MUS1010 : Audio Production Skills
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Rob Mackay
- Lecturer: Mr Fred Hollingsworth, Mr Phil Begg
- Technician: Mr Rob Blazey
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 70 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module aims to provide the student with core skills in techniques of music production when using sound recording technology. It aims to help the student build upon, or learn from scratch, music production approaches and techniques, and to ultimately cultivate a musically intelligent practice and a practical musical intelligence. Skills learned inform stage 2 and 3 modules in music technology, composition, analysis, and performance, as well as offering secure theoretical grounding for historical and cultural theory modules.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module is delivered across one semester, grounding the students’ learning in theory, before introducing practical workshop sessions, in which students are exposed to key music technologies and techniques. Students will apply their learning over four major areas: studio production, concert hall recording, field recording and mixing. Key to their learning will be the use of a Digital Audio Workstation, microphones and location recording equipment. Students will be separated into working groups which will rotate around workshop sessions with different tutors, covering different topic areas.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Taught in the first part of semester. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 11 | 4:00 | 44:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 4:00 | 16:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 7 | 2:00 | 14:00 | Taught in the first part of semester, PLUS the last week of teaching. |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 11 | 6:00 | 66:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 22 | 0:15 | 5:30 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 42:30 | 42:30 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
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 and edit music using a Digital Audio Workstation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | A | 70 | A portfolio of production tasks & written commentary |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | A | 30 | An exam of practical skills in a controlled studio environment |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | Groups will be assessed in workshop sessions on their microphone placement and setups. This will inform feedback and teaching in future sessions. Students will also submit a 150 word reflection to Canvas as a report on this session. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Students will work in groups and individually to produce a portfolio of production tasks which will involve recording, edting, and mixing. Submissions will be assessed on the skills demonstrated in the recording, editing and mix. Each student is additionally required to write their own individual reflective commentary. Students will also be required to undergo a studio exam where they will be required to perform a number of tasks within the studio environment under controlled conditions.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MUS1010's Timetable