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Multimedia Sound Design - ELE00054H

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module introduces you to the art and science of creating music and sound effects for visual media such as television, film and computer games. You will gain experience working in teams, similar to industry-­based production companies, on a complex multimedia project, considering the implications of state-of-the-art and future media technologies.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To introduce students to the art and science of creating music and sound effects for visual media such as television, film and computer games
  • To explain the creative uses of Digital Audio Workstations for postproduction work
  • To allow the students practical experience in composing music and soundtracks for an existing video

Graduate skills aims:

  • To gain experience working in teams, similar to industry-­based production companies, on a complex multimedia project

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Understand and appreciate the relationship between picture and sound
  • Understand the audio recording and editing processes and how they can be applied to the creation of professionally produced media programs
  • Have a basic working knowledge of the tools required for audio post­production, including a Digital Audio Workstation based recording environment, and the associated handling and management of audio and video based assets

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Demonstrate an ability to work both individually and in teams to complete creative and technical audio/video postproduction based tasks
  • Be able to support creative output with comprehensive and reasoned technical documentation

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Students work on this module in groups. The module has two assessed components: a group mark for a 6-8 minute video with accompanying soundtrack and an individual mark for a 6-page report on the work; both components are weighted at 50% of the overall mark.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme.  We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.

A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.  This can be found at https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The Department of Electronic Engineering aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme.  In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work.  Students are provided with their examination results within 20 working days of the end of any given examination period.  The Department will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline.  The Department would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback.  The Department will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum.  Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate.  Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date. 

Indicative reading

  • Chion, M., Audio Vision – sound on screen, Columbia University Press (1994), ISBN­13: 978­0231078993
  • Amyes, Tim, Audio Post Production in Video and Film, 2nd Edition, 1998
  • Sonnenschein, David, Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema, 2001, ISBN: 0941188264
  • McCormick, T and Rumsey, F., Sound and Recording: An Introduction Focal Press, 4th Edition, 2002, ISBN 0­240­51680­X
  • Bartlett, G and Bartlett J, Practical Recording Techniques Focal Press, 2002, ISBN 0­240­80473­2



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.