The MSc in Digital Audio Engineering is a unique and innovate course designed to give you advanced knowledge and skills related to digital audio, which can be found in every area of modern technology and culture. On this course you will gain the creative, investigative and critical thinking abilities to apply your knowledge and skills to real-world situations and problems, such as audio analysis, effects and synthesis plug-ins, digital controllers, installation and embedded systems for public spaces.
Digital audio is part of all aspects of modern life. This includes areas such as music and sound production, media and gaming, 3D spatial audio, mobile devices and streaming, online media and the internet of things (IoT), plus many others. The need for people to have the necessary technical and creative abilities to enable and progress how digital audio is embedded in all these areas and many more, is significant.
The course promotes an independent and self-motivating approach to learning by encouraging you to develop real-world technical expertise to effectively innovate, design, develop and operate a range of digital audio systems. Upon graduation you will be prepared as a professional, equipped with the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to develop a successful career as a digital audio engineer.
The course provides you the opportunity to engage in a wide range of digital audio application developments and potential collaborations with postgraduate students in other areas of the university. These include music technology, software engineering other subject areas in the School of Computing and Engineering and the London College of Music.
The development of learning skills includes processes and activities such as critical appraisal, reflection, literature searching, information technology, peer review, group work, presentation, research, practice/professional skills, note-taking, writing skills, electronic information retrieval, communication skills and independent study at home. These skills will be an integral part of learning courses.
The course modules will enable you to evidence your ability to combine different but related audio engineering subjects in an applied manner. Students from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds in related subjects will be able to enrol and succeed on the course. The type of undergraduate courses students may join the MSc from include:
As would be expected at masters’ level, there is an appropriate balance of theory and practice, and in order to be successful students will need to demonstrate high levels of analytical, critical and reflective skills alongside a professional level of practical skills and knowledge. Teaching and learning on the programme is underpinned by the research and development activities of the course team.
Click the following link for information on how to apply to this course.
Information about scholarships and bursaries can be found here.
Music Technology is a rapidly evolving field of study with a diverse and expanding range of possibilities.
The MSc in Audio Technology is designed to go beyond the simple provision of training, and to instead enable you to engage with current debates and actively participate in some of the most vibrant areas of contemporary research.
Throughout the course you will be encouraged to demonstrate self-direction and autonomy as you critically explore and define your position within the wider field. One overarching aim is that you should leave the course as not only an adept user of various hardware and software technologies, but as someone able to actively shape and develop their own, responding as necessary to future developments.
Thus, in addition to developing your theoretical and methodological understanding, the MSc in Audio Technology features a strong emphasis on practical work in a number of different (but related) areas. For example, you will study modules in Advanced Studio Practice, Sound on Screen, Music Computing and Musical Human-Computer Interaction. These are supported by a technology-orientated Research and Development module that provides robust foundation for the final Audio Technology Project.
Acting as summary of all that you have learned and a portfolio going forward, the Audio Technology Project provides an opportunity to plan and execute a substantial project in an area of personal specialism or interest. Innovative projects are encouraged, and there exists the potential for interdisciplinary and/or collaboration with practitioners in other fields.
Advanced Studio Practice
This module explores various methodologies employed in the planning, recording, editing, mix down and mastering stages of audio production. You will conduct research into genre and equipment-specific working practices, which will lead to the development of innovative engineering concepts and techniques. You will evaluate and use a variety of software and hardware tools and produce work in both stereo and surround sound.
Sound on Screen
The module aims to investigate the relationship between sound and the moving image in contexts such as film, television, advertising and video games. Throughout the module you will develop your understanding of theories, practices and techniques used in the production of music intended to be experienced in conjunction with other media. This will initially involve analysing and deconstructing a range of audio-visual media, examining their aims and how effectively these aims are met. You will then use your understanding of the work of others in the field to critically inform and evolve your own approaches. Using a variety of techniques and technologies, you will create a number of short practical pieces to accompany a variety of linear and non-linear media.
Music Computing
In this module you will explore the relationship between theories of music and computing and creative practice. More specifically, you will study perception and cognition of sound, the ways in which computers can analyse music and audio, generative musical structures, and how these compositional processes can be applied to the generation and transformation of audio. In carrying out the practical assignment, you will critically evaluate, understand the differences between, and demonstrate mastery of common musical programming languages in the realisation of your ideas.
