RECORDING TECHNIQUES - 2023/4

Module code: TON2019

Module Overview

This module is intended to introduce you to a more detailed study of microphone placement and studio layouts for a variety of genres, running both classical and pop studio recording sessions, making music recordings on location and compiling a selection of your own recordings with the aim of presenting a portfolio for assessment towards the end of the year. Additionally, you will be introduced to the processes specific to recording and producing sound for film and TV.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

FLINDT Rupert (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Workshop Hours: 12

Independent Learning Hours: 224

Lecture Hours: 36

Seminar Hours: 20

Tutorial Hours: 4

Practical/Performance Hours: 4

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

HE4 Audio Engineering and Recording Techniques A & B

Module content

The following is an indication of the likely topics to be covered:

 

• Detailed study of the microphones available in the department

• Skills needed for running a recording session smoothly

• Studio layouts and microphone placement for pop recording, small classical ensembles, big band, TV and film orchestral recording

• Editing a classical session

• Pop mixing and signal processing

• Making recordings on location

• Sound recording on location and ADR

• Foley recording

• Film post-production processes

• Mastering and compiling a selection of recordings

• Live pop recording for broadcast with time constraints

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Oral exam or presentation Presentation 10
Practical based assessment Radio advert 12
Practical based assessment Film sound post-production 23
Practical based assessment Portfolio 55

Alternative Assessment

N/A This module is core and will require you to pass every unit of assessment with a mark of at least 40%.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:


  • Competence in recording and post-production skills in a variety of music genres, speech recording and film and TV dubbing

  • Skills in researching and presenting a technical topic in a coherent way



Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

•      Coursework 1 - Class presentation on an assigned research topic (addresses learning outcome 1)

•      Coursework 2 - Radio advert creation and realisation (addresses learning outcomes 1,2,5,7,8)

•      Coursework 3 - Film sound post-production assignment (addresses learning outcomes 9-11)

•      Coursework 4 - Portfolio of music recordings (addresses learning outcomes 1-8)

Formative  assessment

There are no formal formative assessment components for this module, but formative feedback will be given to you in weekly listening sessions, in tutorials, during operational workshops, and following the assessment of your coursework submissions. Additionally, there are specific opportunities for formative feedback in optional practical exercises.

Feedback

You will receive written feedback on your coursework submissions alongside verbal feedback and feed forward in operational workshops and listening sessions.

Module aims

  • To continue the introduction to professional audio from the first year course and develop your technical and operational abilities in preparation for PTP.
  • To provide a forum for constructive criticism and discussion of your recordings and those of other 2B students in the form of a weekly seminar.
  • To give experience of planning and executing the recording of live concerts and supervising assistants as part of the duty recording rota.
  • To introduce the processes and tasks involved in the recording and post production of sound for picture and to give some practical experience in this field.
  • To introduce the concepts and skills involved in mastering a CD for a variety of genres of music.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Describe the microphone placement and studio layouts necessary to make high quality professional recordings KCP
002 Plan and execute studio sessions to record, mix and edit a short radio advert, a multi- tracked pop track and a classical recording KCPT
003 Plan and execute a large scale recording on location KPT
004 Mark up a musical score for editing using typical notation and use this to edit a classical session KCP
005 Use digital editing facilities to produce a master copy to a high standard KCP
006 Assess the technical and operational quality of recordings of any type of music KCP
007 Describe the steps needed to ensure that a recording session is safe K
008 Supervise a small team of junior students and contribute to their training PT
009 Describe the process of recording sound on film location, and the subsequent processes involved in adding sound to picture K
010 Assess the EQ and other processing necessary to match ADR to the original location sound on a film recording ( KCP
011 Plan and execute the recording of Foley FX to a film soundtrack, paying attention to all the artistic and technical attributes of the sounds needed to make them believable KCP
012 Transferable subject knowledge KPT
013 Group work PT
014 Leadership skills PT
015 Time management PT
016 Person management PT
017 Problem solving PT
018 Presentation skills KPT
019 Choice and operation of audio signal processing tools KPT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: develop your skills in audio recording and post-production techniques for the music recording and broadcast industries. It will also provide you with opportunities for discussion and debate.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

 

• One two-hour lecture for approximately 16 weeks

• Preparation and delivery of class presentations

• One two-hour microphone demonstration workshop

• One one-hour listening seminar per week for 20 weeks to include discussion and feedback

• Recording experience gained from duty engineer rota and self-directed recordings

• Coursework assignments and feedback

• Workshops given by visiting professionals

• Simulated ‘live’ broadcast music session

 


 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TON2019

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) BSc (Hons)(YEAR LONG) Year-long Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) BMus (Hons)(YEAR LONG) Year-long Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.