MUS-20080 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Students need to complete the 'MUS-10108 Audio Fundamentals and sound recording' module prior to taking this module.

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

In this module, you will unlock the secrets of music production. You will learn cutting-edge best practices and develop your own creative workflows - breaking the rules in the most effective ways.
You will curate your own playlist of core reference tracks, analysing the critical elements of what makes the music leap from the speakers.
You will then produce and engineer a track of your choice. You will record in groups, then mix, and master independently, while guided by highly practical, hands-on workshops with the underpinning concepts discussed in lectures.
You will have the opportunity to work 24/7 in either of our professional recording studios, one with a large-scale analogue desk and the other fully digital. You can also take the project with you on the Macbook that each Music Production student is given to mix in your own time in your own space.

To provide students with an opportunity to develop their contextual knowledge and listening skills as an engineer and a producer.
To provide students with an opportunity to develop their practical technical skills as recording and mix engineers and their project management skills as producers.
To enable students to engage with technical and aesthetic debates relating to production strategies and sound quality in recording and mixes.
To develop an awareness of production aesthetics and the ability to create the student's own coherent production aesthetic in their own work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

analyse, contextualise, and critique the production aesthetics and musical characteristics of notable music releases (reference tracks): 1,2
analyse, contextualise and apply the skills of producers and recording, mixing, and mastering engineers: 2
justify and apply recording, mixing, and mastering engineering techniques demonstrating the development of workflow(s): 2
demonstrate the ability to produce a moderately complex music project with a coherent production aesthetic showing control of music production resources: 2

Study hours

8 hours of lectures
16 hours of small group workshops, demonstrations and individual supervision, with or without computer mediated methods of interaction with the assigned tutors.
22 hours of reflection, revision and consolidation of lecture, workshop and individual supervision content, research through bibliographical and computer mediated sources through individual or group study work
10 hours of listening (recommended works from the repertoire), reflection and revision of aesthetic and technical aspects based on lecture content, bibliographical and computer mediated sources
10 hours of practical work in the music studios on specific tasks, relevant to the theoretical and practical topics and techniques covered during the semester.
10 hours of reading and reflection on literature covering the theory and aesthetics of record production and post-production.
30 hours to research and write the essay for assessment.
40 hours to realise the final project for assessment.
4 hours to prepare and package the material for submission.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment