BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Technology
- UCAS code: GJ49
- Mode of study: Full time or sandwich (optional)
- Duration: 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich
- Entry requirements 2012/2013: 240-300 points to include a minimum of 240 points from A levels or equivalent. A qualification or experience in music production is required
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2421
Email: create.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Creative Technologies (CT)
Course overview
The BA (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):
- Analysis of Musical Software (20 credits): computer music sequencing and interface issues
- Sound Theory and Practice (20 credits): techniques for software synthesis and sampling with sound physics
- Studio Theory and Practice 1 (30 credits): recording techniques
- Music in Context: Popular Music Genre Studies (20 credits): history and analysis
- Soundtrack (20 credits): creating soundtrack recordings at a multimedia workstation
- Employability Skills for Creative Technology Students (10 credits): professional and vocational issues
Year two
You will study two core units:
- Creative Digital Sound (20 credits): technical and cultural issues of designing sound installation
- Research Methods (10 credits): project management and scholarship
In addition, you will be able to choose from the following options to make up the other 90 credits:
- Electroacoustic Music (20 credits): theory and practice in modern composition
- Studio Theory and Practice 2 (40 credits): location recording and post production editing
- Games Audio (20 credits): application of audio to games processes
- Composition (20 credits): composing for others to perform and development of Sibelius skills
- Music in Context 2 (20 credits): an examination of music from different parts of the world
- Soundtrack 2 (20 credits): music composition for films
- Student Initiated Project (10 credits)
- Developing Careers in the Creative Industries (10 credits)
- Additional optional units*(10 or 20 credits)
Year three
You will study the following core units:
- Creative Technologies Project (40 credits): you will work on an independent supervised project over both semesters Optional units include:
- Studio Theory and Practice 3 (40 credits): advanced development of skills formed over the course
- Programming Experimental Music (20 credits): using visual programming software, you will develop basic software tools to facilitate your work in other areas
- Experimental Performance Techniques (20 credits): live sampling – the laptop as a performance instrument
- Application of Sound (20 credits): an opportunity to develop a specific area of interest through group work
- Music in Context 3 (20 credits): analysis of British popular music 1950–2000
- Vocational Project (20 credits): CV and show-reel development
- Additional optional units* (10 or 20 credits)
*Additional optional units are available which allow you to participate in activities such as Big Band, Orchestra, Choir and the Dramatic and Musical Society.
Teaching and assessment
Portsmouth students experience a lively and modern learning environment with lectures, tutorials and web-based learning sessions. Portsmouth has a long and distinguished record of running very successful degree courses and prides itself on working at the leading edge of technology and learning methods.
We also have a reputation for providing a supportive and friendly atmosphere in which our students can quickly settle and enjoy their studies. Courses offer many individual subject choices, allowing you to tailor your programme to your individual strengths and interests. Staff members are very experienced in providing support to students. Help and guidance are readily available through a strong system of personal and subject tutors.
You will be taught and encouraged to learn using a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. The more practical projects are delivered in smaller classes. Because the course is linked to the entertainment industries there is an emphasis on group work. As the course progresses you will be asked to identify appropriate areas of study related to your career aspirations. You will therefore need to be self-motivated, hardworking and excited by work in this field.
The course is very practical and vocationally focused. We use many approaches to assessment including practical projects, working journals, evaluative essays, performances, oral presentations, examinations, case studies and academic essays.
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:
Pro Tools: Control 24 desk, Digi I/O 16, Apple G5 dual 2.5
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
Main Studio
Amek Angela 32:24:32:2 Channel console; 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
Pre-production Studio
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
Overdub Studio
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
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 Ableton Live. The PC Lab with Dell 64-bit PCs contains: Cubase, 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.