BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production

Deep diving into the building blocks of electronic music, you’ll take an immersive look at the foundational concepts and hands-on practices driving the expansive world of music production. Whether you’re just starting or building on existing knowledge, you’ll discover the intricacies of synthesis and sampling, exploring both the tactile world of hardware and the limitless possibilities of software.

• The history of synthesis
• Virtualisation and integration methods
• Sequencing
• Additive and granular synthesis
• Analogue sampling
• Digital effects and mixers

Exploring digital audio workstation (DAW) in-the-box (ITB) mixing techniques, you’ll become proficient at using a range of professional music production hardware and software. You’ll learn how to take your ideas from an initial demo stage to a fully presentable and professional-sounding mix with EQ, dynamics and a range of effects.

• Introduction to DAW mixing channel layouts
• Introduction to EQ
• Using compression to control dynamics
• Timed, delay and reverb effects 
• Gates and other insert effects
• Mix automation 

In this module, you’ll learn how computer technology is applied to produce contemporary music by exploring the wide range of techniques and methodologies used by different artists. Harnessing the power of industry-standard digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton and Logic Pro, you’ll learn to produce ‘in-the-box’, honing your critical listening skills and enhancing your creative music production talents.

• MIDI programming and sound sources
• Understanding virtual instruments, including synths and samplers
• Envelopes and modulations
• Subtractive and FM synthesis 
• Sample layering
• Frequency and dynamic processing
• The creative use of audio effects
• Audio and editing
•  Automation techniques

In this module, you'll delve into the intricate process of music creation, blending analysis, research, and hands-on application. Through a comprehensive exploration, you'll gain insight into pivotal movements and advancements in music production and artistic expression driven by cultural shifts and technological breakthroughs. By dissecting landmark recordings and genre-specific production processes, you'll hone your skills in crafting authentic musical compositions that align with industry standards. Through this inquiry, you'll uncover the essence of landmark production styles that define various genres, unlocking insights into their influence on musical innovation and the valuable
lessons they impart.

• Evolution of Music Technology
• Digital Music Production Techniques
• Study of Electronic Musical Genres
• Production Aesthetics & Sonic Identity
• Production Strategies
• Creative Sequencing Techniques
• Creative Sampling Strategies
• Underground and Mainstream Culture
• Frameworks for Music Analysis

In this module, you will focus on the art of DJing, covering everything from selecting music, to curating a setlists to meet the demands of a variety of themes, moods, and performance settings. You'll explore a wide variety of DJ equipment, such as turntables, CDJs, mixers, and FX, to gain a solid grasp of their functions. Developing the core skills to operate your chosen equipment, honing fundamental skills like beat matching, cueing, and equalization while delving into essential DJ concepts and principles. We'll also teach you how to adeptly apply music theory in a DJ setting, gaining confidence in live performances. Utilizing industry-standard DJ hardware and software, this module will prepare you to take on professional gigs behind the turntables.

In this module, you’ll be introduced to the core structures and functions of the modern music industry. As you examine current industry models, processes and practices, you’ll also look at how the creative and business worlds interact. In the context of electronic music production, you’ll investigate music copyright and the roles played by collection societies, professionals and organisations. You’ll also gain an insight into the revenue streams available to you, and the inter-relationships between each area of the industry – recorded music, live music and music publishing.

• Music industry membership organisations and trade bodies  
• The role of music collection societies 
• What is artist management?
• The A&R process
• Music marketing and promotion
• Music sales, distribution, rights and royalties
• The future of the music industry

Diving into the expansive world of sound design, you’ll learn about this vibrant and rapidly expanding area of the music industry. Building on the foundational skills from the first-year Synthesis and Sampling module, you’ll explore module synthesis and its integral role in sound design principles.

• Physics of sound
• Synthesiser Signal flow
• Synthesiser types (Subtractive, Additive, Frequency Modulation (FM), Wavetable, granular etc)
• Synthesis & sampling
• Use of effects

In this practical module, you’ll deepen your artistic and technical approach, benchmarking your work against commercial quality standards. Building on Year 1’s Mixing Techniques, you’ll investigate mixing as a separate entity with an artistic and aesthetic foundation, honing your mixes and unique sound, and applying critical listening skills to produce a final creative product that stands out.

