PORTFOLIO OF RECORDINGS - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module forms a one of the major specialisations of Level 6 and consists of two main components. You will have the opportunity to research an aspect of operational audio engineering or sound recording of your choice (presented as a recorded documentary), and to present this to the rest of the year so that colleagues learn from your findings. You will also have the opportunity to develop skills as recording engineers and present a compilation of the best of your recorded material.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

FLINDT Rupert (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 45

ECTS Credits: 22.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

• TON1028 Audio Engineering & Recording Techniques 1
• TON2019 Recording Techniques

Module content

The  content  of  the  seminar  will  be  agreed  between  you  and  the  module  co-ordinator  at  the plenary sessions held during Semester 1.

The portfolio of recordings must contain:

• A large scale “classical” item recorded on location


• A classical item, edited and produced under studio session conditions.


• A multitracked “pop” recording.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate excellence in recording and post-production skills in a variety of music genres; skills in researching, writing and presenting a paper or in researching, writing or making a documentary on an operational topic; and skills in answering questions on a technical topic in a coherent way.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Recording Techniques documentary. A documentary with a guide length of 15 - 25 minutes (addresses learning outcome 5);


• Recording Techniques Q&A. The documentary will be played back to the rest of the cohort, followed by an oral question and answer session (addresses learning outcomes 6); and


• Portfolio. A compilation of recordings, total running time 25-35 minutes (addresses learning outcomes 1-4).

Formative  assessment

 

Formative feedback will be given to individual students in weekly listening sessions, in tutorials, during operational workshops, and following their presentations or playbacks of their work.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback on their documentary, verbal feedback in operational workshops and listening sessions, and verbal feedback on their portfolio of recordings.

Module aims

• Provide you with operational experience building on the previous parts of the course that is relevant to a career in the sound recording and broadcast industries
• Provide an opportunity to develop individual areas of operational interest and expertise
• Increase familiarity with, and understanding of, specialised areas of operational audio engineering and sound recording which are not normally covered in the formal lecture modules
• Help you gain confidence in making formal presentations and answering questions on their ideas to small groups
• To develop the concepts and skills involved in mastering audio for a variety of genres of music and platforms.

Learning outcomes

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 opportunities for discussion and debate.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

 

• Plenary sessions at the beginning of Semester 1.

• Seminars during which each student will have their documentary played back.

• Workshops run by visiting professionals.

• Listening sessions in small groups for formative feedback on recordings

 

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: TON3013

Other information

Digital Capabilities – All the 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 allows you to specialise in areas of audio engineering and technology that will be relevant to your chosen career. Irrespective of the topic, the Recorded Documentary and your Portfolio of Recordings 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. 

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 two major pieces of work will stretch you and encourage you to develop your skills in 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

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.