Ever advancing technologies in the recording and audio industries mean there’s a demand for people with the right skills to help develop the next generation of music and audio technology. This course aims to give you these skills and prepare you for a wide range of exciting careers in music production and technical roles within the music and audio industries.

This popular music orientated course combines a broad range of modules covering the technical aspects of audio system development and the creative process of music production. Having access to industry-standard recording studios and design labs you will develop practical skills that will help you stand out from the crowd. Your study will combine audio theory, recording and production, software and hardware development, business and research skills, digital audio signal processing and acoustics. It’s our goal to prepare you for exciting and rewarding careers in areas such as:

• Audio engineering
• Audio software development
• Product development
• Music production
• Live sound production
• TV and film post production

Although this is our most technically demanding course, the emphasis is very much on the practical side of things with a focus on the use and application of equipment and processes used within an audio production environment. You'll study audio electronics and the hardware and software aspects of embedded system design, all related to the latest musical interfacing and audio processing techniques. In addition, you can study modules covering studio and concert hall recording, mixing, live music production, live event audio/visual systems, acoustics and psychoacoustics.

During your studies, you'll also get to study software development and gain valuable programming skills in several different languages which include C, C++, HTML, and Javascript. This will enable you to explore the use of the software in Music Technology applications such as DAWs and Plugins.

You will have access to industry-standard recording studios and design labs where you will develop both your practical and theoretical skills. These facilities consist of nine fully equipped Pro Tools studios, two production studios, live sound facilities, two audio workstation labs, software and electronic design and embedded systems facilities.

The studios are equipped with a variety of industry standard mixing consoles including SSL, a large format 48 channel Audient mixing console, Allan & Heath and Digidesign. We also have industry standard outboard processors, effects and high quality audio plugins from UAD and Waves.

All tutors on the course have worked in the audio and music industry. Many are members of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and are active researchers in their field presenting work at both national and international level. You’ll have the chance to draw on their expertise, and gain hands-on experience too. We value research in Higher Education and see this as a key part of your studies, so you'll learn valuable research skills as part of the course.

Our graduates have gone on from the course to work for companies like Adlib Audio working on live sound with major touring artists and Calrec Audio working on new digital mixing desks, while others have gone on to technical positions at companies like Abbey Road Studios.

Placements

This course offers you the chance to undertake an optional placement in Year 3. This opportunity helps you to build on the knowledge and skills developed on the course. You will be employed by the company for 12 months, but the actual number of weeks worked will be dependent on the annual leave entitlement you are given in line with the placement company’s policy.

The placement year is a valuable tool that can enhance your employability and help you to develop as an individual. It is acknowledged that graduates with industry experience are generally much more attractive to employers.

Our Placement Unit will be on hand to support you in finding suitable placement opportunities. They will assist you with preparing your CV and with interview techniques. They'll also be in contact with you during your placement so that you'll be fully supported while you gain the experience that employers value so highly.

Previous placement providers have included, Warner Music, Bang and Olufsen, and Universal Music.You can find more information on placements here.

Alternatively, if you are a student from within the UK, you could consider starting your own small business by applying for the Enterprise Placement Year in conjunction with the University’s Enterprise Team. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from business advice, mentoring and networking sessions. Find out more information on the Enterprise Placement Year.

Your Career

Previous graduates from this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as freelance music producer, design support engineer, senior broadcast engineer, commercial manager UK & Europe, software developer and senior product test engineer in organisations including Solid State Logic, BBC, Warner Music Group, Sky and Calrec Audio Ltd.**

* Percentage of graduates from this course who are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating (Unistats 17/18 data, UK domiciled graduates).