Musical Human-Computer Interaction
Musical interaction is a vibrant area of contemporary research with considerable crossover into more established areas such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Physical/Ubiquitous Computing. In the first part of the module you will look at recent work by the New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) community, using these examples to examine and explore a range of pertinent design issues. These include: novice versus virtuoso users (i.e. ease of use versus the potential for mastery), single versus multi-user, discrete versus continuous data control, the provision of haptic feedback, and causality of sound. Using appropriate Physical Computing technologies (e.g. Arduino, Beagleboard, sensors, actuators, basic electronics), you will then design and implement a musical interface for a chosen real-time application (i.e. analysis, composition, or performance). Finally, you will consider how HCI-inspired evaluation methods may be applied to your work, and document your design (online) in such a way that it can be recreated and developed further by interested others.
Research and Development
The Research and Development module initially explores the nature of innovation, then moves on to examine research process including design and development, fundamentals of both quantitative and qualitative traditions, and HCI-inspired methodologies for the evaluation of audio software, musical interfaces and other technologies. Towards the end of the module the emphasis then shifts to the development of an individual research design/proposal that may form the basis of your final Audio Technology Project.
Audio Technology Project
The Audio Technology Project is an opportunity for students to pursue a substantial, self-directed project in a chosen area of audio or musical technology.
The course will actively equip both graduates and those already in industry with a diverse range of skills to enhance their career prospects. It will also develop a range of opportunities for experience and employment in areas such as studio recording, media production and content creation, video game and software development, education (FE/HE), research assistantships/studentships, and employment in HE institutions.
In addition to subject-specific practical skills, you will also acquire a range of transferable skills relevant for pursuing a research degree. These include critical, analytical, project management and research skills from the study of a broad spectrum of literature, research, and external projects.
https://www.kent.ac.uk/locations/medway/
The MA in Music Technology focuses on the use, development and implementation of technology within the wider musical context, exploring issues such as interactivity, audio programming, sound spatialisation and multimedia. Modules include Programming and Production Techniques and a Music Technology project.
The University of Kent has invested over £5 million in Music facilities, to provide you with the best possible study and research environment. A number of historic buildings in the atmospheric Chatham Historic Dockyard have been renovated to provide a new range of professional standard facilities. Our new specialist facilities include a large Neve recording studio, a Foley recording space, surround-sound studio and post-production rooms. All have been designed to the highest standard in order to provide an excellent environment for postgraduate work.
Visit the website: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/155/music-technology
Work is developed through individual enquiry as well as sharing and critiquing ideas through group seminars, designed to provide a forum for debate as well as practical instruction. There will also be significant opportunity for collaborative and interdisciplinary work taking into account other subjects at Medway and Canterbury.
All MA programmes are designed to provide knowledge and skills in practice-based research, as well as giving you experience of current research practices in various areas of critical and analytical thinking.
You take common modules in research methods and postgraduate study skills, while giving you the opportunity to foster your subject skills in specialist modules. Work is developed through individual enquiry as well as sharing and critiquing ideas through group seminars, designed to provide a forum for debate as well as practical instruction.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.
- Advanced Audio Skills (30 credits)
- Music Technology Project (60 credits)
- Technology in Performance (30 credits)
- Cinema for the Ears (30 credits)
- Ensemble Performance (30 credits)
- Audio Electronics (30 credits)
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Assessment is by a range of coursework, including individual projects, skills-based tasks, seminar presentations and written work.
A postgraduate degree in the area of music and audio arts is a valuable and flexible qualification, which can lead to career opportunities within the creative industries, music recording and production, audio software development, sound for film, composition and academic careers.
These possibilities are augmented by work in video games, the Internet, live sound for theatres and festivals, audio installations for museums, sonic arts and computer music. Postgraduates interested in a research career are supported by the University’s Graduate School Research Development Programme. The University’s Employability Weeks can also provide valuable support in terms of planning future careers.
How to apply: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/
- Kent is ranked 21st in the Times Higher Education (THE) ‘Table of Tables’ 2017.
- Kent is ranked 22nd in The Guardian University Guide 2018.
- Kent is ranked 25th in The Complete University Guide 2018.
- Of Kent graduate students who graduated in 2016, 98% of those who responded to a national survey were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
- For research quality, Music at Kent was ranked 13th in The Complete University Guide 2018 and 16th in The Times Good University Guide 2018.
- For graduate prospects, Music at Kent was ranked 14th in The Times Good University Guide 2018.
