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MA Music Production and Audio Cultures

Audio Signals and Psychoacoustics MUS00098M

Summative Assessment 2:

Practical: Composition and commentary

Introduction

This document describes one (of two) assignments that you are required to undertake for the Semester 1 Audio Signals and Psychoacoustics module. This assignment is worth 70% of the overall module marks, and assesses the following Module Learning Outcomes as outlined in the Module Catalogue.  

By the end of the module you should be able to:

● use empirical measurements to assess and improve audio productions, room acoustics and monitoring systems  (LO1)

● troubleshoot any digital synchronisation, signal flow or routing problems in the recording and production facilities (LO2)

● design and apply innovative combinations of existing technologies (LO3)

● develop your own learning strategies to adopt new and unknown audio technologies (LO5)

Context

Throughout this module you have been introduced to a range of analogue and digital audio  technologies that can be applied to music and sound production. This assessment is designed to allow you to demonstrate your understanding and creative application of these  technologies.

There is no limit on the type of sound material that you can experiment with to create a music and/or sound piece. It could result in any aesthetic or genre from pop music  

to experimental sound art, it could be sequenced or improvised, incorporating acoustic  instruments or environmental field recordings, or a mixture of compositional approaches.

Tasks and guidance

You are asked to produce an audio artefact (3-5 mins long), which can be either your own original composition, or a sound piece that incorporates elements of sound design, or reworks an existing piece of music.

Your sound piece should assemble or incorporate creative uses of your own DIY designs and/or innovative combinations of existing audio technologies in order to explore different kinds of sounds and processing techniques.

You should also write a commentary (1000 words) that outlines how your creative process incorporated knowledge that you gained throughout the lectures, workshops, listening seminars and induction sessions that were offered in this module. In particular, in the written commentary, you should discuss how and why you have used particular technologies and the ways you have explored or developed them. You should also explain what your artistic goal was in producing the composition and how it relates to similar styles or genres.

What to submit

A. Your sound piece/composition (between 3 and 5 mins long) as a high quality stereo audio file in .wav or .aiff format, 16bit or 24bit, and 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.  

B.  A written commentary in .pdf  format of 1000 (+/- 10%) words in length, which describes your compositional/design approach, and the creative application of the various technologies you have utilised during the production process. Formatting guidelines for all written work will be made available via the VLE modules site soon.

NB. The files should be anonymised (i.e, your name should be replaced with your examination number) and submitted according to the submission guidelines included in the module VLE site. The usual penalties for late submission will apply: for more information on these see the Music Production & Audio Cultures MA Handbook.

Marking scheme

Your submission will be marked according to the following scheme:

Sound Piece/Composition

Sound Design: 40%

Does the composition demonstrate variety, originality and quality in sound experimentation?

Composition and Production?

Is the audio production of a high standard and does it demonstrate technical control with  respect to: coherence, form, scenario, level balance, stereo image, etc.?

Written Commentary:

Design and/or Innovative Assembly of Technologies (based on the report): 40%

What technologies or processes have been applied during production?  Are these tools or concepts clearly understood?

To what extent have the basic methods been explored or developed?

Artistic Vision and Aesthetic Goals (based on the report): 20%

Is there an understanding of context, how the composition relates to other sound aesthetics, musical genres or styles?

To what extent is there a critical reflection upon the desired artistic objectives?