Audio and Recording Technology BSc (Hons)

About the course

This industry focused course is ideal if you have a passion for music and audio production and want to develop a highly attractive portfolio of technical and creative skills that will help you pursue a successful career in the music and related industries.

The course covers the science and technology of audio and recording systems and how these can be used effectively in recording, mixing, mastering and sound design.

You will develop skills in audio mixing and mastering, learn the principles of electronics and acoustics, study the measurement and design of recording and audio production environments and produce sound for digital media, including radio, video, multimedia and online.

Reasons to study Audio and Recording Technology at DMU:

• Delivered in conjunction with a commercial recording studio, the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies (Confetti) in Nottingham, you will gain valuable practical experience in an industrial environment working in a real studio with professional recording specialists and musicians
• The course is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) on behalf of the Association of Professional Recording Services, the Music Producers Guild and the UK Screen Association
• Study in our multi-million pound Creative Technology Studios, giving you the opportunity to study in a technology-led environment that features industry standard equipment and gain the knowledge and experience of creative technologies to support your academic study.

You will develop technical and practical knowledge across a wide range of areas related to audio production, giving you an attractive portfolio of skills and the ability to pursue careers in areas such as studio recording, audio and post production, sound system installation, management and sound for film and TV.

Close all sections| Open all sections|

Key facts

UCAS course code: J930

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Institution code: D26

Entry and admission criteria

Entry requirements for 2014

• Normally 260 UCAS Points from at least two A Levels or equivalent
• Five GCSEs at grade C or above, including Maths and English
• BTEC requirements: Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) at National Diploma Level.
• Additional qualifications can contribute towards the points score such as a third A Level or AS Levels
• International Baccalaureate: 28+ points.

If you are unsure about the amount of UCAS points your qualifications may attract you can use our UCAS Tariff Chart|.

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition| is available at DMU both before and during the course if required.

Teaching and assessment

Course modules are taught using a variety of methods, including lectures, tutorials, seminars and work based exercises enabling you to share knowledge, information and demonstrate practical techniques.

Project based learning is also used to develop your research, presentation and communication skills. Assessment includes exams, practical projects and assignments.

You will normally attend around 12–16 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, and are expected to undertake at least 14–16 further hours of directed independent study and assignments as required.

Course modules

First year

• Recording Technology I
• Sequencing Technology
• Multimedia Animation Production
• Audio Technology I

Second year

• Recording Technology II
• Audio Synthesis Technology
• Audio Technology II
• Interactive Media

Final year

• Technology Project
• Studio Technology
• Mastering and Post-Production

Industry links and professional accreditation

This course is accredited by JAMES| (Joint Audio Media Education Support) on behalf of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS), the Music Producers Guild (MPG) and the UK Screen Association.

JAMES is made up of dedicated audio industry professionals and academics, and their role is to create and maintain supportive links between education and the media industries including accreditation, industry support and student careers advice.

Work experience and placements

You can improve your CV, become highly employable and put the skills you learn on your course into practice by taking a work placement as part of your studies.

Technology's dedicated Placement Unit| provides support to all of our students looking to integrate a placement within their university career on both undergraduate degrees and postgraduate masters programmes. The placement unit will help you search for placement opportunities, create and refine your CV and interview approach, and offer any advice you need to find a great placement. Our placement students have worked for a range of organisations from small business through to multinational companies across the world including Microsoft Ltd, IBM, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and PepsiCo International.

Placements can enhance your career prospects and give you the chance to use theory from the classroom in a real-world scenario before you have graduated.

Students of this course have taken part in work experience placements at a number of local, national and international companies over the past three years, including Dean Street Studio and our own Creative Technology Studios.

Graduate careers

Recent graduates are now pursuing careers as freelance audio engineers, music producers, studio engineers and technical operators and work for companies including The Sound Company Ltd and the Ideal World Home Shopping Channel.

Fees and funding

UK/EU Full-time £9,000 Placement year £650 Part-time (Where available) 4 year course £5,925 per year 6 year course £3,950 per year Per module £988 per 15 credits International
Full-time £11,250 Placement year £750

For more information please take a look at our Fees and Funding| section.

Scholarships

Scholarships and bursaries are available to home undergraduate students studying on a full time basis. To see if you are eligible, take a look at the Fees and Funding| section of the website.

Facilities

Our multi-million pound Creative Technology Studios feature a host of industry standard video, audio and radio production suites and two fully equipped recording studios featuring analogue and digital recording systems and surround sound monitoring.

The studios give students the opportunity to study in a new technology-led environment featuring industry standard equipment and gain the knowledge and experience of creative technologies to support your academic study. The studios are also supported by a team of academic specialists delivering teaching in the principles and techniques of media technology and production.

The studios provide facilities for the acquisition, editing and distribution of video, audio and computer-generated materials and files can be shared throughout the studios via a fast computer network, enabling a seamless mixed-media workflow.

Specifically, the facilities include:

• Industry-standard video, audio and radio production suites
• A suite of over 20 High-Definition (HD) video workstations, using the very latest industry-standard HD editing software
• Television studios with HD video cameras, green-screen and virtual-studio capabilities
• Two fully-equipped recording studios, featuring analogue and digital recording systems and surround sound monitoring
• Broadcast-standard radio production studios with professional playout and management systems
• Audio and video laboratories with high specification test equipment for signal analysis
• Fused-media and motion-capture studios for the teaching and research of 3D image capture, modelling and display
• A high-speed, high-definition, data backbone, enabling the integration of audio, video and computer-generated media projects Hybrid technologies, using the best of current analogue and digital media.

Facility tour

|

Facilities at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies| include state-of-the-art recording, mixing and mastering suites and recording studio.