Sound Engineering & Audio Production FdSc
- Level(s) of Study: Foundation degree / Undergraduate
- Typical Offer: 64 UCAS tariff points
- UCAS Code(s): J943
- Start Date(s): September
- Duration: Two years, full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: Confetti Nottingham
Introduction:
The world of sound engineering and audio production offers many opportunities on a global scale, and on this course you’ll explore the technical world of sound recording, creation and processing in numerous applications.
You'll experience sound capture and manipulation within contexts such as game audio, and sound for film and post production, recording studio engineering, mixing, and sound design – all wrapped up within employability contexts, as part of our Do It For Real ethos.
You’ll get to learn and perform in world-class studios and performance spaces, surrounded by experts who are working professionals in the music and creative industries.
You’ll also benefit from being assigned an industry mentor in your final year to support you with your industry-focused modules and provide a network of contacts and opportunities for when you graduate.
This course is taught at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in Nottingham.
What you’ll study
The course curriculum balances theoretical study alongside practical application. Throughout the course you’ll be challenged to develop your decision-making in new, and at times, complex and unpredictable contexts. The content of the course also closely reflects current working practices in industry, and aims to prepare you for work in a highly competitive workplace. Students in audio and music technology will increasingly be faced with freelance and self-employed models of work upon graduation.
Introduction to the Studio (20 Credit Points)
You will begin your journey into the studio environment by developing your understanding of the fundamentals of recording. You will learn about large format consoles, signal flow, connections, microphone types, and DAWs to record audio.
You’ll be able to apply these skills whether you’re in a traditional studio or have a small home set up: get this right now, and it will set you up for all of your future studio work.
Studio Practice (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you’ll discover the magic of recording various artists using different styles of recording such as multitracking and overdubbing, in session and in your own time, to form a portfolio of studio work.
Pro Tools Techniques (20 Credit Points)
In the professional audio world Pro Tools is the DAW of choice. In this module, you’ll learn how to use this powerful application by covering Pro Tools navigation and operation, setting you up for the rest of your course and career in audio, and paves the way for Pro Tools accreditation.
Sound Design (20 Credit Points)
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.
Sound and Audio Fundamentals (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will experience the core principles of the subject area, in order to understand fundamental theory and how this can be applied to the relevant technology in this field. Areas such as sound wave principles, audio signals, analysis tools and industry standards will be developed, both in understanding and application.
The module is designed to underpin all the technology applied in other modules to ensure you have a solid base of knowledge to build upon.
Your Industry (20 Credit Points)
You will explore contexts of working in the international world of sound and music and how you might establish a career by exploring the flow of money through the industry and relevant current and emerging trends. You'll assess your current skill set and discover what you need to do to improve your chances of success on your employable journey.
You'll choose work like briefs lasting at least 80 hours to enable you to experience working opportunities in a field of interest, then reflect on your learning to set you up for the rest of your course in an employable mind set. Your future starts now!
Studio Production (20 Credit Points)
You will explore digital, analogue, and hybrid studio technologies, developing recording and processing techniques to take on a variety of productions over the module: this could be using traditional studio environments (on-site or external) or your own DIY production set ups.
You will collaborate with performers, artists, and other students to work on a wide base of genres, selecting a range of your productions for a portfolio that should be approaching commercial standards.
Mixing (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you'll work to client supplied briefs as well as your own self sourced material, engaging in technical and creative post production and mixing processes to create a portfolio of work. You'll critically compare your mixes with industry outputs from around the world and learn approaches to help you meet commercial benchmarks.
You'll cover techniques with compression, effects and automation with additional production skills such as vocal editing and production, drum production and other genre specific approaches of additional production through a range of projects.
Audio for Games (20 Credit Points)
In this module you will develop your sound design and implementation skills, for games, using a range of industry-standard software and techniques. You will create in-game audio content for objects, such as weapons, vehicles, ambience, and user interfaces.
You will develop a personal showreel that will showcase your audio for games skills, which will support your employability in the industry.
Sound for Visual Content (20 Credit Points)
In this module you will undertake the full audio production for a piece of film from sound design, location and field recording, Foley, right through to editing, ADR and final mix.
You will be in charge of gathering all audio assets to complement the video and create an audio visual product you can use as your showreel for potential employment.
Acoustic Theory and Application (20 Credit Points)
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.
Industry Practice (20 Credit Points)
During this module you will source and execute appropriate self-directed projects, working individually and collaboratively on creative work, allowing you to directly apply the research, knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme in the context of the workplace. This module aims to develop your overall professionalism and provide you with the knowledge and resources to begin a career in the creative industries. The nature of creative industries is increasingly defined by freelance and self-employed models of work.
