Music Production & Technology - BSc

Course Code: US703

Level

Duration

3 Years

Department

Art & Design, Digital Arts and Media

CAO Points

357

Course Type

Undergraduate - CAO

Location

Limerick

This programme is production industry. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills needed to perform at a high-level in a number of modern technical environments, including: recording studios, video editing suites, and in live theatre.

Graduates will know the principles and operation of studio equipment in both digital and analogue realms; will learn the specifics of music, musical instruments and factors affecting the quality of recording,including: mixing, mastering and mass production. Later in the programme an emphasis is placed on the music business and business planning, particularly in relation to events and events management.

Music Technology and Production students have access to state-of-the-art recording and production facilities at TUS and our experienced lecturers give students the thorough, hands-on and personal support they need to make the most of their studies. Features of the programme include producing Music, i.e. recording, synthesizing, sequencing, composing, performing, editing, evaluating, marketing and selling music.

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

A minimum of 5 O6/H7 grades in Leaving Certificate subjects, including English or Irish.

Foundation Level Mathematics at grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for this programme.

Mature Applicants

Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

Further Education/Prior Learning Applicants

Applications will also be considered for Direct/Advanced Entry from those with a FETAC Level 5/6 qualification (or equivalent) and/or relevant prior learning.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Who can I contact?

Mr. Michael Gavin or Ms. Roisin Crowley
michael.gavin@tus.ie; roisin.crowley@tus.ie

What modules will I study?

Year 1 - Semester 1

Title: Audio Electronics 1

Credits: 5
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Audio Electronics 1: Passive Audio is intended to present basic electrical principles as they apply to safety and the audio signal path from microphone to speaker with a focus on passive electronic components.

Title: Studio Production 1

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to introduce students to instrument sound production and the fundamentals of recording.

Title: Music 1

Credits: 5
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This module aims to ensure the student has a confident working knowledge of fundamental elements of music such as pitch, rhythm, meter, melody and timbre. Students are encouraged through practical tasks to hear, play, read and write a variety of musical motifs which help them relate these concepts and their traditional notation to aspects of DAW architecture.

Title: Digital Production 1

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to introduce the fundamentals skills required to successfully operate a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) in a music and audio production environment. This module employs a student-centred problem-based learning approach in which the students work individually and as part of a group to solve increasingly complex DAW tasks. The module content is structured around the recommended learning path required to become a certified DAW software user. A flipped classroom approach will be employed requiring students to engage with the content of the lab lecture before attending. Formative assessment will be used at the beginning of each teaching session to check student knowledge and identify common problem areas to revisit. Practical exercises will focus on reinforcing key concepts through the introduction of common DAW tasks and operations.

Title: Soundscape Design 1

Credits: 5
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In this module, learners will become familiar with underlying acoustic theory and principles concerned with indoor and outdoor spaces. They will learn how to describe the physical attributes of acoustic waves, relate to how sound-waves are graphically represented, and understand the units-of-measurement employed to quantify and denote acoustic-signal parameters. Learners will also have the opportunity to creatively engage with the discipline of acoustics by exploring how everyday sounds may be used as a palette for constructing new and interesting sonic scenes or soundscapes.

Title: Creative Music Performance 1

Credits: 5
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This module will explore the properties, characteristics and musical potential of sounds.

Using hardware and software sound producing tools, learners will create and organise sounds into structures and investigate the emotional possibilities of the experience.
Year 1 - Semester 2

Title: Audio Electronics 2

Credits: 5
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Audio Electronics 2: Active Audio is intended to introduce key electrical concepts like impedance and electrical loading as they apply along the audio signal path. The module also includes a greater focus on active components found in preamplifiers, filters and power amplifiers.

Title: Studio Production 2

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to expand knowledge of the recording process in the studio.

Title: Music 2

Credits: 5
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This module will cover tonality and basic tonal harmony through a variety of aural, vocal and keyboard exercises requiring the student to interpret and realise musical ideas from various forms of notation such as staff notation, piano roll notation.

Title: Digital Production 2

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to introduce a systematic approach to arranging and producing commercial music using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). The project-based learning syllabus is derived from the process of producing a song, and students work collaboratively to experience the role of the producer in a popular music context. Exercises in the weekly Lab lectures and practicals focus on arranging and producing within a DAW. These exercises form the basis for the semester-long group project, and students will keep a reflective learning log to track their progress and further reinforce the arranging and production process employed.

