Sound Engineering & Audio Production BSc (Hons)

In the professional audio world, Pro Tools is the DAW of choice in many recording and post-production studios, including the famous Abbey Road and Pinewood Studios. In this module, you’ll learn how to use this powerful and industry-standard program by covering Pro Tools navigation, operation and application.

We will set you up for the rest of your course and career in audio, and give you a head start for any potential future Pro Tools accreditation.

In this module, you will learn how to conceptualise, design and create sounds using recording, processing and synthesis techniques. The art of sound design can be applied to many disciplines; such as sound design for games, film and TV, general sound design and Foley.

Through a range of projects involving both linear and non-linear timelines, you will learn how to analyse sounds, how to choose from and creatively implement a range of synthesis techniques, and how to prepare your sound design work for real-world application.

Software and hardware synthesisers and samplers, as well as MIDI, and DAW skills will come into play, in a creative, practical and playful approach to the discipline.

Building on your previous learning and development in 'The Recording Studio' module, you will develop more advanced techniques, including working with various musicians, multitracking, overdubbing and fundamental mixing techniques.

As well as technical competences, we will develop your collaboration and project management skills, to plan for production sessions and work efficiently with a range of people.

Whether it be the content from the set sessions and/or using self-driven recordings, you will produce recording work to demonstrate how you have developed these skills.

Understanding the theory behind the technology can take your application of the technology to new levels. In this module, you will learn the core principles of audio production through theoretical concepts and practical application.

From the generation of sound to the manipulation of an audio signal, you will work with real productions to apply technologies such as EQ, compression and distortion, while learning about their fundamental principles.

You will also learn about the sustainable impact of analogue and digital technologies within the industry, as well as ethical use of A.I in research, writing and the production of audio.

The module is designed to underpin the technologies applied in other modules to ensure you have the technical knowledge, language and confidence in various situations.

Progressing from learning and development in your Sound Design module, you will now learn how to apply sound design and music productions to linear visual media, such as films, game trailers and video content. You will also experience Pro Tools in a post-production setting, providing a broad set of skills to be applied across multiple industries.

The Recording Studio underpins past and present productions in music. You will begin your journey on the course by developing your understanding of the fundamentals of the recording studio. You will learn the principles of physical mixing consoles, signal flow, connections, microphone types, and DAWs to record audio.

You will also be introduced to working practices in the recording studio around health and safety, industry standards, and be asked to consider sustainable practice.

You can apply these skills and principles, whether in a traditional professional analogue studio or a digital home studio.

This module explores how money flows through the sound and music industry, examining the revenue streams that underpin key areas such as recording, publishing, live events, media, and digital distribution. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of how income is generated, and the role that collection societies, licensing agreements, and company or label financing play within the wider business landscape. The module also addresses the financial challenges facing the industry today and looks at how technology such as AI is shaping new and emerging business practices. Through real-world case studies and industry-led discussions, you'll gain practical insights into the economics of sound and music—and how you might navigate your own path within it.

As part of this module, you'll take part in additional practical workshops in submission method development that you can apply across other areas of your course.

This module encapsulates the complete Audio Post Production process, further building on the workflows learned in the Sound To Visual Media module. You will apply these special, tailored technical and creative skills to full dialogue and music editing as well as comprehensive linear sound design work, integrating these key elements in your final broadcast/web-compliant mixes. Throughout, you will wear many hats and gain insight into the individual industry roles within audio post and how they fit together.

You will also embark on a journey into non-linear Game Audio where you will engage with middleware/game engines such as Wwise, FMOD, Unreal Engine and Unity to realise your creations in this fast-paced, ever-growing and exciting industry.

Throughout the module, you will make an inquiry into the similarities and differences between these two fields, build a professional showreel, and develop a useful range of key skills for successful employment in both branches.

