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Audio Assemblage, Organisation & Processing - MUS00111I

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• Department: Music
• Credit value: 20 credits
• Credit level: I
• Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
  • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module summary

This module provides detailed coverage of how audio is captured, created, stored and modified within the modern multitrack production environment. Commonly used signal processing tools are presented and investigated in practical sessions, and studio-based sessions cover recording techniques such as drum kit mic'ing.

Related modules

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

• To introduce the contemporary multitrack/over-dubbing studio, particularly the digital audio workstation (DAW), and its historical precedents.
• To provide an understanding of common time-domain, frequency-domain, dynamic range and spatial processing techniques and technologies for contemporary pop, rock and electronic music production.
• To develop practical skills in this environment through guided and non-guided practical work.

Module learning outcomes

• Understand how signals are typically captured, created, stored, accessed, processed and organised in both linear (tape based), nonlinear (random access digital) and object-orientated studio systems.
• Understand the implementation (at a system diagram level) and outcomes of audio signal processing systems including delay-based (EQ, reverberation, flanging etc.), dynamic (compression, expansion), frequency-domain (vocoding) and spatial (amplitude and time shift panning, HRTF/crosstalk cancellation).
• Be able to conceive (at a sample by sample level) basic digital signal processing systems such as simple filters.
• Be able to manage and conduct multitrack recording, combining simultaneous and non-simultaneous capture of synchronised audio (i.e. live and overdubbed), and mixing sessions, with appropriate processing and combining of component signals.
• Be able to use Matlab for simple signal analysis, processing and presentation tasks.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	40
Groupwork	60

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	40
Groupwork	60

Module feedback

Written feedback within 20 working days of submission date. See statement of feedback in the Music and Sound Recording programme handbook.

Indicative reading

Sound and Recording – McCormick and Rumsey, 2014.

Modern Recording Techniques – Huber and Runstein, 2013.

Audio Production and Critical Listening: Technical Ear Training – Jason Corey, 2010.

The History of Music Production – Richard James Burgess, 2014.

DAFx (Digital Audio Effects) – Udo Zölzer, 2011.