Find out more: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/why/
We have a scholarship fund of over £9 million to support our taught and research students with their tuition fees and living costs. Find out more: https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/
If you need to improve your English before and during your postgraduate studies, Kent offers a range of modules and programmes in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Find out more here: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/international/english.html
Our Digital Music and Sound Arts MA is aimed at graduate and professional artists who are interested in exploratory, experimental and interdisciplinary approaches to sound, music, AV media, and sound arts practices and productions.
The course enables students to address new developments in digital music and sound arts and the role of sound in contemporary culture in its widest sense. It is structured around a framework for developing advanced practices relevant to artistic and commercial contexts, and for potential researchers wishing to further their research-based practice.
Through creative practice-based research students will engage with musical composition and sound design productions, as well as focusing on the relationship of sound to other art forms and related media key areas including:
Through creative practice-based research students will engage with musical composition and sound design productions. Studies will place particular emphasis on the relationship of sound to other art forms and related media key areas including:
Modules
Some modules are shared with students from the Digital Media, Culture and Society MA, and the Digital Media Arts MA, enabling a cross pollination of ideas and strategies.
Students have access to high-end equipment, resources and expert staff support, including:
The course emphasises the creative exploration of sound in the context of both new creative industries and contemporary arts practices. Students are encouraged to develop a strong portfolio preparing them for professional opportunities as creative specialists or researchers, who can move across different fields of practice and respond to conceptual and technical innovations with imaginative solutions.
The MSc by Research in Music Technology is designed to offer an exciting opportunity for students to investigate an area of your own academic interest in the varied fields of audio programming, software and video games development, interactive music, room acoustics, interfaces and controllers, and other music technology related areas. You will be encouraged to demonstrate self-direction and autonomy, under the supervision of published experts in their fields and develop your theoretical and methodological understanding, engaging with current debates in some of the most vibrant areas of contemporary research.
Your programme of study will be based upon a Learning Contract negotiated between you and your supervising team. You will need to complete research proposal indicating your topic and admission will be based upon the successful agreement of a topic and the identification of appropriate supervision. Under guidance of your principal supervisor, you will produce at non-assessed assignments, leading to a final assessed portfolio of your final research. Acting as summary of all that you have learned and a portfolio going forward, the Audio Technology Project provides an opportunity to plan and execute a substantial project in an area of personal specialism or interest. Innovative projects are encouraged, and there exists the potential for interdisciplinary and/or collaboration with practitioners in other fields.
As this course is taught by supervision, we are able to work flexibly with students to arrange tutorials around their work and family commitments. Also, in the absence of taught classes, it would be quite possible to conduct tutorials and exchange draft work and tutor feedback electronically, so there is considerable scope to study conveniently from home.
Your programme of study will be based upon a Learning Contract negotiated between you and your supervising team. You will need to complete an expression of interest form indicating your topic and admission will be based upon the successful agreement of this topic and the identification of appropriate supervision. Under guidance of your principal supervisor, you will write at least three extended non-assessed assignments or produce at least three pieces of practical work leading to a final, assessed portfolio, which will include a viva voce examination.
We have a strong postgraduate community with opportunities to attend events and encounter students across the full range of disciplines within the Faculty of Arts including Studio and Digital Art, Theatre, Music and Performance. You will also be invited to attend all guest lectures, performances and field trips that constitute a vibrant student experience at the University.
The University of Wolverhampton continues to develop state of the art facilities to greatly enhance your learning experience. The Performance Hub has a diverse range of fully equipped music teaching, performance and practice rooms (accommodating single person to large band / ensemble), two high-end professional recording studios, and two bespoke technology suites boasting sixty Apple iMacs running industry standard software including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Max, Pure Data and SuperCollider. In addition, EASE software is available for research projects on acoustic modelling.
Our two recording studios offer the perfect blend of digital and analogue technologies giving students the opportunity to combine classic analogue recording technique with the flexibility and reliability digital technology provides. As well as a dedicated live room each for recording, for increased flexibility and choice of room acoustic, any of the music rehearsal rooms surrounding each studio can also be patched into the studio's control room.
We are a thriving department of research active academics in music technology. Course staff specialise in traditional/well-established areas of music technology (studio production, film sound, audio synthesis and processing), flourishing areas of contemporary research (musical interaction, generative music), room acoustic modelling, acoustic measurements, musical acoustics, technology and minimalist aesthetics. If you are interested in a specific research area please contact [email protected]%20 for further discussion.
