RECORDING TECHNIQUES AND EAR TRAINING - 2027/8

Module Overview

This module will provide you with the theoretical understanding, practical experience, and critical listening skills to support your practical sound recording activities, both within the programme and for a successful career in any area of the audio industry. This module introduces you to the workings of microphones, microphone placement for speech recording, the principles of stereo microphone techniques, and the theory behind how the illusion of a stereo image is created. In addition, you will learn from a wide range of listening sessions and ear training to develop your awareness of both technical and musical aspects of critical listening essential to a practical career in the recording industry. 

This will include high-quality¿studio listening sessions (for a wide range of recordings, repertoire and musical styles) and class-based seminars supported by online tools to enable development of the ability to hear the technical attributes of a recording. Your ability to listen musically will be developed through an on-line aural training programme where self-directed study enables you to work at your own pace. Your achievements will be monitored, and your best results will contribute to your module mark. There is also an end-of-year listening test in which very few of the answers are 'correct': instead, you will share your thought processes.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

HAIGH Caroline (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

TON1031 Audio Engineering

Module content

Indicative content includes: 

• the design and operation of microphones;
• the design and use of stereo microphone techniques;
• identification and recognition of a wide range of technical attributes, such as: equalisation and frequency content; compression and limiting; distortion; reverberation and mixing perspective; stereo imaging; and digital audio artefacts;
• recognition of features of musical genres and typical production values of a wide range of music, including: piano and chamber; orchestral; singer and choral; musical theatre; big band; jazz; folk; world music; pop and rock from 1960s to present; and music for film;
• practical microphone rigging skills;
• practical basic stereo microphone techniques on piano;
• practical microphone placement for drums and voice/guitar duo;
• practical basic pop mixing;
• practical basic classical editing and production;
• development of critical aural skills for music production

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

In listening skills (aural and technical) continuous assessment for this module, you will be allowed to work at your own level, provided that there is a gradual increase in the difficulty of tests that you are attempting. The tutoring team monitors your engagement with this for the purpose of offering regular, guided help where necessary. 

The listening software will enable you to identify with increasing accuracy a range of common audio faults and features, to support your practical recording skills at levels HE5 and HE6. 

In recording techniques, the coursework assessment will allow you to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of microphones, awareness of the pitfalls in recording and editing speech, and your ability to explain and demonstrate the use of stereo techniques. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• continuous assessment in musical listening skills using Aural Training software (addresses learning outcome 2);
• continuous assessment in technical listening skills using Technical Ear Training software (addresses learning outcome 1); 
• radio documentary and write up (addresses learning outcomes 7-11);
• listening assessment ¿ aural and written assessment (addressing learning outcomes 3 and 4). 

Formative assessment 

Formative feedback from a member of staff will be given during all practical studio sessions where you will have opportunities to practice rigging microphones and explore basic techniques (addresses learning outcomes 5, 6, 10, 11). 

Formative feedback will be given on the your use of the aural and technical ear training software packages at the end of the first semester (addresses learning outcomes 1-2)

Module aims

• To develop your technical listening skills. This supports your practical recording work in HE5 Production and Recording Techniques and HE6 Portfolio of Recordings.
• To develop your awareness of microphones types, microphone placement and stereo microphone techniques. This supports your practical recording work in HE5 Production and Recording Techniques and HE6 Portfolio of Recordings.
• To develop your awareness of a broad and international range of music and recording styles, and how they are used to enhance a wide variety of musical repertoire. This prepares you for HE5 Production and Recording Techniques and HE6 Portfolio of Recordings.
• To develop your aural skills in music. This supports your music production work in preparation for HE5 Production and Recording Techniques and HE6 Portfolio of Recordings.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

Your sessions are designed to develop your understanding of microphones and stereo theory and techniques, as well as practical listening skills, your ability to make technical and musical judgements, and your listening experience across a wide range of repertoire and recording styles. 

Your knowledge of microphone design and characteristics and stereo theory will be developed through participation in lectures and practical workshops. 

Your critical listening skills will be introduced in weekly, hour-long listening sessions. This will be conducted in small groups, which will allow for plenty of discussion and interaction with the session leaders. Guided listening playlists will be provided to support the development of wider listening experience and repertoire knowledge. Lecturers welcome additional suggestions, and will gladly comment further on listening examples in tutorials. 

The development of musical aural skills will be supported by regular use of software packages outside the weekly sessions. 

Technical ear training will be delivered over the course of five practical sessions, with the support of regular practice using a software package in between. Practical studio skills will be explored over workshop sessions in small groups. 

The learning and teaching methods include: 

• regular listening sessions to encourage critical listening and group discussion; 
• regular lectures in which cover the theoretical background to each of the topics covered ¿ the small cohort allows plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions to help you to develop your understanding; 
• regular workshops that allow you to apply the theoretical understanding to professional audio practice; 
• regular monitored use of aural software and technical ear training software which forms part of the assessment;
• guided repertoire listening to encourage you to explore the subject in more detail;
• practical studio sessions to allow you to put theory into practice

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: TON1032

Other information

Digital Capabilities

Your access for off-site listening and ear training is entirely digital. As part of the coursework assignments, you will also develop skills in: audio recording and editing of speech; and tools for creating reports and diagrams. All of these skills will be essential to your success through the remainder of the programme. 

Global and Cultural Capabilities 

Your critical listening skills, in terms of both your technical and musical judgement, form a very important link to your understanding of highly developed culture. In your guided musical listening, you will encounter a wide range of musical cultures from around the world and the possible approaches to recording them. 

Employability 

Fundamental skills of a Tonmeister include the ability to listen critically and have a good understanding of the workings and use of microphones, and techniques for making stereo recordings. You are also encouraged to contribute novel approaches to technical questions and evaluations from your listening. 

Resourcefulness and Resilience 

Many of the examples you will listen to are accompanied by the lecturers' own experiences of how problems were overcome and solutions produced. Your own thoughtfulness, to produce your own solutions or explanations, is positively welcomed in the sessions.

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 2027/8 academic year.