Title: Soundscape Design 2

Credits: 5
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In this module, learners will be introduced to a visual programming language specific to audio development. They will learn about the digitisation of acoustic signals, how these are structured and represented in computer systems, and how these signals may be manipulated using filters. Learners will become familiar with generating digital signals using a variety of synthesis techniques and with concepts such as signal flow. From the knowledge gained in Soundscape Design 1, learners will be accustomed to describing attributes of digital signals using equivalent units-of-measure. Learners will also have the opportunity to experiment with digital sound-assets for generating creative soundscapes.

Title: Creative Music Performance 2

Credits: 5
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This module will develop musical awareness through the creation of harmonic, melodic and rhythmic structures. Learners will be required to synchronise and co-operate to develop and agree on approaches to musical material.
Year 2 - Semester 1

Title: Interactive Music Production

Credits: 5
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This module introduces a range of contemporary interactive music production processes for real-time multimedia applications in a technology mediated group environment. Designed as a semester-long modular project installation, individual learners contribute collaboratively to small production collectives by sourcing original audio content, digitally manipulating it and shaping it into adaptable pulse based and tone-based compositional units for real-time vertical scoring set to interactive visual media.

Title: Studio Production 3

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to expand student knowledge of studio recording techniques and recording/production scenarios to encompass more complex environments and situations.

Title: Music 3

Credits: 5
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This module will review concepts covered in Music 1 & 2 in more detail and examine these concepts in the context of a series of case studies from a variety of eras and genres.

Title: Interactive Music Performance

Credits: 5
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This module develops a range of contemporary interactive music performance skills to engage with live multimedia-based productions.

Experimental performance processes on traditional and electronic instruments, together with performative composition techniques such as timbre-based improvisation and free re-composition are exploited within genre-less collectives for the purposes of developing responsive audio-visual awareness skills when live-scoring for interactive installations.

Title: Visuals Manipulation & Projection

Credits: 5
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This module will equip the learner with the knowledge and skills required to operate software designed for visual communication, manipulation and projection mapping. The student will create or select visual elements, these are manipulated (using industry standard software) in response to programmed changes or triggered events and mapped to a projection environment.

Title: Live Sound 1

Credits: 5
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The purpose of this module is to introduce students to live sound reinforcement. The module will examine the various components of a small format public address system, including speakers, cables, mixing desks, microphones. Students will deploy these components in suitable environments and spend the semester becoming familiar with the setup procedures and associated considerations. Students will also examine roles within the live sound industry and industry best practice.
Year 2 - Semester 2

Title: Studio Production 4

Credits: 5
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This module aims to develop the ability to produce competent mixes from multi-track audio sessions. A key theme will be the comparative analysis between the commercial product and the students’ own work to establish perspective and objective points of reference.

Title: Music 4

Credits: 5
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This module introduces students to the purpose and process of creating music for film that supports the onscreen storytelling. Students learn through the analysis of case studies, practical compositional exercises and assignments requiring composition and arrangement of music responding to moving image. The final assessment is a combined assessment with Digital Production 3 and Studio Production 4 in which students combine recorded dialogue, sound effects and musical arrangements in a complete soundtrack for a short piece of film.

Title: Digital Production 3

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to introduce the skills associated with various professional roles in the audio post-production industry. The project-based learning syllabus is derived from the process of working with audio for film in which students experience the roles of sound recordist, SFX editor, dialogue editor, music editor, and sound supervisor. Exercises in the weekly Lab lectures and practicals focus on developing the key skills associated with each of these roles. These weekly exercises form the basis for the semester-long integrated project.

Title: Event Planning and Management

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to familiarise students with the processes and procedures involved in creating an event.

Title: Live Sound 2

Credits: 5
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The purpose of this module is to advance the student skillset in live sound reinforcement and provide more 'real-world' scenarios for students. The module will continue to examine the components and operation of PA systems, and students will deploy these components in performance scenarios while remaining cognisant of the environment and health & safety.

Title: Professional and Portfolio Development

Credits: 5
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An interactive workshop-style module to assist students in developing their professional identity and to establish a portfolio of their professional practice. Students will have an opportunity to reflect on their strengths and skills, influences, and ambitions within their area of study. They will derive a portfolio representing their work within creative technologies, relevant to their professional identity.
Year 3 - Semester 1

Title: AV Special Topic Research

Credits: 5
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This module focuses on research, information gathering, analysis, conclusion drawing, evaluation, presentation, and discussion of topics.

Title: Event Creation and Management

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to develop cognate event staging and management skills through the creation of a live event.

Title: Live Sound 3

Credits: 5
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Live Sound 3: Front of House & Stage Monitoring is intended to address complex sound reinforcement principles, mixing, routeing and gain staging concepts and establish competence in the operation and installation of Public Address systems for live sound.

