Program Overview

Overview

Audio Engineering

The Audio Engineering programme is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in engineering within the audio and digital media industries. Students will gain technical skills and knowledge relevant to the broader field of electrical and electronic engineering including electronics, embedded systems, computer programming and mathematics. Students will also gain practical experience of recording, editing, mixing and mastering music using professional studio facilities and designing new hardware/software musical instruments and interfaces.

Course Structure

Level 1

• Fundamentals of Electric Circuits (20 credits)
• Signals and Communications (20 credits)
• Sound Recording and Production 1 (20 credits)
• Audio Mixing I (20 credits)
• Embedded Systems (20 credits)
• Mathematics 1 (20 credits)

Level 2

• Electronics and Circuits (20 credits)
• Embedded Systems 2 (20 credits)
• Instrument and Installation Design (20 credits)
• Mathematics (20 credits)
• Signals and Control (20 credits)

Level 3

• Digital Audio Effects (20 credits)
• Audio Engineering Project (40 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Music in Culture (20 credits)
  • Audio Post Production (20 credits)
  • Auditory Perception (20 credits)
  • Sound Recording and Production 3 (20 credits)
  • Work-based Learning (20 credits)

Modules

Fundamentals of Electric Circuits

• Overview: Introduction to fundamental components, circuit elements and sources, electric circuit laws and theorems, AC and DC circuit analysis, phasor representation, frequency response of simple circuits, basic amplifiers and system concepts, feedback systems and operational amplifiers, diode characteristics and circuits, bipolar junction transistor.
• Learning Outcomes: Understand fundamentals of electric circuits, AC/DC circuit theorems, analysis techniques, phasor representation, analogue electronic devices and analogue circuits, design and test methodologies.
• Skills: Analysis of simple DC and AC electric circuits, laboratory and design project skills.
• Assessment: Coursework (20%), Examination (5%), Practical (75%).

Signals and Communications

• Overview: Linear Time Invariant Systems, discrete and continuous time signals and systems, transformations of independent variables, properties of systems, linear-time invariant (LTI) systems, convolution and impulse response, basic electronic data capture, fundamental data representation and manipulation, basic programming skills.
• Learning Outcomes: Understanding of the forms of continuous and discrete-time signals, transformations of a signal’s independent variable, nature of LTI systems, manipulation of practical electronic data via software.
• Skills: Discrete and continuous time signals and system description and transformation, properties of systems, linear-time invariant (LTI) systems, convolution and impulse response, basic signal capture, analysis and manipulation in software.
• Assessment: Coursework (60%), Examination (20%), Practical (20%).

Sound Recording and Production 1

• Overview: Introduction to the nature of sound, its properties and propagation, tools used to professionally record sound and edit the resulting audio signals, microphone design and usage, lines and interconnections used for distributing audio signals, basic timbral and dynamic signal processing.
• Learning Outcomes: Operate a portable audio recording device and audio recording hardware in a studio context, record speech and musical sound sources monophonically to broadcast quality standard, edit speech and musical content in a digital audio workstation environment, troubleshoot issues with audio signal flow.
• Skills: Numeracy and information and communication technology, creative thinking and problem solving, operation of hardware and software for creative studio applications.
• Assessment: Coursework (60%), Examination (0%), Practical (40%).

Audio Mixing I

• Overview: Introduction to audio mixing in the software domain, advanced signal flow, audio signal processing and balancing of audio sources, mixing workflows using industry standard digital audio workstation software.
• Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate critical awareness of current industry practice in the area of audio mixing for music and screen, demonstrate the application of workflows for audio mixing using industry standard audio software, demonstrate the capacity to explore software solutions to problem solve audio mixing challenges as they arise.
• Skills: Practical, analytic and critical thinking skills, critical listening skills, capacity for self-direction and an ability to work independently.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Embedded Systems

• Overview: Introduction to Computer Programming using Python, introduction to Embedded Systems Programming using Arduino C, introduction to Microcontroller Electronics, introduction to Printed Circuit Board Design.
• Learning Outcomes: Understand the basic structure of a computer program, understand the basic structure of an MCU, understand how to develop software for an MCU, understand how basic analogue and digital interface circuits are designed for an MCU.
• Skills: How to use an IDE for developing simple software programs, understand how to edit, compile and test/debug simple programs, design simple programming routines to carry out real-world tasks.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Mathematics 1

• Overview: Complex Arithmetic, Linear Algebra, Differentiation, Differential Equations, Integration, Sequences and Series, Function Approximation.
• Learning Outcomes: Understanding of the concept and forms of, and motivation for complex numbers, the ability to represent complex numbers in Cartesian, exponential and graphical forms, the ability to perform fundamental arithmetic operations on complex numbers.
• Skills: Formulation and analysis of arithmetic problems including complex numbers, the ability to derive the roots of any number, formulation and manipulation of high-dimensional mathematical objects.
• Assessment: Coursework (50%), Examination (50%), Practical (0%).

