Music Technology

UCAS code: W350

Here's what University of the West of Scotland says about its Music Technology course.

OVERVIEW

Prepare for a career in the music and media industry with UWS’s BSc (Hons) Music Technology.With access to state-of-the-art, industry-standard equipment and software, you’ll be involved in: • Audio post-production • Acoustics • Electronic music composition • Immersive audio • Industry studies • Live sound production • Music recording and production • Mastering • Synthesis and sound design Complementing the theory you’ll learn in class, regular guest lectures from industry professionals will help strengthen your understanding of Music Technology.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

• This programme will provide you with the knowledge and practical experience needed to work in the creative music, audio and media sectors. • You will develop a wide range of industry relevant technical skills related to music and audio production. • This programme is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) and is an Avid Learning Partner, which gives you the opportunity to gain Pro Tools certification.

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Teaching is delivered between two dedicated Apple Mac labs complete with two recording studios and two surround post-production suites, one of which is Dolby Atmos enabled. The studios operate with Pro Tools and Logic with a selection of outboard processing hardware catering for up to 24 channels of recording. You will also have access to industry standard software and hardware. Our Macs are equipped with the latest versions of Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro X, Final Cut X and Max for Live.

CAREERS

BSc (Hons) Music Technology graduates have the technical skills, business awareness and networking abilities to secure roles in industries including: • Audio post-production • Acoustics and live sound • Broadcast audio • Education • Immersive game audio • Music mixing & mastering • Sound design • Video and media production

Year 1 Students will be introduced to modern audio/music recording and production techniques through creating podcasts and music recording projects in the studio with a range of software and AVID Pro Tools systems. Creativity within computer-based music will be studied and developed. Within live sound and acoustics, they will work with analogue and digital consoles and small PA systems. They will also investigate and develop an appreciation of the scope of music production and the music and media industry. • The Creative Computing Professional • Audio For Broadcast • Recording and Production 1 • Music Production Analysis • Computer Music • Sound Reinforcement Systems Year 2 Studio recording and production techniques are further developed with a deeper focus on industry technical standards. You will study electronic music and understand MIDI control through composition and sound design in Ableton. Audio post production work enhances your skills in synchronisation, editing and processing techniques for deliverable media. Practical impulse response capture and room acoustics theory provides you with contextualised learning in reverberation, room design and acoustic analysis. Continuing studies in sound reinforcement theory and systems will culminate with group work and the technical production of a live music event. • Audio Post-Production • Acoustics • Live Sound Technologies • Music Recording and Production • Sound System Design • Electronic Music Year 3 You will work in small production teams with musicians and artists producing professional multi-song recordings (EP's), video and web content for promotional purposes for the artist. This will be used to showcase your employable skills within a portfolio context. Music and media industry business and legal aspects are studied in terms of employment and entrepreneurship. Audio processing is introduced through the creation of a suite of effects developed in Max For Live for Ableton Live. You will have an opportunity to participate in a music industry placement in the UK or abroad in a partner institution, such as the Harris Institute in Canada. • The Music and Media Industry • Audio Visual Integration • Professional Studio Practice • Audio Signal Processing • Music Technology Project • Immersive Audio/ Work Based Learning Year 4 The honours year features an extensive individual project culminating in the production of a dissertation and portfolio assets. You can customise your topic to enable you to develop specialised knowledge and skills towards your area of interest for future employment. You will be required to raise the quality of your work to implement professional and European standards for the delivery of audio in stereo and surround formats. Using current industry relevant mastering plug-in software and applying your professional listening skills, you will finalise selected tracks and format them for distribution. You will produce and synchronise all the audio assets required to complete a sound track for an animated short film. You will apply the principles of signal processing in the development of software synthesisers and generative MIDI sequencing devices using Max For Live in Ableton Live. You will further develop your sound design and audio post-production skills within a non linear audio environment for the specific requirements of computer games. • Music Technology Major Project • Audio Mastering • Audio For Film & Animation • Advanced Audio Sig

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and production workshops.