Consequently, individuals seeking work in industry need to appreciate the pressures of working on multiple projects to strict deadlines and the subsequent demands this place on time and resources. Similarly, an understanding of professional practice and the legal and economic imperatives in industry is important, as is effective communication, self-efficacy and autonomy.
This module aims to develop these skills and knowledge by challenging you to develop a range of self-directed projects along with analysis of the processes involved along the way.
Do It For Real at Splendour
How you’re taught
Teaching and learning will take place in a range of bespoke studios, IT suites and classrooms. You’ll develop your practical, technical and critical thinking skills through a mixture of lectures, workshops, seminars, academic tutorials and guest lectures. In these classes you’ll explore the core aspects of the module subject areas whilst also reporting back on your individual progress and research findings.
The audio and music industry is embedded in the course, with industry and work-related opportunities including live client briefs, Confetti’s Industry Week, guest lectures and short work placements. These will be offered in addition to your studies. By the end of your studies, you’ll have developed the skills to independently gain industry experiences.
Industry Week
As a Music Technology student, you'll take part in Industry Week where you’ll meet a range of professionals within your field of interest, as well as other areas of the creative industries.
Previous guests include:
- Michael Eavis
- Professor Green
- DJ Yoda
- Mandy Parnell (Bjork, Aphex Twin, The White Stripes)
- Jon Kelly (Paul McCartney, Kate Bush)
- Goetz Botzenhardt (Bjork, Sugarbabes, Faithless, Dido, Pet Shop Boys)
- George Shilling (Oasis, Primal Scream, James Brown)
Check out our talks OnDemand here.
Degree Show
In your final year you will exhibit your work as part of Confetti's Degree Show. This event includes all final year students across Confetti's courses and is a great platform for you to showcase your work to key influencers across the creative industries.
Careers and employability
Our aim is to create high quality, entrepreneurially-adept graduates to work in all aspects of the sound and audio industry.
Typical roles include sound engineer, location recorder, music producer, audio post production, game audio designer, broadcast audio, technician, and producer.
The great thing about studying at Confetti is that you'll have the option to top-up on the final year of our BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering and Audio Production in either Nottingham or London.
Campus and facilities
Study Sound Engineering and Audio Production at Confetti and you'll learn in our very own live music and events venue, Metronome.
With its unrivalled reputation for the quality of its sound and visuals, Metronome hosts a successful commercial programme of live events throughout the year – and it’s here where you’ll learn from the best and gain real work experience.
This world-class venue is home to some amazing facilities, jampacked with recording studios, rehearsal rooms, performances spaces, and a 400-capacity venue.
Industry kit and facilities
- Exigy and MPC ATC monitors
- Specialist IT and production suites with software such as Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton
- Industry-standard recording, mixing and mastering studios including SSL Duality, Neumann and Schoeps Studer equipment
- Specialist IT Suites with Logic, Pro Tools, N.I Komplete M4L and Ableton software
- Performance rehearsal rooms
- 400 capacity live events venue
- Post-production suites including Soundfield, 5.1, Foley Room, Binaural and VR technology
- Synth Lab: a shrine to the synthesiser
Entry requirements
- 64 UCAS Tariff points; and
- GCSE - English and Maths Grade C / 4
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
You will also have at least one of the following music qualifications:
- A level or other level 3 qualification in related subject such as BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology or Production(or similar, e.g. RSL Awards)
We welcome suitable applicants without standard entry requirements. Once we receive your UCAS application we may be in touch to request you evidence your relevant experience and interest in using Music Technology in this straight forward way:
- A short 2 – 3 minute video where you talk through a production you have been involved in on a DAW or where you have recorded live instrumentation
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
This course is not suitable for International applicants.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
This course is not suitable for International applicants.
How to apply
Application for this course is through the UCAS application form.
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Selection for this course takes place through UCAS application form.
Application deadline
This course starts in September and applications should be submitted by the UCAS deadline.
Applications received after this date will only be considered if places are still available, after all applications received by the deadline have been assessed.
Mature students
We welcome applications from mature students (over the age of 21) for this course. We will assess applicants of this nature on an individual basis.
If you are a mature student, you will still need to apply to us by UCAS form, but you don't necessarily need to meet our minimum entry requirements.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades,
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It's your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You've got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you're applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
This course is not suitable for International applicants.