VIDEO: SOUND AND ENGINEERING - 2027/8
Module code: TON2026
Module Overview
This module comprises the essential elements related to video engineering and sound for picture for the Tonmeister degree. You will explore sound for film and high-end TV, from recording production sound, dialogue editing and aspects of final delivery. This will help those interested in a career in film sound, and enable you to interact with professional sound teams more effectively.
You will also explore aspects of video engineering systems, from 625-line analogue systems to digitally-delivered HD systems. You will examine analogue video waveforms on an oscilloscope, and examine digital bit streams down to binary data level, as well as learning the details of timecode and its applications.
The module concentrates on why video engineering is important to professional audio systems and emphasises the knowledge and understanding that is needed by an audio professional (operational or maintenance), rather than a designer of video systems. As video becomes ever more present in the audio engineer's professional career, fundamental knowledge and practical skills are increasingly important.
Module provider
Music & Media
Module Leader
HAIGH Alan (Music & Med)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 107
Lecture Hours: 22
Seminar Hours: 6
Laboratory Hours: 8
Guided Learning: 1
Captured Content: 6
Module Availability
Year long
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
TON1028 Audio Engineering and Recording Techniques TON1029 Audio Electronics
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- The roles and techniques of dialogue editing including importing files, track laying and editing
- Recording production sound and ADR
- Deliverables and Loudness standards in film and TV
- Time code formats interfaces and applications
- Analogue video signals
- Digital video signals and the SDI interface
- Embedded audio in the SDI interface
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Dialogue edit | 30 |
| Practical based assessment | Lab sessions | 70 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of problems associated with recording and preparing dialogue for mixing, plus knowledge of video engineering principles
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- dialogue edit (addressing learning outcomes 2, 7 and 8); and
- lab sessions consisting of a pre-lab test and marked worksheets (addressing learning outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Formative assessment
Formative feedback will be given to you in the form of regular revision questions in lectures, and in the lab and workshop sessions.
Feedback
Written feedback is given on the coursework assignment. You will receive verbal feedback on your practical work throughout the module, particularly in labs and practical workshops.
Module aims
- To introduce you to analogue and digital video fundamentals, which underpin all modern uses of video systems. To have an emphasis on knowledge useful for audio engineers.
- To develop an understanding of issues in synchronising audio and video content using all current worldwide frame rates and standards.
- To introduce you to some common video formats and interfaces.
- To introduce the processes and tasks involved in the recording and post production of sound for picture.
- To give some practical experience in the recording and some practical experience in the recording and post production of sound for picture.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Demonstrate the process of recording sound on film location, and the subsequent processes involved in adding sound to picture. | KC |
| 002 | Demonstrate skills in dialogue editing a short film. | KCPT |
| 003 | Describe the basic technical features of analogue and digital video standards. | KC |
| 004 | Describe the three colour system and explain how colour can be measured with reference to common video colour spaces. | KC |
| 005 | Describe the technical features of all SMPTE or EBU time code formats. | KC |
| 006 | Explain the process in synchronising sound and picture in film and television. | KCP |
| 007 | Demonstrate time management skills. | T |
| 008 | Demonstrate problem solving skills. | T |
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 knowledge, skill and awareness of sound in film and TV (a growing area of graduate employment); and
- introduce you to the most common analogue and digital video standards to prepare you for working with video signals.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- 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;
- practical demonstrations in seminars that allow you to see the theory in action;
- regular lab sessions that allow you to apply the theoretical understanding to professional practice; and
- guided reading, to encourage you to engage more deeply with the topic.
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: TON2026
Other information
Digital capabilities: the module introduces sound for film, using digital audio throughout, as well as the theoretical and practical fundamentals of digital video, giving you an accurate understanding of what the term "digital" truly means, as well as a theoretical understanding of how video is converted to and from the digital domain compared with previous modules on digital audio. As part of the coursework assignments, you will also develop skills in: digital audio embedding and de-embedding, and tools for creating reports and diagrams.
Employability: the knowledge and skills developed within this module are the fundamentals of a successful career in the audio or video / broadcast industry. The lectures and workshops cover fundamental video systems, required to understand and fault-find in practical situations. The coursework uses Avid Pro Tools which is the current industry standard software for this work.
Sustainability: as part of the theoretical understanding of video, the topics will also discuss aspects of sustainability in professional video, such as the importance of backwards compatibility (for example in broadcast and modulation systems).
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.