Applied Audio Technology

Entry requirements: Graduates with a good first degree

Fees 2010-11: Home/EU £5,250; International £8,800

Introduction

The MSc Applied Audio Technology at Bucks is a technically challenging and technologically-focused course offering with employability at its core. The course has been developed to enhance employability for its graduates in relation to audio and music production, engineering and an array of technology-based careers.

The content for this course has been developed with significant support from an array of industry-leading partners such as Sennheiser, Focusrite and Midas. The primary objective during development was to identify skills gaps relating to relevant industries and to respond with current research, taught and training-based modules.

Course content

Course content will include a live production technology module which includes a focus on the utilization of digital control surfaces; a creative sound design module led by and industry leading practitioner; a vocationally focused module that deals with Perceptual Audio Evaluation, a studio-based and music-oriented advanced audio production module with input from a range of leading practitioners, a training based module that looks specifically at sound for outside broadcast and a cluster of modules which intend to develop programming skills relating to audio applications.

A crucial factor which motivates the development of key multi-disciplinary and collaborative skills concerns the inclusion of live briefs, which will enable industry-facing project based work to be included for assessment. These collaborations will include students from postgraduate programmes including advertising, creative industry management, digital filmmaking, outside broadcast engineering, design, marketing and promotion.

Proposed modules include:

Live Production Technology
Masterclasses will be complemented by our partnerships with manufacturers, including Midas and Sennheiser who support this module by offering students the opportunity to interface with state-of-the-art live audio technologies. Teaching will also be led by leading practitioners from the field of live audio production.

Perceptual Audio Evaluation
The aim is to provide students with a knowledge of research methods suitable for subjective evaluation of audio. Students will initially study elements of critical listening, before covering the theory and practice of conducting perceptual audio experiments using qualitative and more quantitative methods. Students will also devise and run their own audio evaluation, results of which will be presented in a seminar at the end of the module.

RF Systems
This module will be led by our partners at Sennheiser, who will explore vital contemporary issues and debates concerning RF.

Sound for Outside Broadcasting
This module focuses on different aspects of sound in relation to Outside Broadcast production. The technical understanding (sound engineering skills) required to support location based multi camera production is of primary concern, and this module will embrace contemporary technological developments as students will be encouraged to engage in practice based learning while also considering the possibilities afforded by such technological developments. Students will also be required to consider the principles which influence how sound for Outside Broadcast is managed, captured and produced.

Sound Design
This module will include ADR/Foley editing and recording, multi-track production dialogue editing, sound effects/sound design, mixing for film and TV (and the differences between them), creativity and the requirements above and beyond the technical and creative side to the job. Sound Design is generally regarded as making specialized sound effects for creatures/spaceships/sci-fi etc. Students will also develop their own sound design composition.

Studio Audio Technology
This module will be delivered by experienced industry-based professionals and will include advanced sound recording, editing and processing techniques, essential soft skills required as an engineer/producer, operation of mixing desks, audio interfaces and signal routing, recording studio preparation and tracking sessions. Sessions will include significant contributions from leading industry practitioners such as Martin Rushent and Philip Tennant.

Programming for Interactive Audio
Advanced teaching of .net and C# for the creation of interactive audio applications. Students also develop an interactive audio application.

Spatial & Surround Sound
This module provides an introduction to the spatial dimension of sound. This includes studio experimentation of stereo and surround microphone techniques, mixing in stereo and surround - creative and dynamic effects, Multichannel Sound Design (including monitoring levels for Dolby 5.1), Psychoacoustics of spatial audio: our perception of auditory space, including localisation, distance hearing, depth, envelopment and other salient attributes.

Further information

As a postgraduate within this dynamic area, you will have gained substantial experience and a broad knowledge of the audio technology industry, making you highly employable within this sector. This course is ideal if you have ambitions to move into an executive position of responsibility and management within key areas of this industry. Many postgraduate students have demonstrated career progression either within their own organisations or by moving to new opportunities. This course may be of interest to those already working in the industry and to those seeking to enter into an academic career.

How to apply

For more details, and to download an application form, please visit our 'How to apply' web page.

Find out more

Tel: 0800 0565 660

Email: advice@bucks.ac.uk