BA (Hons) Creative Sound Design for New Media

ACM’s portfolio of professional training programmes includes a BA (Hons) degree in Creative Sound Design for New Media.

THE PROGRAMME

• Runs as a two-year accelerated and intensive degree with three levels spread over 24 months.

• Is designed for contemporary musicians and technicians who wish to specialise in Sound Design.

• Recognises the need for students to develop industry contacts, as well as to acquire business and practical skills.

• Provides students with opportunities to pilot commercial projects, with guidance from working professionals.

• Preserves and enhances ACM’s dedication to the development of professional technical skills. Students are expected to devote significant time to technical aspects of musicianship, studio and production work
and industry related projects in addition to their academic obligations on the programme.

KEY FEATURES
• Students are actively encouraged to initiate various professional engagements as an integral part of their final project. These may include recording, real world production projects and industry showcases.
• High level of focus on business and Internet developments within music.

DEGREE MODULES

• MUSIC INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
This unit provides the foundation for an understanding of the general workings of the music industry and its institutions - on both national and international levels. An insight will be provided into the variety of different jobs available within the commercial sector of the music industry
including managers, promoters, agents, lawyers, accountants and entrepreneurs. Such an overview will take place within the context of economic considerations and revenue generation enabled by current copyright law, besides other international music industry issues.

• CREATIVE ICT & SOUND DESIGN
In this unit students are expected to develop a broad range of theoretical, technical skills and knowledge on music ICT resources such as MIDI/audio sequencing software, synthesisers, sound modules and samplers. Students are actively encouraged to creatively experiment with equipment
and techniques to produce their work, and to take responsibility for the future of their art. Technicians are given the opportunity to discover how their own chosen discipline can be interfaced with music IT, explore the potential of new technology and gain an awareness of the implications of using music IT for media content provision.

• NEW MEDIA APPLICATIONS
The New Media Applications unit gives sound content providers an introduction to a range of media applications typically used within the media industry. Students are expected to be able to produce a simple media presentation (i.e. website) that combines a range of media (i.e. sound, image, text).

• COMPOSITION & ARRANGEMENT ANALYSIS
Students are stimulated to discuss and debate the nature of commercial success and apply the concept of commercial viability to musical works, mapping their own work against market-leading product. Writers are encouraged to develop their understanding of the responsibilities of commercial writers, analyse the emotive qualities within music, and link musical content to audience reaction. The practical considerations of song placement and the expectations of the music publisher are also examined and discussed.

• RESEARCH METHODS
Many musicians are frustrated in their ambitions because they lack the skills necessary to view their own work and others work objectively. It is possible to observe talented individuals investing significant time and resources in projects with no commercial potential under the illusion that “success” is attainable in the future. Musicians can protect themselves if they develop the skills to “road test” theory and assumption and offer an objective assessment of their own projects and the projects of others. The ability to research generally, and market research specifically, is an nvaluable resource to musicians who wish to develop viable music projects and related business plans.

• ACOUSTIC & SOUNDSCAPES
The aim of this unit is to provide students with knowledge of theories and concepts needed for the creation of soundscapes for real and imaginary environments. The science and application of acoustics of real spaces, together with typical measurement techniques, are also discussed. These concepts and theories are explored through an understanding of their application in a variety of media including computer games and websites etc. Together with the Composition and Arrangement module, this ensures that students have the skills needed to put together all the components typically required in producing sound content for new media.

• e-BUSINESS
This unit provides an understanding of e-business and applies this knowledge to the various activities of the music industry. e-Business begins by defining the current parameters of ebusiness with a brief overview of the history of e-business with specific focus on how the changes in technology have affected the value chain of the music industry. All theoretical ideas will be backed-up, where relevant, with case studies of music businesses that have been affected by the growth of e-business. The end target is for students to have an understanding of the opportunities and threats within the music industry that are present due to the introduction and development of e-business.

• WORKING WITH DIGITAL AUDIO
Throughout this module students will develop their understanding of digital audio including compression of digital audio, development of practical digital audio creation and editing skills.

Emphasis will be placed on understanding, analysis and discussion of modern digital audio equipment and the creation of CD masters using PQ encoding.

• CULTURAL AND CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES
Students will be encouraged to analyse the history of the growth of popular music and new media, from its inception at the turn of the last century to the present day (circa last 100 years). Consideration is paid to the effects of differing political belief systems, mass consumerism and popular culture upon commercial music. Students will engage in a close study of the effects on commercial music of differing cultural values. This includes a study of various international influences on popular music, which have stimulated development and shaped present-day popular music. It can be argued that to produce work of substance a composer/sound designer must have an awareness of the historical and social significance of past material. The unit is designed to provide a context for students own endeavours.

• SPECIALISED PROJECT
During the course of this unit musicians will consolidate the skills and experience gained throughout the whole course of their studies. Musicians draw upon their research, project planning, organisational and team working skills and apply these skills in the execution of a specialised project. Suggested project topics will have been discussed during the core unit Research Methods. Consideration will be paid to student’s personal development and students will be encouraged to develop advanced time and stress management skills in order to help them fulfil their potential as project managers. Physical evidence of the practical project element must be kept, and the results of this practical project, or knowledge gained, should be incorporated into the dissertation.

QUALIFICATION
ACM full time courses run in association with our Educational partners, University of Surrey, Middlesex University and Guildford College of Further and Higher Education.

ACCOMMODATION
ACM’s Student Support Team will be happy to advise on living cost’s and accommodation in the Guildford Area.

ACM AND INDUSTRY
ACM has forged strong links with industry and many of the teaching studios are supported by our industry partners Yamaha, Fender, Marshall, Roland, etc. ACM also has close contacts with media organisations, agencies, record companies, production and management companies.