BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Technology
- UCAS code: GJ49
- Mode of study: Full time or sandwich with work placement
- Duration: 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry requirements 2013: 240-300 points to include a minimum of 240 points from A levels, or equivalent. A qualification or experience in Music Production is required.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2421
Email: create.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Creative Technologies (CT)
Course overview
The BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Technology is a course that understands the needs of musicians who wish to apply their skills in the modern workplace. If you are interested in music technology, composition, performance and the application of music and sound to film and video, and you have a certain flair for presenting complex topics in multimedia form, then this is the course for you. Consequently, you will learn about:
- a wide variety of contemporary music software
- studio recording, location recording
- electroacoustic music and installation work
- the manipulation of sound as a creative tool in its own right
- the relationship and application of music to film, video and multimedia
- music in society – issues, aesthetics and criticism
- modern techniques in composition and performance
The course covers the key areas of sound technology, media application, studio production, composition and musicianship.
Some students choose to undertake a sandwich/placement year between years two and three. We encourage anyone who wishes to do so and recommend that you begin to think about this and seek advice early on in your course if you are interested.
The design and structure of this course is such that students from a variety of musical backgrounds may undertake the programme. You may have studied A level music or have a music BTEC background. Alternatively, you may have experience in performance, composition, studio recording, studio engineering or software expertise.
Course content
The course is structured in the following way:
Year one
Students undertake all units in year one (the basis for the rest of the course):
- Sound: Practice and Theory (20 credits): techniques for software synthesis and sampling with sound physics
- Studio Introduction (20 credits): recording techniques
- Popular Music in Context (20 credits): the history and analysis of different music and the development of research and academic writing skills.
- Game Sound (20 credits): application of audio to games processes
- Electroacoustic Music Composition (20 credits): theory and practice in modern composition
- EPortfolio (20 credits): careers and online portfolio creation
Year two
You will study the following units:
- Digital Sound (20 credits): technical and cultural issues of designing sound installation
- Project Initiation and Career Management (20 credits): project management and scholarship and the development of careers in the Creative Industries
- Recording and Production Techniques (20 credits): location recording and post production editing
- Soundtrack Creation (20 credits): creating soundtrack recordings form film at a multimedia workstation including music composition, Foley, dialogue and FX
- Laptop Music Performance (20 credits): real-time audio sampling and manipulation
Additionally you may choose one of the following units to make up the other 20 credits.
- Composing Music (20 credits): composing for others to perform and the development of Sibelius skills
- Student Initiated Live Project (20 credits)
- Music: Practice, Performance and Research (20 credits): this is an opportunity to gain credit from performing in one of the ensembles which include the orchestra; the big band; the wind band; and the choir
- Language studies (20 credits): the opportunity to learn a language is available to all students
Year three
You will study the following core units:
- Creative Technologies Project (40 credits): you will work on an individual project rooted in the theory and/or practices of your degree
- Experimental Music Programming (20 credits): using visual programming software, you will develop basic software tools to facilitate your work in other areas
- Performing Experimental Music (20 credits): live sampling – the laptop as a performance instrument
- Sound Application (20 credits): an opportunity to develop a specific area of interest through group work
Additionally you may choose one of the following units to make up the other 20 credits.
- Studying Popular Music (20 credits): analysis of British popular music 1950–2000
- Interdisciplinary Group Project (20 credits): producing a multimedia artefact to a client brief
Career prospects
The BSc (Hons) Music and Technology course is geared to producing graduates with experience in developing music within digital media products.
It is expected, therefore, that you will find employment within the creative industries:
- sound design
- film and video production
- studio work
- internet sites
- music theatre
- virtual performance
- home entertainment industry
- composition
- performance
- teaching
- installations
- multimedia application
Alternatively, you may want to continue your studies at postgraduate level. The School of Creative Technologies offers the MSc Computational Sound for those who wish to further their academic careers. This course builds on the sound theory and practice aspects of the undergraduate degree.
Facilities and features
The course aims to provide you with a range of core skills and the opportunity to specialise in your chosen area. It is supported by an impressive multi-studio which boasts:
Studio 1
32 Channel TL Audio VTC (Valve Technology Console) desk; Digidesign 96i & 96 interfaces with x2 DSP cards; Apple MacPro quad-core Running ProTools HD; Studer A820 2-inch tape recorder; X3 Dual Compressors; X2 Dual Gates; Lexicon PCM 90 FX; Lexicon MXP 100 FX; Ensoniq DP4 + FX; Manley Massive Passive Valve EQ; Maslec solid state multiband mastering compressor; Solid State Logic Duende processing; Focusrite Liquid mix processing.
Studio 2
Digidesign Control 24 Console; Digidesign 192 HD interface with x2 DSP cards; Apple MacPro quad-core running ProTools HD; Line 6 guitar pre; Sony stereo FX; Joe Meek Studio Channel; Solid State Logic Duende processing; Focusrite Liquid mix processing.
Studio 3
Mackie 1604 VLZ mixer; Digidesign 003 interface; Dual i7 iMac Running Pro Tools LE; Focusrite studio channel; Line 6 guitar pre; Dual Sony compressor; Yamaha REV100 FX; Focusrite Liquid mix processing.
Studio 4
Mackie 1602 VLZ mixer; Digidesign 03 flying fader console; Dual i7 iMac Running ProTools LE; Joe Meek studio channel; Line 6 guitar pre; Dual Sony compressor; Yamaha REV100 FX; Focusrite Liquid mix processing.
You will also have easy access to a wide range of very powerful and modern multimedia computers and associated hardware equipped with the latest software. The Mac Labs contain iMac Dual i7 computers running: Logic, Pro Tools, MaxMsp, Reaktor, Pure Data, and Sibelius. There are also practice rooms for project work and minor recording activities.
The course staff bring a wide variety of skills and expertise to their teaching, which includes the areas of Sonic Art, digital and analogue recording, popular music performance, and composition and songwriting. In addition, they maintain close links with the world of work, both in Portsmouth and further afield. These links ensure that our courses reflect the current and future needs of commerce and industry.