Mixing and Mastering are vital processes to make musical productions commercially ready. You will experience and apply creative and technical processes involved in shaping and finalising music productions. You will explore the tools, techniques, and decision-making strategies used in past and contemporary mixing and mastering processes, with a focus on technical competence, artistic expression and commercial output quality. You will also examine how technology has impacted mixing workflows and apply this understanding to your practice.

Through hands-on experience with digital audio workstations (DAWs), plug-ins, and hardware signal processing tools, you will learn to solve complex creative and technical challenges and critically evaluate your choices.

In many aspects of sound and audio work, the perception of the professional and the end consumer is vital. Acoustics plays an important role in approaching and completing work to the desired standard. In this module you will experience acoustic theory and application, including the human perception of sound, room acoustics, and electro acoustics, to better inform your application.

Holding the knowledge and understanding of these areas, allows you to apply these areas to creating realistic gaming environments, film atmos, and appropriate reverberation and time-based effects on musical productions.

Through active participation with team-based problem solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.

This module offers the opportunity to work on a live commercial brief from an established record label, developing and producing a music video for multimedia platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. You'll pitch your own concept, then collaborate in cross-course teams to produce the selected idea. The module builds creative, technical, and professional skills in areas including research, direction, filming, editing, ethical practice, and industry-focused teamwork.

This module introduces you to the fundamental software and hardware technologies used in live streaming and broadcasting digital content. You will gain hands-on experience with a range of essential tools including cameras, lighting setups, vision mixing software and hardware, and graphic systems. The module places a strong emphasis on practical application, allowing you to explore both technical and creative aspects of streaming.

You will learn to use industry-standard platforms such as OBS and vMix, and develop an understanding of effective composition, lighting techniques, and camera operation for live environments. In addition to mastering the core technologies, you will explore automation tools, control surfaces, and plugins, as well as third-party applications that enhance the live broadcast workflow. The module also covers networked remote broadcasting setups, online streaming platforms, and video compression techniques.

As part of the content, you will investigate the requirements for broadcasting across multiple platforms, with attention to moderation, peripheral optimisation, and maintaining stream quality. Strategic content planning and production workflows will also be examined, ensuring you are prepared to deliver high-quality, engaging broadcasts to diverse audiences.

Do you love live music and want to create events that leave a lasting impact? This module introduces the principles and practices of designing, planning, and delivering live music events. You will develop a complete event proposal through lectures, workshops, and simulations, considering audience engagement, stakeholder management, logistics, sustainability, and professional standards. The module emphasises teamwork, reflective practice, and practical skills in a music-focused context.

Journalism for the Creative Industries is an exciting module that explores the dynamic intersection of journalism and the modern creative industries landscape.
The module equips students with the skills to produce engaging content across a range of formats, including features, news pieces, reviews, and copy for creative purposes.
Students will have the chance to engage in both written and video journalism, developing established techniques for conducting interviews and crafting compelling stories.

With a strong focus on contemporary industry practices, this module prepares creatives with an interest in journalism to navigate and contribute meaningfully to the world of the creative industries.

The module also explores the use of generative AI in journalism, considering its role in content creation, research, and storytelling. You will critically examine how AI tools can support journalistic practice while raising questions around ethics, originality, and credibility in the creative industries.

This module offers a dynamic and immersive introduction to the world of music production, designed specifically for Level 5 degree students with little to no prior experience. Delivered entirely within a Mac-based music lab using industry-standard Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) course emphasizes hands-on learning, creativity, and collaboration.

Each week introduces a new and distinct aspect of music production—from beat making and synthesis to mixing, remixing, and composing for media. Students will engage in a variety of practical tasks, creative challenges, and group-based projects that encourage experimentation and peer learning. The course is structured to ensure that every session feels fresh and engaging, with clear learning goals and tangible outcomes.

Through guided exploration of tools and techniques used by professionals, students will develop a foundational understanding of digital music creation. They will also build critical listening skills, problem-solving strategies, and the ability to communicate musical ideas effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

By the end of the course you will have produced a track that showcases their creative and technical growth. This course not only equips students with essential production skills but also fosters a deeper appreciation of the creative process behind modern music-making.

