module specification

In this module, you will develop further your practices in music technology, production and audio engineering covered at Level 4. By doing so you will establish a number of transferable skills and practices in a range of fields, including audio branding, podcast and music production. You will explore different creative approaches to working with audio, producing, mixing, and mastering music, making use of advanced functions of digital audio workstations, synthesis, and audio editing.

In doing so you will develop your practice in producing music in professional settings, opening a wealth of opportunities upon graduation. In fostering professional level technical skills in music and audio production you will further develop your critical and analytical listening skills through the evaluation of reference works.

You will explore creative uses of arrangements in mixing, layering of instrumentation, and sound design in music, with the aim to produce more developed sounding pieces of music.

Concepts of mixing and mastering learned at level 4 will be expanded upon, to include more advanced principles of compression and equalisation for balancing and shaping sounds. Additionally, you will work further in audio editing, layering, and processing.

You will also explore the production of podcasts, audio branding, jingles, and sound logos, making use of the production, composition and sound design skills developed thus far. Eventually working towards creating a fully produced podcast production.

In doing so you will have also practiced further in audio editing, using take folders and composite takes, audio restoration and remastering.

You will further develop academic writing skills through preparing technical reports, studio diaries and critical reflections on practical exercises.

This module aims to:
• Explore creative approaches in producing electronic music
• Develop further your practices of music and sound production
• Introduce advanced concepts of mixing and mastering
• Introduce more potential career pathways for music producers
• Further your use of DAW’s to include more advanced processes and tasks

• Creative Music Production (LO1, 2)
• Digital Audio Workstations (LO1, 2, 3, 4)
• Mixing (LO1, 2)
• Mastering (LO1, 2)
• Audio Editing (LO1, 2)
• Sampling, sound synthesis and sound design (LO1, 2, 3, 4)
• Glitch production (LO1, 2, 4)
• Podcast production (LO1, 3, 4)
• Jingles, Sonic branding and sound logos (LO3, 4)

Students teaching and learning will consist of weekly classes comprising a combination of seminars, and workshops totalling 72 hours of contact time. Students will be given the opportunity to engage in practical workshops in the music IT lab and studios, including guided demonstrations and group production tasks.

The learning and teaching in classes will be supported by the University’s VLE and a blended learning approach, sharing class materials, recommended reading. Tutorials will also be offered to support students in the preparation of their assessments.

In addition, students will undertake independent study, including researching, assessment planning and music production practice supported by the music technical demonstrator.

Students will engage in reflective practice, reviewing their own, and each other’s recordings.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate creative approaches to producing music
LO2. Apply practices in audio editing, equalisation, mixing and mastering.
LO3. Utilise advanced levels of critical and analytical listening, by evaluating reference works.
LO4. Extrapolate knowledge and understanding of audio and music production practices to produce materials for podcasts
LO5. Discuss critically the outcomes of your work to draw reflective conclusions and recommendations.

Critical Listening Analysis – 10% weighting
Students must choose from one of the given reference examples provided and produce a circa 500-word critical analysis. In doing so the student should comment on; dynamic range, audio spectrum, noise and distortion, auditory image, spatial impression and balance of elements.

Electronic Music Production and presentation – 40% weighting
Students are required to demonstrate the creative music production techniques developed over the first semester. Exploring aspects of sound synthesis, sampling and glitch production to create an original piece of experimental electronic music. The final song should be mixed and mastered to standard deliverable specifications. In addition, students are required to discuss their work in a 15-minute presentation.

Group Podcast production and 2500-word individual technical report – 50% weighting
In groups, students are required to fully produce a podcast. In doing so, they should conceive the subject matter and format. Additionally, the groups are required to produce all the sonic branding for their podcasts such as transition effects and jingles. Finally, students are required to complete a 2500-word individual technical report, detailing the stages of production as well as critically evaluating the outcomes.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/07D5D8D6-2A93-7C9B-C32A-BB941DC5DFC7.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Core Reading:
• Allen, J.A. (2018) Music theory for electronic music producers: the producer’s guide to harmony, chord progressions, and song struture in the MIDI Grid. Minneapolis, MN: Slam Academy.
• Brett, T. (2021) The Creative Electronic Music Producer. Focal Press: Routledge.
• Corey, J. and Benson, D.H. (2017) Audio production and critical listening: technical ear training. Second edition. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group (Audio Engineering Society presents).
• Göknar, E. (2020) Major label mastering: professional mastering process. New York: Routledge.
• Huber, D.M. and Runstein, R.E. (2018) Modern recording techniques. Ninth Edition. New York ; London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Owsinski, B. (2017) The mastering engineer’s handbook. 4th edition. Burbank, CA: BOMG Publishing.
• Owsinski, B. (2017) The mixing engineer’s handbook. 4th edition. Burbank, CA: BOMG Publishing.
• Owsinski, B. (2016) The music producer’s handbook. Second edition. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Books, and imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation (MusicPro guides).
• Parker-Naples, A. (2020) Podcast With Impact: How to start and launch your podcast properly. Jumping Lion Publications.

Podcasts:
• Twenty Thousand Hertz. Available at: https://www.20k.org/