RECORDING TECHNIQUES - 2025/6
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: 222
Lecture Hours: 36
Seminar Hours: 20
Tutorial Hours: 4
Practical/Performance Hours: 4
Guided Learning: 1
Captured Content: 1
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
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
This module is core and will require you to pass every unit of assessment with a mark of at least 40%.
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
Formative assessment and 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, both individually and 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 audio for a variety of genres of music and platforms.
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:
• Lectures
• Preparation and delivery of class presentations
• Microphone demonstration workshop
• Listening seminar 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
Other information
Digital Capabilities – Three of the four assessed components of this module will be handled digitally. Commonly developed digital capabilities include: Audio and video capture, editing, processing, compilation, and finally distribution.
Employability – This module helps you to study and research areas of audio engineering and technology that will be relevant to future careers throughout the industry. The Radio Advert, Sound for Picture, and Short Portfolio will encourage you to develop professional skills related to all the digital capabilities listed above, along with the interpersonal and management skills essential to creating and delivering content or products in any workplace or team.
Global and Cultural – The creative arts in the UK are world leading both culturally and economically. The breadth of techniques and robust theory-led practices taught on this module will enable you to successfully apply your skills to a diverse range of musical and cultural styles.
Resourcefulness and Resilience – This module’s combination of creative and technical challenges in producing four assessed pieces of work will stretch you and encourage you to develop your skills in research, long-term planning, time management and collaborating with others. You have opportunities to learn from failures, benefit from formative feedback in seminars and one-to-one tutorials, and apply this learning to produce polished and professional material.
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 2025/6 academic year.