Title: Music 5

Credits: 5
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In this module, students are encouraged to focus on the roles various instruments play in ensembles, starting with a basic rock or pop band and exploring other additions to this, for example backing vocals, SATB choir or a string section. Analysis of case studies from modern rock and pop as well as some art music examples will be used to illustrate the nature of these roles and various notation formats will be examined (for instance, chord symbols, TAB, Grand staff, string quartet score) and used as appropriate to notate arrangements created in practical exercises and assignments. This module requires students are adept at skills covered in Music modules 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Title: Creative Music Performance 3

Credits: 5
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This module will focus on studio-based playing, paying particular attention to rhythmic accuracy, nuanced pitch control, dynamic articulated playing and expressive timbre modulation. Learners will create and record an arrangement of musical material.

Title: Interactive Technology [Elective]

Credits: 5
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This is a project-based module designed to explore the creation of an interactive AV environment. Students will explore the use of audio and visuals in an interactive installation, determine how differing technologies interact and interpret the expected experience of participants. In response students will modify/change interactions and design/curate media for their own installation project.

Title: Studio Production 5 [Elective]

Credits: 5
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This module allows learners to produce a professional commercial production in the realm of media/music production.

Title: Digital Production 4 [Elective]

Credits: 5
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This module is intended to introduce the fundamentals of game audio from a music and audio production context. The project-based learning syllabus is derived from the process of creating a sound design for a computer game. Students will work collaboratively produce a full sound design for a game. Exercises in the weekly Lab lectures and practicals focus on the fundamental skills required to work in the game audio industry. These exercises form the basis for the semester-long group project, and students will keep a reflective learning log to track their progress.
Year 3 - Semester 2

Title: Placement/Practice

Credits: 30
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The skills developed during the Music Placement Practice module include both workplace and work-based components reflecting a competitive project/gig-based industry that is heavily reliant on professional networks of predominantly self-employed entrepreneurial specialists.

Students may complete the learning outcomes by choosing either an external or in-house pathway outlined below.

External pathway

The external workplace component provides students with an opportunity to develop technical job-related skills, numeracy and literacy skills, use of new technologies, critical evaluation of a host organisation and meta-cognition skills such as reflective learning and self-regulation.

Students will apply previously acquired learning, work with less explicit instruction and cope with a variety of workplace challenges. The external work-based component enhances the student’s employability by working on a wide range of employment and entrepreneurial skills, from adapting to workplace culture, managing time and stress to demonstrating initiative and engagement in the pursuit of broader future business prospects.

In-House pathway

The in-house workplace component provides students with an opportunity to develop the same skill criteria as above via the coordinated integration of individual, shared and rotating industry roles when engaging directly with local industry participants to produce high calibre audio-visual events as part of the in-house Millennium Sessions company. As part of the in-house work-based component, a broad understanding of the intricate historical and contemporary structures of the music and neighbouring industries is refined by each learner via their experience of the Millennium Sessions company into targeted and actionable individual initiatives, generating sustainable personal industry access strategies.

The Music Placement Practice module both addresses the unique nature of the music and related industries and responds to an obligation towards facilitating inclusive all-student access to industry opportunities and active workplace/work-based learning experience. The flexibility embedded within the structured self-directed learning process as part of the in-house pathway is preserved and maximised by means of a timetabling initiative that embraces current primary on-campus industry-standard resources, active off-campus peak-time industry engagement, as well as remote learning and supervision. Correspondingly, the external pathway provides students with ample opportunity to build confidence in their personal brand and entrepreneurial awareness.

The assessment strategy requires students to identify and actively improve key skills such as productivity, professionalism, communication, motivation, initiative, problem-solving and decision-making. Students must reflect on how they have managed challenges in a workplace environment, how they operate within teams and are also guided to explore a targeted area in industry that lies outside their designated areas of work.

Are there opportunities for further study?

Successful graduates of this programme are eligible to progress to the Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Music Technology & Production.

What are the career prospects?

Graduates will have the knowledge and skills required to work in a modern technical environment, such as in recording studios, video editing suites and at live events.

Graduates of this course are actively working in the following areas:

Live Sound Engineering
Lighting Design
Sound Design
Stage/Production Management
Music Production
Record Engineering
Mix Engineering
Theatre Technician
Musical Direction
Audio Post Production
Radio Production

Creative Technologies at LSAD

More Information

Students have access to a 350-seater theatre, recording studios, and other production facilities at TUS. Additionally, a huge range of music and audio equipment is available from our stores to facilitate self-directed learning. Graduates of this programme are prepared for academic progression and career prospects in broadcast media, live theatre, and studio-based media environments.