BA (HONS) AUDIO ENGINEERING AND PRODUCTION

This module will introduce you to the fundamental principles of audio theory and its behaviour. You’ll gain an understanding of audio signals and how humans perceive sound, while learning how to manipulate and process audio  using a variety of audio signal processors and effects. With this key knowledge, you’ll be able to confidently operate key recording equipment in a professional audio environment, operating key studio recording equipment.

During this module, you’ll be introduced to the science behind microphone technology, as well as the skills needed to operate professional recording equipment in a studio context. Using industry-standard hardware and software, you’ll have the opportunity to record a variety of different sound sources and gain a thorough understanding of how different microphone types behave. You’ll encounter dymanic mics, condenser mics and ribbon mics, and understand the advantages/disadvatntes of each of type. Topics include audio capture, single and multitrack recording  and critical listening. You’ll finish the module having gained a range of key decision-making skills which can affect the aesthetic of a recording.

Learning all the skills necessary to be a proficient mix engineer, you’ll explore a range of innovative mixing techniques while developing your sonic signature. You’ll have ready access to high-tech music industry-standard hardware and software, including a suite of plug-ins which allow you to get sonically creative and shape the sound of your mixes in a professional way.

Knowing how to communicate with performing musicians in the studio is something you’re very rarely taught. But this module gives you the skills and tools you need as a well-rounded music producer to guide your communication and professional relationships with all types of artists, musicians and performers. Through an analysis of key genres of contemporary music, you’ll explore topics including melody, harmony and arrangement, while you also develop your research, compositional and critical listening skills, equipping you with the skills to become a well-rounded sounds engineer and musis producer.

This module will introduce you to the real-world industry-standard recording software used in commercial recording studios. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the technologies used for computer-based music production while covering topics such as sequencing, audio effects such as compression and EQ, sampling, audio editing, side-chaining, synthesis and a variety of other digital audio techniques. You’ll also explore the use of digital notation software for your creative projects.

Across this insightful and contemporary module, which will be highly applicable to your future music career, you’ll gain an extended understanding of the music business and will start to map out your desired route into it. You’ll explore everything from music industry roles and revenue streams, to a range of professional and entrepreneurial opportunities. You will also learn music business concepts such as copyright, royalities and distribution and also develop your research skills while gaining a host of key transferable skills sure to help you forge a successful portfolio career in the music industry.

This module will see you explore contemporary synthesis and the subtle nuances of sound design. You’ll gain a strong understanding of the many different types of synthesis, including subtractive, additive, FM, analogue synthesis and wavetable synthesis. By understanding synthesiser components, such as oscillators, filters, modulators,LFO, glide, velocity control  and envelopes, you’ll learn to design your own synthesiser patches and generate new sounds through manipulation by using sound design techniques to use across a variety of creative music contexts.

During this module, you’ll receive many opportunities to build upon the skills you’ve gained in your Level 4 studies while you further explore a board range of studio recording equipment and sound sources. You’ll learn how to capture stereo and multitrack recordings using music industry-standard audio hardware and software, and will be perfectly capable of operating a host of studio recording equipment both professionally and creatively.

While studying this module, you’ll develop the skills you need to edit audio to a high professional standard. You’ll learn how to clean up and repair damaged audio, become proficient at removing hiss, pops and clips, decrease background noise with room treatment and will gain extensive knowledge which allows you to add polish to your recordings. You’ll also explore how to use professional vocal editing music software, such as Melodyne, to help you produce innovative, professional-sounding recordings.

Building on the mixing skills you’ve gained in the Mixing Techniques I module in your first year, you’ll further develop your mixing proficiency and propel your technical know-how to the next level. You’ll study tonal and spatial balance while learning how to shape and texture your tracks to achieve your ambitious creative intentions.  You’ll further enhance your critical listening skills and will learn how to confidently finalise your mixes deliver them for mastering.

This module is an extension of Digital Audio Workstations, explored during the first year of your studies. During DASII, you’ll further enhance your digital music production skills by learning a range of advanced digital audio techniques to maximise your capacity for music production work. You’ll improve your technical proficiency by getting hands on across a range of industry-standard music software, allowing you to assertively control and command any studio session.

This module will allow you to take your impressive sound engineering skills to the live arena. You’ll become proficient at capturing and mixing live sound using professional-standard music industry sound systems from analogue to digital mixing consoles, allowing you to take control of a variety of live event scenarios. This will open up a whole world of exciting potential career opportunities, including running live sound for gigs, corporate events, music festivals, theatre shows and other performance events.

Across this module, you’ll explore your understanding of the concept of acoustics and will learn how best to build a studio. You’ll have fun with studio hardware, including mixing consoles, studio monitors and outboard gear, and will discover how to acoustically treat studio spaces for optimum listening conditions. Studying acoustics and psychoacoustics, you’ll gain a host of professional practical insight into both, meaning a potential career in acoustic consultancy may be well within your reach.

This module see you further develop your audio engineering skills in the context of a large format recording studio. You’ll study advanced microphone techniques and audio signal flow – the stages a sound goes through before you can hear it through speakers. Completing this module will give you the ability to capture professional and accurate recordings in a studio environment and confidently take control of large ensemble recordings.

This module will allow you to develop your audio mastering technique and ability to professionally master audio. You’ll use industry-standard hardware and music software to help train your ears to deliver high-quality finished masters across a range of industry specifications and formats. You’ll use reverb and harmonic enhancers in mastering, noise reduction, equalization techniques and multiband compression to finalise your musical projects. Throughout the module you''ll learn techniques that can be applied on any music style: rock, pop, EDM, country, hip-hop and many more.

Across this module, you’ll develop the skills you need to turn your passion for music production into a career. You’ll explore a range of entrepreneurial skills and competencies to create a personalised real-world business plan. Your project will investigate a concrete way to make use of the music production skills you’ve gained during the course and can be utilised as part of your future portfolio career in music production.

This module sees you undertaking a professional production project of your own choice as a way of increasing your knowledge in a specific area of interest. You’ll complete substantial research across your field of expertise and will be expected to use appropriate methodologies to deliver the production of an inspiring creative project – typically an EP, composition, live performance or creative collaboration project – but many more exciting options can be explored.