Birmingham City University : Sound Engineering and Production - BSc (Hons)

• The industry and visual media component offers an introduction to the music industry. Students will gain an understanding of the industry from a technical, legal, organisational and ethical standpoint.
• The visual media element of the course allows students to employ the various production techniques learnt through the degree across a range of related industries.
• In the production and synthesis unit, students learn important techniques in sequencing, synthesis and in the use and creation of audio effects.
• The digital audio and project section of the course provides students with detailed instruction in digital audio and DSP. For their project, students research and report on a topic of study that relates to their programme, and is further supported by the Media Production Management module, which is found within the industry and visual media component.
• In the acoustics and audio electronics theme, students will gain an insight into audio electronics and apply their knowledge in the study of audio system design in the second year. The final year module in acoustics and musical instruments provides students with an understanding of acoustic principles as applied to both musical instrument design and to acoustic spaces.
• Live and recorded sound offers students the chance to work in the live sound industry, providing technical knowledge and practical skills. In the second year, students are introduced to the studio and a range of techniques used in recording and mixing. These skills underpin the final year portfolio based module.

Module Descriptions

Year 1

Music Industry
A broadly based and stimulating curriculum which combines a study of evolving technology, creative and production processes and business skills relevant to the music industry. This module allows students to develop a wide range of transferable and marketable skills and knowledge relevant to employment opportunities within the music and associated industries.

Commercial Production Techniques
This module aims to cover production techniques that will help improve musical arrangement, stylistic approach and technical workflow as an engineer / producer from creation of guide tracks during pre-production to more advanced genre specific creation for final release.

Digital Audio Technology
This module introduces fundamental principles of audio waveforms and digitization, including the capture and processing and compression of digital data. Students will study the concepts of A/D, D/A, sampling, quantization, aliasing, filtering, compression, while evaluating the merits of many techniques relevant to digital audio.

Audio Electronics
This module will develop key understanding of audio systems and electronics. This module relates primarily to the analogue domain and will develop an understanding the equipment found in the studios, how they sound and why, and what makes them important during the recording, mixing and mastering process.

Live Sound and Studio Recording
This module introduces and develops concepts of live sound engineering practice and technology as well as introducing the fundamentals of recording techniques, building skills in audio capture that are built upon in following modules and an important part of live and studio based sound.

Musical Instrument Acoustics
This module allows students to gain a detailed insight into the scientific aspects of musical instruments as well as their materials, design and manufacture. Using a range of testing and analysis methods, students will gain a greater understanding of wave propagation which can be applied to the recording process.

Year 2

Media Production Management
In order to set the skills gained across their degree programme in wider context, students need an appreciation of project management styles. This module gives students the opportunity to explore different approaches and theories as they develop a professional approach to the management of the production process.

Sound Synthesis and Sequencing
The module defines the application of digital audio in the realm of sound synthesis. Thorough analysis of historical and contemporary techniques the popular implementations are explored and discussed. The theory is applied in the context of live sequencing and contemporary dj performance.

Digital Music Processing
The module introduces the techniques and current standards employed in transferring data between electronic equipments, and the advanced DSP techniques used in music technology equipment.

Audio Systems
This module builds upon previous knowledge gained in the first year to increase applied understanding of electronic concepts in a practical and theoretical manner.

Recording and Mixing
This module introduces and develops key concepts in studio recording and mixing techniques. Building on the skills developed in Live Sound and Studio Recording UG1 the module initially builds on aspects of audio capture, before developing advanced skills in mixing and production

Year 3

Music and Sound for Visual Media
This module aims to further broaden the horizons of students by introducing them to the principles and techniques of music sound design for visual media such as TV, films and video games.

Digital Audio Effects
The module defines the application of digital audio in the realm of audio effects. Thorough analysis of processing components, popular effects and plug-ins leads to individual development of audio processing units.

Sound Technology Project
The project simulates typical graduate workplace tasks that require in-depth knowledge and skills in a course specific area, consideration of wider issues and the ability to manage activities and resources, and to generate, implement and report on solutions to meet task objectives. The project therefore provides opportunity to demonstrate technical and general employability preparation for career progression.

Sound Acoustics
The importance of studio and auditorium design is reflected on in great detail through live sound and recording modules, with proper monitoring and performance spaces a major contributing factor to the success of recordings.

Application of Sound Systems
This module is designed to allow students to employ the recording and production skills that they have acquired through the first two years of the programme. The module is based in the studio but also allows students to develop a portfolio pertinent to their future engagement in their industry.

Facilities

• Audix Studio
• Drumtank
• Foley Studio
• Live Sound Reinforcement
• Microphone List
• Mix Rooms
• Outboard List 
• Semi-Anechoic Chamber 
• Studio Live Room 
• Toft Studio 
• Electronics/Technology Laboratory 
• The Orchard 

Students are encouraged to include an industrial placement in their course. This takes place after their second year of study and extends the course duration to four years.

As well as providing relevant workplace experience that is sought by many employers, a placement provides an invaluable opportunity for students to develop their practical expertise, earn money and try out a potential career path. The Faculty’s placements team supports students throughout the placement process.

Placement Profiles

Scholarships and Awards

All students on this course have the opportunity to be nominated by staff for the faculty’s annual Prize Winners Ceremony. Students are put forward by their course teams based on merit, performance, achievements, dedication and commitment. Recent winners can be seen below:

A range of assessment methods is used during the course. These include continuous assessment, in-class tests, examinations, laboratory exercises and project work. Using these methods, students’ all-round ability will be appraised, which offers the best opportunity to excel.