Electronics and Circuits

• Overview: System Equation, Linear circuits, Circuit Theorems and Methods of Circuit Analysis, Two-port networks, Laplace transform in circuit analysis, SPICE simulation software.
• Learning Outcomes: Be able to apply Kirchhoff’s current law and Kirchhoff’s voltage law and Ohm’s law to solve electric circuits, understand the concepts of linearity, know how to analyze electric circuits using the principle of supernode and supermesh.
• Skills: Numeric, problem solving theoretical circuit designs, analyze & design analogue circuits using op-amps, diodes and transistors, understand the operation of semiconductor devices.
• Assessment: Coursework (30%), Examination (0%), Practical (70%).

Embedded Systems 2

• Overview: Introduction to Microcontrollers for Embedded Systems, Interfacing Sensors for Microcontrollers, Design Project for Microcontroller based Hardware.
• Learning Outcomes: Understand the process of programming microcontrollers, understand the basic hardware structure of a microcontroller, understand analogue and digital interface circuits for microcontrollers.
• Skills: How to use an IDE for developing microcontroller software, understand how to edit, compile and test/debug simple programs, develop communication skills for working in a team.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Instrument and Installation Design

• Overview: Development of practical skills in the areas of software and hardware design and prototyping for artistic applications, introduction to Max/MSP and Arduino prototyping environments, common sensors and actuators.
• Learning Outcomes: Develop competency in computer programming for artistic applications, understand the fundamentals of synthesizing and processing sound with the computer, understand the fundamentals of physical computing in relation to artistic interaction.
• Skills: Numeracy and information and communication technology, creative thinking and problem solving, operation of hardware and software for creative applications.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Mathematics

• Overview: Periodic functions, Fourier series and Fourier coefficients, Vector/matrix notations and operations, Fundamental theorem of linear systems, solving linear systems, Orthogonality, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, eigendecomposition, and QR decomposition.
• Learning Outcomes: Fundamental understanding of the modern engineering mathematics, probability and statistics, basic theoretical concepts, methods, with application to the problems of analysis and modelling in electronic communications, microwave engineering and design of electronic components, circuits and systems.
• Skills: Matrix algebra, analysis and modelling of linear systems, Fourier analysis, optimisation theory, multivariate calculus, probability and statistical inference, computational statistics.
• Assessment: Coursework (20%), Examination (80%), Practical (0%).

Signals and Control

• Overview: Signals, Systems, Control, Linear Time-Invariant Systems, Fourier Transform, Z-Transform, Laplace Transform, Control Systems.
• Learning Outcomes: Develop and apply analytical solutions to complex signals and systems related problems, covering LTI systems, Fourier analysis, sampling, and Z-transform, gain a comprehensive understanding of numerical modelling and practical design of signals and communications systems and their engineering.
• Skills: Combine continuous-time and discrete-time signals, manipulate fundamental signals, specifically discrete-time impulse, and continuous-time exponential, convolve two signals, analyse LTI systems to determine any one of input, output, or system response, given knowledge of the other two.
• Assessment: Coursework (50%), Examination (0%), Practical (50%).

Sound Recording and Production 2

• Overview: Theory and practice of multi-track sound recording, editing, mixing and mastering, close microphone techniques used for the multitrack recording of ‘pop’ music, microphone design, ‘producing’ a pop music recording session, performance refinement and the mastering process.
• Learning Outcomes: Use a range of multitrack recording techniques for recording 'Pop' music, operate industry standard DAW environments including software and associated control surfaces, mix and master multitrack recordings to professional standard, critically evaluate the recording techniques applied in commercial 'pop' recordings.
• Skills: Numeracy, creative thinking and problem solving, identify, analyse and solve problems by prioritising tasks, coping with complexity, setting achievable goals and taking action.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Sound Design for Screen

• Overview: Introduction to sound design in the context of audio-visual production, theoretical and practical aspects of design and audio-vision, analysis of sound design in film and animation works, production of a soundtrack for a given film/video excerpt.
• Learning Outcomes: Appreciate and understand sound design, gain insight into editing strategies used in filmmaking, expand on our understanding of the soundscape, develop a language and body of references for the discussion of sound design.
• Skills: Creative thinking and problem solving, familiarisation with theories of design, understanding of basic sound design terminology and strategies, development of a vocabulary for audio-visual analysis.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Digital Audio Effects

