Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module seeks to explore the skills and operations needed when using sound recording technology to record music. Development of this skill can be useful to themselves as artists and performers, also as producers, and as educators who may be required to record their students. The module will enable the student to understand, analyse and demonstrate ability in the operation of different types of hardware and software that can be found in home and professional recording studios. By the close of the module the student should be able to assist a professional recording engineer during the recording and/or producing of live music.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module begins with an introduction to music production and the safe working practices of recording equipment, before moving onto the fundamentals of audio, the range and placement of microphones, how to record drums, audio perception, acoustics and psychoacoustics, the aesthetics of recording and experimental recording techniques.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1.       To describe the different types of microphones, choose the appropriate microphone for the sound required, and compare and contrast their strengths and weaknesses.
2.       To compare and contrast the history and culture of drum recording, and evaluate common recording techniques and microphone placement.
3.       To evaluate the perceptual qualities of sound, including distinguishing loudness through range.
4.       To evaluate and demonstrate the different environments of recorded sound.
5.       To demonstrate recording in practice and evaluate reasons for software and hardware choices.
6.       To identify and explain music production as an artistic practice, and provide examples of practitioners.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1.       To demonstrate the core skills in using recording technologies and demonstrate safe working practices.
2.       To analyse and assess the differences between analogue and digital audio skills.
3.       To operate and appraise the use of microphone techniques.
4.       To examine and experiment with the demonstrated techniques to push the boundaries of creative recording practice.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will be taught in a mix of large and small group scheduled learning activities so that they have directed learning as a collective and then guided learning in smaller groups, each session then leads to a formative task so that the direction of learning travel is towards independent application of the skills shown during each week of teaching. This moving of the learning environment from large, to small group, to self is an important stage in the repeated building of competence and confidence of the student to explore the skills and operations needed to record music using a Digital Audio Workstation.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students not only need to become proficient in the use of hardware and software commonly found in Digital Audio Workstations as this will most likely form part of their professional life after graduation; this will be assessed within the creative project. However, they also need to become critical of their own practice so that they can continue to develop their skills and also enable them to move towards a potential area of activity as a songwriter and/or music producer, this will be assessed within the reflective log.

General Notes

N/A