RECORDING AND PRODUCTION A - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module introduces students to key principles and skills related to audio recording and music production within a creative and practice-based context. The module lays a foundation for skills used throughout the Creative Music Technology programme, including application of understanding the basis of sound propagation and reproduction and the principles of digital audio. Students will undertake audio recording and music production within the context of the creative practice that they learn about in other core Creative Music Technology modules such as Composing Electronic Music A and B.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

THOMPSON Bill (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 28

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

CMT1006 Composing Electronic Music A 

Module content

Indicative content includes:
- overview of sound propagation and digital audio
- principles of microphone and speaker technologies
- digital audio recording, editing and processing
- managing music production projects
- critical listening for audio production

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate creative and technical practice-based skills. These include the awareness of existing creative repertoire in relation to audio recording and creative music production. Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of coursework comprising a portfolio of creative audio production recordings and commentary (addresses learning outcomes 1-5). Projects are undertaken individually, but students are also encouraged to work with other students and document this in their commentary as part of the recording process as required.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment in this module takes the form of regular small tasks intended to help students monitor their learning and improve as they work towards their portfolio project. This assessment includes small creative recording and productions tasks by individuals and within small groups. These exercises function as foundations for the module summative assessments.

Feedback

Written and/or verbal feedback will be provided for the formative assessment tasks and student learning is also tested via informal quizzes and review of module work. Students also are encouraged to provide peer feedback on each other¿s work as part of the module. The module leader will also offer feedback on drafts of portfolio work via email or in tutorials.

Module aims

• - to learn the basics of digital audio required for effective music production
• - to understand the principles of recording audio and apply these to music production
• - to learn to select appropriate recording techniques appropriate for different instruments
• - to develop practical audio processing skills relevant to compositional practice in different genres of music
• - to develop critical listening skills for music production

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to support students in the learning and application of key audio recording and production skills required for the creative industries.

The learning and teaching methods utilise a combination of seminars and guided learning sessions in the relevant facilities available to Creative Music Technology students, including those in PATS and the AC building.

Guided listening and reading for Independent Learning supplement areas presented in seminars and help form the aesthetic and technical basis for students¿ own audio production portfolios.

Group discussions and peer feedback help test and develop students understanding of the module content. Supporting materials on SurreyLearn and elsewhere as appropriate supplement student learning throughout the module.

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: CMT1005

Other information

The Department of Music and Media is committed to developing graduates with attributes encompassing employability, digital skills, global and culture awareness, sustainability as it relates to music and the wider arts and, finally, resourcefulness and resilience.

Employability

Recording and production skills are fundamental to areas of employment in the creative industries. This module helps equip students with direct and transferable skills within this professional sector of employment. The experiential learning undertaken in this module thus helps foster the employability of our students.

Digital capabilities

Like other modules in the Creative Music Technology programme, our focus and ways of working inherently involve digital capabilities, using computers with specialist software and other hardware for digital audio. The majority of our approaches to the digital in this module will be both directly relevant or be transferable digital capabilities having relevance beyond the programme.

Programmes this module appears in

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 2025/6 academic year.