• Overview: Basics of digital audio processing, standard processing units such as filters, delays, modulators, compressors, and limiters, practical sound effect implementations, individual project in which students study a more advanced method of approach within one of the following more areas; analogue effects emulation, physical modelling, spatial audio, and spectral processing.
• Learning Outcomes: Comprehensive understanding of a wide range signal processing elements used in digital audio effects, understanding of the way audio effects are applied, critically evaluate audio processing algorithms in terms of effectiveness and computational demand.
• Skills: Study digital audio effects independently, design and Matlab implementation of audio effect algorithms, manage one's own learning and development including time management and organisational skills.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Audio Engineering Project

• Overview: Investigation on a topic in audio engineering, project originators typically endeavour to ensure elements of design and interdisciplinarity in the project specification.
• Learning Outcomes: Develop ability to conduct a substantial project over an extended period, perceive the nature of the problem or product specification to acquire and develop necessary skills and to plan and execute a suitable programme of work, including a final report.
• Skills: Ability to apply general principles and design or analytical techniques to the solution of audio engineering problems, originality and interdisciplinarity are encouraged.
• Assessment: Coursework (90%), Examination (0%), Practical (10%).

Music in Culture

• Overview: Interdisciplinary methods to explore a range of significant sociocultural themes and their instantiation in varied musical practices, themes include sexuality, identity, mortality, consciousness and otherness.
• Learning Outcomes: Understand the nature of the interaction between sociocultural concepts/practices and their instantiation in musical (and by extension cultural) artefacts, apply this knowledge to real-world situations and articulate how their knowledge of musical/cultural practice has impacted upon their conception of musical behaviour in society.
• Skills: Problem solving, communication, time management, leadership, teamwork, abstraction of thought, imagination, self-expression, self-reliance, reflection, editing, proofreading, formatting, plotting outcomes, prioritisation, evaluating success, resource management, making decisions, independent thought.
• Assessment: Coursework (0%), Examination (0%), Practical (100%).

Audio Post Production

• Overview: Advanced sound design and audio post production skills for working with film, television, and new media content, location sound recording and audio post production workflows, practical experience of editing and mixing sound to picture to broadcast specifications.
• Learning Outcomes: Edit location dialogue to picture, record and edit replacement dialogue to picture, record, synthesis and edit appropriate ‘atmos’, foley and sound effects, mix audio to picture to standard broadcast specifications.
• Skills: Numeracy and information and communication technology, creative thinking and problem solving, operation of hardware and software for creative studio applications.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Auditory Perception

• Overview: Methods required to answer novel questions about the perception of sound, using specialised experiment design and literature-based scholarship, key topics in auditory perception with an emphasis on how we know what we know about auditory perception in order to tackle psychoacoustical questions that have not yet been answered.
• Learning Outcomes: Outline a specialist psychoacoustics topic in some depth, draw on general knowledge of auditory perception and digital-signal processing, use a programming language to generate psychoacoustics-grade auditory stimuli, solve key problems in digital signal processing.
• Skills: Mathematical manipulation, identify, analyse and solve problems by prioritising tasks, coping with complexity, setting achievable goals and taking action, work with information and handle a mass of diverse data, assess risk and draw conclusions.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Sound Recording and Production 3

• Overview: Practice of recording 'classical' or acoustic music performances using stereo microphone technique and mixing multitrack music recordings for surround sound production, audio recording and reproduction formats for consumer and professional use.
• Learning Outcomes: Record and edit 'classical' music using a range of stereo microphone techniques, critically evaluate different stereo microphone techniques applied in commercial 'classical' recordings, mix multitrack music recordings for surround sound presentation, describe how audio signals are stored and reproduced in a range of professional and consumer analogue and digital media.
• Skills: Numeracy, creative thinking and problem solving, identify, analyse and solve problems by prioritising tasks, coping with complexity, setting achievable goals and taking action.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).

Work-based Learning

• Overview: Utilise disciplinary skills in a work-based environment within the context of reflective practice, negotiate suitable placements in consultation with their academic supervisor and participate in a programme of related classes and events.
• Learning Outcomes: Increased ability to relate academic theory to the work environment, developed understanding of the organisational culture, policies and processes, ability to reflexively and critically evaluate their own learning from the placement, appreciation of enterprise and innovation, enhanced career knowledge.
• Skills: Employability skills, including effective communication, teamworking and problem-solving.
• Assessment: Coursework (100%), Examination (0%), Practical (0%).