed in the current music industry. Students will learn to carry out basic harmonic analyses of existing songs and apply theoretical approaches to produce original work, investigate different ways to structure songs, explore creative methods to write and develop lyrics, and learn how to enhance basic song templates with melodic accompaniments (e.g. strings, brass etc).

The module takes a holistic approach to the theory and practice of community music. Students engage with the creation and facilitation of music-based experiences for groups and individuals in a variety of settings within the local community. The core aim is to provide a foundational training for budding or potential educators, therapists, facilitators and researchers. A variety of topics form the subject matter of the course, which is interdisciplinary in scope. The curriculum includes an introduction to the history, development and literature of music and community studies using selected key publications in community music, ethnomusicology, music education, and music, health and wellbeing/therapeutic music studies. Given the high number of publications in these fields the core texts will be chosen for their ability to provide (i) connections and synthesis and/or (ii) disciplinary distinction, especially when highlighting methodological differences. As noted the aim is to provide a relatively unified and holistic introduction to community music in theory and practice.

A highly practical module which will introduce you to the complex formal conventions surrounding professional score presentation, instrumentation and orchestration, harmonising and reharmonising melodies, creating introductions, basslines or countermelodies, layering and textures. You have the opportunity to work across a wide range of styles and will also explore timbre in the context of original arrangements. Following a series of given briefs, you will work towards the production of a portfolio which will contain orchestration, arrangement and harmonisation assignments.

Students will be required to devise a short, original composition for a live performer with technology. A series of lectures will introduce students to various compositional models, contemporary compositional theories will be explored in relation to key works and scholarly texts and workshops will develop the students' technical skills. Work-in-progress will be performed during the module, and students will be encouraged to engage in peer evaluation and criticism. A final performance of all works will take place towards the end of the module.