Sound Engineering & Audio Production FdSc
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-07-27 | 2023-04-01 |
| 2023-10-01 | 2023-07-01 |
| 2024-01-05 | 2023-10-01 |
| 2024-04-01 | 2024-01-01 |
Program Overview
Introduction:
The world of sound engineering and audio production offers many opportunities on a global scale, and on this course you’ll explore the technical world of sound recording, creation and processing in numerous applications.
You'll experience sound capture and manipulation within contexts such as game audio, and sound for film and post production, recording studio engineering, mixing, and sound design – all wrapped up within employability contexts, as part of our Do It For Real ethos.
You’ll get to learn and perform in world-class studios and performance spaces, surrounded by experts who are working professionals in the music and creative industries.
You’ll also benefit from being assigned an industry mentor in your final year to support you with your industry-focused modules and provide a network of contacts and opportunities for when you graduate.
This course is taught at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in Nottingham.
Program Outline
What you’ll study
The course curriculum balances theoretical study alongside practical application. Throughout the course you’ll be challenged to develop your decision-making in new, and at times, complex and unpredictable contexts. The content of the course also closely reflects current working practices in industry, and aims to prepare you for work in a highly competitive workplace. Students in audio and music technology will increasingly be faced with freelance and self-employed models of work upon graduation.
Year One
Final year
Introduction to the Studio (20 Credit Points)
You will begin your journey into the studio environment by developing your understanding of the fundamentals of recording. You will learn about large format consoles, signal flow, connections, microphone types, and DAWs to record audio.
You’ll be able to apply these skills whether you’re in a traditional studio or have a small home set up: get this right now, and it will set you up for all of your future studio work.
Studio Practice (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you’ll discover the magic of recording various artists using different styles of recording such as multitracking and overdubbing, in session and in your own time, to form a portfolio of studio work.
Pro Tools Techniques (20 Credit Points)
In the professional audio world Pro Tools is the DAW of choice. In this module, you’ll learn how to use this powerful application by covering Pro Tools navigation and operation, setting you up for the rest of your course and career in audio, and paves the way for Pro Tools accreditation.
Sound Design (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will learn how to conceptualise, design and create sounds using recording, procesing and synthesis techniques. The art of sound design can be applied to many disciplines; such as sound design for games, film and TV, general sound design and Foley.
Through a range of projects involving both linear and non-linear timelines, you will learn how to analyse sounds, how to choose from and creatively implement a range of synthesis techniques, and how to prepare your sound design work for real-world application.
Software and hardware synthesisers and samplers, as well as MIDI, and DAW skills will come into play, in a creative, practical and playful approach to the discipline.
Sound and Audio Fundamentals (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will experience the core principles of the subject area, in order to understand fundamental theory and how this can be applied to the relevant technology in this field. Areas such as sound wave principles, audio signals, analysis tools and industry standards will be developed, both in understanding and application.
The module is designed to underpin all the technology applied in other modules to ensure you have a solid base of knowledge to build upon.
Your Industry (20 Credit Points)
You will explore contexts of working in the international world of sound and music and how you might establish a career by exploring the flow of money through the industry and relevant current and emerging trends. You'll assess your current skill set and discover what you need to do to improve your chances of success on your employable journey.
You'll choose work like briefs lasting at least 80 hours to enable you to experience working opportunities in a field of interest, then reflect on your learning to set you up for the rest of your course in an employable mind set. Your future starts now!
Studio Production (20 Credit Points)
You will explore digital, analogue, and hybrid studio technologies, developing recording and processing techniques to take on a variety of productions over the module: this could be using traditional studio environments (on-site or external) or your own DIY production set ups.
You will collaborate with performers, artists, and other students to work on a wide base of genres, selecting a range of your productions for a portfolio that should be approaching commercial standards.
Mixing (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you'll work to client supplied briefs as well as your own self sourced material, engaging in technical and creative post production and mixing processes to create a portfolio of work. You'll critically compare your mixes with industry outputs from around the world and learn approaches to help you meet commercial benchmarks.
You'll cover techniques with compression, effects and automation with additional production skills such as vocal editing and production, drum production and other genre specific approaches of additional production through a range of projects.
Audio for Games (20 Credit Points)
In this module you will develop your sound design and implementation skills, for games, using a range of industry-standard software and techniques. You will create in-game audio content for objects, such as weapons, vehicles, ambience, and user interfaces.
You will develop a personal showreel that will showcase your audio for games skills, which will support your employability in the industry.
Sound for Visual Content (20 Credit Points)
In this module you will undertake the full audio production for a piece of film from sound design, location and field recording, Foley, right through to editing, ADR and final mix.
You will be in charge of gathering all audio assets to complement the video and create an audio visual product you can use as your showreel for potential employment.
Industry Practice (20 Credit Points)
During this module you will source and execute appropriate self-directed projects, working individually and collaboratively on creative work, allowing you to directly apply the research, knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme in the context of the workplace. This module aims to develop your overall professionalism and provide you with the knowledge and resources to begin a career in the creative industries. The nature of creative industries is increasingly defined by freelance and self-employed models of work.
Consequently, individuals seeking work in industry need to appreciate the pressures of working on multiple projects to strict deadlines and the subsequent demands this place on time and resources. Similarly, an understanding of professional practice and the legal and economic imperatives in industry is important, as is effective communication, self-efficacy and autonomy.
This module aims to develop these skills and knowledge by challenging you to develop a range of self-directed projects along with analysis of the processes involved along the way.
How you’re taught
Teaching and learning will take place in a range of bespoke studios, IT suites and classrooms. You’ll develop your practical, technical and critical thinking skills through a mixture of lectures, workshops, seminars, academic tutorials and guest lectures. In these classes you’ll explore the core aspects of the module subject areas whilst also reporting back on your individual progress and research findings.
The audio and music industry is embedded in the course, with industry and work-related opportunities including live client briefs, Confetti’s Industry Week, guest lectures and short work placements. These will be offered in addition to your studies. By the end of your studies, you’ll have developed the skills to independently gain industry experiences.
Industry Week
As a Music Technology student, you'll take part in Industry Week where you’ll meet a range of professionals within your field of interest, as well as other areas of the creative industries.
Previous guests include:
Check out our talks OnDemand
here
Degree Show
In your final year you will exhibit your work as part of Confetti's Degree Show. This event includes all final year students across Confetti's courses and is a great platform for you to showcase your work to key influencers across the creative industries.
Careers and employability
Our aim is to create high quality, entrepreneurially-adept graduates to work in all aspects of the sound and audio industry.
Typical roles include sound engineer, location recorder, music producer, audio post production, game audio designer, broadcast audio, technician, and producer.
The great thing about studying at Confetti is that you'll have the option to top-up on the final year of our BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering and Audio Production in either Nottingham or London.