Keele Badge

MUS-20072 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

MUS-20072 - Sound Design
Coordinator: Miroslav Spasov Room: CKF05 Tel: +44 1782 7 33298
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

none

Barred Combinations

none

Description for 2023/24

Have you ever thought about the sound wizardry involved in action films, videogames, TV? Well, you will prepare something sonically magical in this module! It will be an exciting way to learn some hard facts and techniques about digital audio and an opportunity to do what most sound designers do: create beautiful sounds never heard before and use them creatively. You will dive into the marvels of advanced software for audio-processing, sound-design, and sequencing using a variety of techniques (e.g. filtering, spectral domain techniques, time domain techniques). The module includes discussion of technical and aesthetic aspects of the uses of audio processing, sound design and sequencing techniques, providing skills for exciting creative project work, such as foley effects, soundtrack for a computer game, commercial ads, sound logos, etc.

Aims
To establish practical foundation for students' use of sound synthesis and transformation techniques in modules at Level 6.
To enable students to engage with technical and aesthetic concerns arising when working creatively with digital audio technologies.
To allow students to acquire an understanding of audio processing and virtual studio technology, and appreciate their technical and aesthetic impact in the practice of sonic arts.
To provide students with an understanding and appreciation of the creative potential of the main techniques used in the creation of industry-related works (sound logos, ads, audio tracks for games, TV/Web streaming media, etc) employing digital sound.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of basic empirical methods to work with sound material using software applications in a studio lab: 1,2
Recognise and describe selected techniques of sound synthesis and processing in its various forms, including their application in multimedia: 2
Comprehend and interpret basic core concepts in assembling, mixing and processing sounds: 1,2
Demonstrate technical proficiency for enabling technology for creative work: 1,2
Employ digital time-domain and frequency-domain techniques in order to process digitised sound: 1,2
Demonstrate technical proficiency with technology for audio processing, sound treatment and sound manipulation: 1,2
Engage with complex processes for audio processing and sound treatment using specialised software: 1,2

Study hours

24 hours of contact time, to include:
12 hours lectures and workshops
12 small group hours tutorials
Independent study:
36 hours of preparation for workshops and tutorials
90 hours of preparation for the summative assessment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exercise weighted 30%
Practice based sound synthesis and processing exercises
Creating a collection of five 10-20 second-long sound files using the particular sound processing and sound synthesis techniques taught during the classes. The submission will include both the original and the processed sound file. In addition to the practical work students will submit a written component (600 words) explaining how the above practical work used techniques and concepts acquired

2: Project weighted 70%
Sound design project
Students can do one or more from the following: creation of a sound track for video including sound sculptures; collection of sound `idents¿ (a short advertisement type of sound forms) for an overall duration of 1 minute using prescribed software processes; musical material and foley effects, or a soundtrack for a computer game, or the creation of a sound effects library. Depending on content, the total duration of the produced material should be ca. 4:30- 5:00 minutes. The project must include written documentation (1000-1200 words) explaining the techniques employed.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024