This practical module introduces the technologies and techniques behind live sound reinforcement. You will learn the features, functions, and interconnections of sound system components, including point source and line array systems. Through hands-on experience, you will build, test, and operate sound systems, ensuring they are functional and fit for purpose. While focused on live music events, the skills gained can also be applied to corporate events, theatre, and general speech reinforcement.

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

The additional placement year incurs a fee. For international students considering the transfer to the 4-yr SW route it's important to seek advice from the International Student Support team and the Home Office regarding any potential visa implications and costs. For UK students, advice should also be sought regarding SLC eligibility, if applicable.

* If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will need to apply for this course by using the full-time UCAS code.

If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.

This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).

Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.

Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).

Get ready to dive into the real world of the creative industries! This module is all about tackling live industry work via real briefs or other professional practices and developing the skills you need to thrive in your career. Whatever you're producing, you’ll be responding to industry challenges, pushing your problem solving, project management and creativity to build a portfolio that sets you apart. With skills workshops, and hands-on experience, this is your chance to level up and prove what you can do within professional parameters.

By the end of the module you will have assets that could support your Future Pathways module outward facing portfolio for semester 2, and the skills can support your Capstone Project.

You will explore the cutting-edge and exciting field of spatial and immersive audio, focusing on its applications in various industries such as gaming, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), film, and music production. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of technologies such as Dolby Atmos, Binaural HRTFs, and Ambisonics, along with theoretical principles such as spatialisation and psychoacoustics.

Practical implementation includes system setup, software tools, and project work, equipping you with the skills to create spatial audio productions across various industries.

Through research and application, you will truly be immersed in this module.

This module provides an opportunity for you to consolidate your academic, practical, and professional learning into a focused and strategic portfolio that reflects your readiness for the next stage of your career.

Drawing on the experiences, insights, and skills developed throughout your degree, you will curate a body of work that articulates your professional identity and future direction within Music and Events industries. This is a chance to synthesise your journey so far and present a compelling narrative of your abilities, values, and ambitions.

The emphasis is on finalising your career or further study plans, demonstrating a clear understanding of industry expectations, and showcasing your preparedness for employment or continued education. Through engagement with professional practices and critical self-reflection, you will develop a portfolio that not only highlights your achievements but positions you confidently for your next steps.

In this module you will apply what you have learnt throughout your course and start developing a Final Capstone Project. Working with your peers and lecturers, you will negotiate collaborative practice and individual achievement with the view of showcasing your work.

Depending on your course, these final capstone projects may be prescribed, collaborative or individual.

By the end of the module, you are expected to have arrived at an evidence-backed plan that can be implemented in Semester 2. You will have assessed any possible challenges and risks, including how collaboration and ethical considerations may affect your journey.

You will be submitting a project proposal for approval at the end of the module. In addition, you are expected to provide planning documentation and/or examples of work which will be negotiated with the course team when the assessment is set.

Any project work or expenditure can only take place after the project has been approved by the relevant course team.

The delivery comprises discipline-specific practical classes as well as lectures that will help you to design and contextualise the project.

Final Capstone Project is the culmination of your degree and an opportunity to integrate your learning, skills and experiences. This is your chance to create something meaningful, challenge yourself, and showcase who you are as a professional in your field.

At the core of your project is a practical, creative or research-led negotiated output – what this entails depends on your discipline area. These projects may be prescribed, collaborative or individual.

Whatever form your project takes, you are expected to frame it as a research project as well as to consider aspects such as existing and/or emerging technologies (including AI), ways of working, sustainability and social responsibility. Moreover, you are required to critically reflect on the distance travelled, the role collaboration played and any challenges you faced and overcame. You are invited to link this reflection with your personal and professional goals. Your appendices will evidence processes and experimentation within your subject area.