• The Mixing Process
• Mixing Large Multi-track Sessions 
• Advanced Dynamic and Spectral processing
• Time-Based effects
• Serial and parallel compression
• Controlling Space, depth, width in a mix
• Subgroup and mix bus processing

Building on the foundation of Year 1’s Digital Music Production Fundamentals module, you’ll extend your skills working with industry-standard DAWs such as Ableton Live. Along the way, you’ll study a variety of advanced techniques and methodologies used by established producers, while learning how to use software as an instrument. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to confidently develop, mix and deliver original digitally produced material using modern music production techniques.

• ReWire systems 
• How to connect external gear to MIDI and audio
• Pitch correction, bus processing and audio restoration
• Advanced audio editing skills
• Advanced sampling and synthesis techniques
• Aggregate devices

The Remixing & Creative Approaches module is designed to cultivate your own distinct sonic identity, particularly when collaborating with top-line vocals. Throughout this module, you'll delve into diverse production methodologies and innovative creative approaches. We'll explore the concept of remixing, both within the music industry and in broader cultural contexts, as a means of creative revitalization. By exploring how 'remixing' manifests across various creative mediums, we'll explore creative approaches to recontextualise and reimagine musical pieces. This module serves as a strategic preparation for real-world scenarios encountered in the professional sphere.

• Critical Listening and Production Analysis
• Cultural Impact of Remixing
• Aesthetics and Creative Intent
• Production Strategies
• Advanced Vocal Production Techniques
• Composition Techniques & Remixing
• Advanced Techniques in Drum Programming
• Sampling, and Resampling
• Innovative Use of Effects, Automation
• Arrangement and Structure
• Finalisation a production

Explore the fundamental principles and tools of marketing and branding, while creating a marketing plan for yourself as a creative music producer. In this module, you’ll examine traditional theories and contemporary approaches, developing an understanding of consumer behaviour and how consumer-driven strategies can be used to solve real-world problems. You’ll also explore the concept of ‘creatives’ as a brand, considering areas like brand partnerships and commerce versus credibility.   

• Environmental and competitor analysis
• The different methods of market research
• The difference between products and brands 
• The product development lifecycle
• The 4Ps and 7Ps of the marketing mix
• How to build an online presence 
• Music industry digital marketing, social media, viral marketing and PR

This module aims to equip you with the skills to seamlessly translate your current music production expertise into a live performance setting. This module explores diverse methods for producing captivating, fluid, and technically innovative live electronic performances. Throughout this module, you will engage with hardware devices, controllers and a variety of live performance technology. The module will enhance your level of musicianship and allow you to utilise a range of production-based skills in a live performance setting to produce your own unique performances. Live performances encompass a variety of forms, including DJ sets, live electronic ensembles, dubbing & Looping, Noise & feedback, and audio/visual performances.

• Material Pre-Production and Preparation
• Equipment & Connection
• Live Performance Hardware
• MIDI controllers and mapping
• Live Beat Making, Looping & Remixing
• Live Dubbing & Multi-channel Playback
• Live Performance Effects
• Backing tracks & metronomes
• Designing Live Set
• Researching Electronic Live Acts
• Controlled Improvisation Techniques
• Use of Audio Technology, visuals and interactive media.
• Adaptation Production Work for Performance
• Collaboration with an Ensemble

Throughout this module, you will embark on an exploration of innovation within music production, delving into a myriad of processes, practices, and techniques employed by creative music producers and practitioners. By studying a diverse range of historical and contemporary figures in music production, you will immerse yourself in various musical contexts, seeking inspiration and insight into innovative approaches. Moreover, you will engage in hands-on experimentation, crafting and refining your own innovative techniques to push the boundaries of music production. Through critical reflection and analysis, you will cultivate a deep understanding of how innovation shapes the evolution of the creative music producer, ultimately forging your own path of sonic exploration and discovery

• Defining Innovation
• Ontology of music production
• Innovations in Electronic Music Production Technology
• Innovation in Electronic Music Production Practices
• Music, AI & Algorithmic Composition
• Linear vs none-linear Composition
• Innovation and Spatial Fabrication
• Spatial Audio Technologies

In this module, which is a natural continuation from Year 2’s Modular Synthesis and Sound Design unit, you’ll use advanced hardware and software synthesis systems to develop electronic sounds for use in live performance and electronic music production. You’ll enhance your ability to design, reconstruct and recompose technologies, as you expertly engineer sophisticated sonic textures and landscapes.

• Advanced DAW techniques
• Audio manipulation tools and techniques
• Reamping
• 360-degree audio mixing
• Custom analogue and digital effect chains
• Reaktor patch creation
• Additive and FM synthesis
• