Diploma in Music and Sound Production

Audio Post-production and Foley Arts 

Audio Post-production and Foley Arts introduces students to conceptual, aesthetic and philosophical approaches to audio production for film, games, and other forms of visual media. The module covers practical industry skills, including Foley for picture, location sound recording, and audio post-production. Students are provided with opportunities to hone their audio production skills and develop a greater appreciation for the role that sound plays in visual media. Students are required to use industry equipment such as wired and wireless microphones, field mixers, field recorders, digital audio workstations, and other professional audio devices. Students will learn to apply these skills to produce and capture Foley, sound effects (SFX), soundtracks, ambient sounds and dialogue for a wide range of media. 

Podcast Production 

The Podcast Production module is a course designed to integrate the craft of podcasting with advanced artificial intelligence technologies. Students will learn the fundamentals of podcast production from concept development to distribution, while employing AI tools for voice synthesis, automated editing, and analytics. The course aims to teach students how to create engaging, data-driven podcast content using AI to enhance audio quality, content generation, and audience personalisation. Teaching methods include lectures and hands-on workshops with an understanding of ethical AI use in media. 

Social Media Video Production 

Social Media Video Production introduces students to the tools, techniques and processes used in capturing and creating audio-visual material for videos and digital media works. The module emphasises hands-on skills by familiarising students with the use of industry-relevant media production tools and techniques, as well as fundamental industry-standard processes. Students produce audio-video materials and assets according to the three stages of production – pre-production, production and post-production. Students will engage in exercises and projects that see them putting the knowledge and competencies acquired in lessons into practice to produce short videos that meet industry standards. 

Designing with Emerging Technology 

This module covers the creative application of new and evolving technologies in live events and productions. Students will explore how projection mapping, sound, and visual media can be integrated to design immersive and engaging experiences. Through hands-on experimentation, they discover how these elements interact to enhance storytelling and audience impact.

Creative Studio 

Creative Studio teaches students about the principles, concepts, and techniques that creative professionals use to conceptualise, develop, and critique creative works. The module explores why and how these concepts or principles are effective in terms of human creative expression. It looks at how professionals use these concepts and techniques while providing students with opportunities to apply them to their own creative works. Students first explore the origins of creativity: what it is, where it comes from, why it is important, and how it has become essential for all professions. This results in students discerning and appreciating  what makes some creative works more effective than others. Students will develop confidence in sharing their beliefs and opinions about the craft that underpins their creative discipline. Furthermore, they will be able to suggest changes to improve a work’s effectiveness and articulate strategies to advance their own creative output. 

Generative AI for Creative Professionals 

This module explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and creative industries, focusing on how AI can be used to enhance creativity, innovation, and productivity. Students will learn to harness the power of AI prompting tools to generate ideas, solve creative challenges, and refine their work. The course covers the fundamentals of AI systems, their application in creative processes, and ethical considerations in AI use. 

Principles of Sound Design 

The Principles of Sound Design module provides an exploration of the essential elements in sound production and manipulation. Students will delve into signal flow and recording techniques, gaining hands-on experience with a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to edit and mix audio. The course covers Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and the integration of Generative AI tools for innovative sound creation. Additionally, students will learn to utilise Sound Effects (SFX) libraries while understanding the importance of copyright considerations in their work. The module culminates in an assignment where students create a narration with a soundscape tailored for an event, museum installation, or theatre production, blending technical skills with creative storytelling. 

Branding, Advertising and Promotion 

This module explores the strategic elements of branding, advertising, and promotion, focusing on building strong brand identities, designing effective advertising campaigns, and implementing promotional strategies that engage target audiences. Students will learn to integrate traditional and digital media to maximise reach and impact, navigate ethical and legal considerations, and measure the effectiveness of their efforts. Through case studies, practical assignments, and hands-on projects, students will gain the skills needed to create and manage successful branding and promotional strategies in a competitive market. 

Creative Enterprise in the Gig Economy 

Creative Enterprise in the Gig Economy equips students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to face challenges in the creative industries as novice professionals. The module emphasises submitting a pitch that demonstrates an understanding of financial and marketing planning, intellectual property rights, and presentation and delivery skills. Students learn to pitch a creative idea or concept to a company or organisation. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge of marketing and contracts. Students practise communicating clearly in business settings, specifically in pitching, negotiating, and marketing their expertise. Students also develop the ability to provide an overview of the different types of business enterprises that engage creative professionals and explain how freelancers function in today’s global creative marketplace. Students learn to research potential employers, draft indications of interest for projects, and pitch ideas in a variety of settings. 

