BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Design Technology

Year 1

Within the core modules, you’ll gain a solid grounding on a number of major DAW packages, as well as develop your creative and technical skills in mixing and effects processing, studio work and making your own virtual instruments. In order to develop your technical knowledge of connected audio specialisms, you’ll investigate acoustics, psychoacoustics, audio and Midi protocols and a number of sound projection systems whilst also using lab time to develop an understanding of audio electronics through building your own synthesizer for your own creative output. Music Business is also introduced where you’ll investigate various music business modules and contexts that connect what you are studying to the music industry.

In addition to the core modules, music and sound design technology students also investigate sound and its use in enhancing moving image such as in film, TV, the web and games. Areas including synchronisation, matching screen placement and movement are covered, and students are introduced to the creative recording of source audio for re-purposing as Foley. Sonic branding techniques and story-telling aspects are also investigated.

Year 2

In year 2 much focus is placed on developing your critical ear, and getting your music out there, with detailed work on developing both mixing and mastering techniques, and approaches to digital distribution and delivery. In addition, students continue to develop their deep understanding of microphones and sound signal routing, including network-based systems using our state of the art Rednet enabled facilities. You will continue to hone your studio practice and understanding of the wider music industry. 

As a music and sound design technology student, this goes hand in hand with dedicated taught areas to further develop your skills in re-dubbing, more advanced and intricate sync and sound design work, and extended techniques for processing found and sourced sound as well as deep immersion in the possibilities for surround and multi-channel audio work.

Year 3

By year 3, the vast majority of our students have already formed a number of professional connections, and students are able to make use of these and reflect on their approaches within a dedicated field project. In addition, there is the final major project which under the supervision of a dedicated tutor allows you to specialize in your chosen area which could be for example album recording and production, software / hardware development, an experiment, or dissertation-based study.

Drawing on the programmes’ industry accreditation links, students also engage with an externally defined industry brief within the area of (or relating to) music and sound design technology. This topic is delivered and supported by sessions from a range of academic staff in addition to bespoke sessions from industry professionals who feed in external expertise. Spatial / immersive audio, virtual reality sound and game audio are also explored in depth.

What will I study?

Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5 and 6.  These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study.  Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.

Level 4

Module

• Professional & Industrial Context 1
• Music and Sound Design Technology Practice 1
• Audio Specialisms 1
• Sound Technologies and Techniques 1

Level 5

Module

• Music and Sound Design Technology Practice 2
• Audio Specialisms 2
• Sound Technologies and Techniques 2
• Professional & Industrial Context 2
• Year Abroad
• Professional Work Experience 30: Music

Level 6

Module

• Professional & Industrial Context 3
• Music and Sound Design Technology Practice 3
• Sound Technologies and Techniques 3
• Major Technology Project
• MT Technology Project (Version 2)
• Year Abroad
• Sandwich Year (Creative Arts)