This MSc by Research will provide an excellent preparatory pathway into doctoral research. However, for individuals seeking to enhance their C.V. or undertake some professional enhancement, this mode of study will enable you to tailor your study towards your career pathway and combine it with your work schedule and other commitments. The wide range of subjects offered will provide relevant opportunities for individuals either within, or planning to enter, diverse professions to develop and evidence the acquisition of higher level skills.
At the end of this course you will be able to demonstrate:
You will explore the very latest digital music practices, including new and innovative interactive techniques available to today's musicians and artists.
Using the latest in digital technology, you will develop skills in sound design, manipulation and composition to produce sound for a variety of audiences in a range of settings, from live performances to sonic art installations.
As well as being supported by expert academic staff, you will have access to a rich source of learning materials, including our Library's extensive resources and professional-standard software to enable you to fulfil your potential.
You could be a DJ using the latest software to sample sounds from the natural environment to create beats and loops to add to your set, or you could be working with art galleries to create soundscapes for an installation. The flexible nature of this course will enable you to develop both artistically and technically so that you are able to practise confidently, whatever your chosen field.
You will be taught by experienced industry professionals such as site-specific sonic artist Dr Matt Green and multi award-winning electroacoustic composer Dr Nikos Stavropoulos. You will also work with regular visiting speakers from the music and film industries, including BBC sounds recordist Chris Watson.
We have a wide range of postgraduate music courses, ranging from sound design to game audio, and your course will bring you into contact with students with diverse musical experiences and interests. This can provide opportunities for collaboration and networking both during the course and into your career.
You will have access to a suite of professional music studios, including recording rooms, audio booths, instruments, portable audio recorders, audio labs with soundcards and mixers, and computer workstations with software such as Pro Tools, Ableton Live and Max MSP.
In addition, we have fantastic links with local and national music, arts and festival organisations, which will help you get the most from the course.
This course will give you a broad range of skills and the confidence required to work in a variety of fields within the creative industries. It could open up opportunities in music production, TV, film or the arts. You could be producing solo material or collaborating with other artists on film, theatre or music projects.
Study film and screen cultures while immersing yourself in the creative culture of London at film festivals, studios, galleries and pop-up cinemas. Our MA combines the study of mainstream and experimental film, contemporary television and the video-essay form, and includes the option to produce either a written or audio-visual dissertation.
This cutting-edge MA offers the opportunity for advanced studies in television and new media. Taught by leading figures in the field, the course allows you to engage with the most up-to-date research and to explore new approaches to audio-visual scholarship.
The programme includes first-hand engagement with cultural institutions across the city. Building on our links with festivals, studios, cinemas and galleries, this MA is not only about studying film theory but also about immersing yourself in the wealth of screen-related events and institutions the capital has to offer. In recent years, our students have been on trips to the London Film Festival, the British Film Institute, the Scalarama Cult Film Festival, the British Artists' Film & Video Study Collection, and the Tate Modern.
As a student you will also become a member of the Centre for Research in Film and Audiovisual Cultures (CRFAC) which means you will be able to engage with new and emerging research by attending a range of guest talks, conferences, media masterclasses and research seminars led by industry professionals. In recent years students have attended an exclusive preview of comedian and producer Omid Djalili’s film We Are Many, and gained advice on how to be a success in the filmmaking industry from BBC producer and director Jonathan Taylor, and the producer of Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Gareth Wiley.
You’ll develop your independent critical thinking by engaging in the programme’s four main areas:
1.Screen Cultures of London
In a series of visits to festivals, studios, cinemas and galleries, you will gain first hand engagement with cultural institutions across London.
2.Cult and Quality Television
You will interrogate the dynamic role of television within the shifting media landscape, focusing on contemporary US television drama.
3.Essay Films and Video Essays
You will combine history, theory and practice, be introduced to the Essay Film form and be equipped with the necessary skills to make your own video essays.
4.Transnational Cinemas from the Multiplex to the Web
You will undertake an in-depth examination of contemporary cinema through a global lens, taking in a variety of international films from big budget spectacles through to online films and mash-ups.
You will also choose between an academic dissertation and an audio-visual dissertation. The academic dissertation gives you the opportunity to deepen your research skills and knowledge about a topic of particular interest to you. The audio-visual dissertation will provide the opportunity to undertake an innovative combination of theory and practice through the production of an extended audio-visual essay alongside a written critical reflection.
Here are some of the varied range of modules we currently offer:
Careers in cinema and festival programming, media research, curatorship and distribution. The MA also functions as a pathway to a PhD for those pursuing a career in academia.