Visual Storytelling 

Visual Storytelling presents various theories and techniques of telling stories visually, with the goal of enabling students to create effective visual sequences of their own. Storyboarding and video editing are covered extensively, and, through analysis, discussion, and practice, students develop the ability to create, select, and place images in sequence so as to maximise the dramatic effect of a work. Through observation, discussion, analysis, and hands-on practice, students become fluent in the language, grammar, terminology, and techniques of visual storytelling. They will also learn to identify and understand the emotional and dramatic development in a short story and be able to translate that development into an effective visual sequence.

Electronic Music Production 

This module teaches electronic music production techniques using both hardware and software instruments to create diverse timbres and sound textures for sound design and studio production. Through hands-on activities in a studio-like environment, students learn various synthesis methods and utilise performance interfaces and music sequencing systems. Collaborative mini assignments with industry-standard equipment, including software and hardware synthesisers, MIDI controllers, and digital audio workstations, help students master progressive sound generation techniques. By the end of the module, students will produce original electronic music and articulate the concepts behind the various synthesis techniques. 

Music Recording and Mixing Techniques 

This module covers advanced audio editing, signal processing, and immersive mixing techniques for game audio, music production, and audio post-production for various delivery platforms. Students will further develop practical skills and deepen their knowledge of the hardware and software commonly used in studio environments. The module first equips students with up-to-date recording, editing, mixing, signal processing and surround sound techniques. It then introduces approaches to enhance audio fidelity, fix audio artefacts, and leverage specialised tools to produce professional-quality soundtracks. At the end of the module, students gain experience in the aesthetic considerations underpinning the industry workflow and processes for the design and delivery of immersive audio experiences. 

Popular Music Arrangement 

Popular Music Arrangement develops music theory skills by teaching students to recognise and use the core elements of popular music— rhythm, melody, harmony, and texture to produce arrangements for popular music ensembles. Students first learn to aurally recognise these elements in works they hear and explain how these elements combine to produce different styles of popular music. Students then learn to produce simple popular music arrangements in 4-part harmony by applying common melodic manipulation, voice leading, instrumentation, and harmonisation techniques to a given melody. Concurrently, they learn to input a score into a sequencer using a piano keyboard. Upon completion of the module, students will be able to apply common popular music techniques to produce their original arrangements of popular music works. 

Popular Music Composition 

The Popular Music Composition module equips students with essential skills for contemporary music creation, focusing on melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics. Key topics include the fundamentals of music composition, melodic development, harmonic techniques, and rhythmic patterns, as well as lyrical writing and arrangement. Students learn to use digital audio workstations (DAWs), MIDI sequencing, and virtual instruments. The module also covers genre-specific techniques, critical analysis of successful compositions, and practical applications through composition projects. This comprehensive training prepares students for careers as songwriters, composers, music producers, and arrangers, ensuring they can create original, industry-standard music. 

DJ Music Performance and Controllerism 

The DJ Music Performance with Controllerism module is designed to equip students with the expertise needed for modern DJing using DI controller utilisation. Teaching involves hands-on workshops and demonstrations with the use of digital controllers. The course covers essential skills such as beat matching, mixing, effects processing, and musical instruments, focusing on creativity and technical mastery for live performances. This course is aimed at developing a distinctive artistic style and proficiency in handling contemporary DJ tools. Students are recommended to have their own laptop, DJ software, and MIDI controller to fully engage with the course content. 

Techniques for ‘Live’ and Music Audio Production 

Develops students’ capabilities to manage Front of House (FOH), broadcast, and ‘live’ recording applications for ‘live’ sound events. Learn how to plan, set up, and manage professional audio equipment and software required to deliver quality sound reinforcement to ‘live’ and online audiences. Focuses on MICE and ‘live’ music performance contexts. Students will learn how to troubleshoot common audio-related technical issues, enhance audio sources via signal processing, and leverage ‘live‘ sound technology such as networked audio and wireless systems. 

Backline and Stage Monitoring 

This module provides an in-depth exploration of backline and stage monitoring in live music production. Students will learn to identify, configure, and maintain backline equipment, and will master the setup and operation of various stage monitoring systems, including wedge and in-ear monitors. Emphasising practical application, the module covers monitor mixing techniques, troubleshooting, and effective communication with performers and sound team members. Through hands-on projects and real-world scenarios, students will gain the skills needed to deliver clear, reliable stage sound, ensuring optimal performance conditions for live music events.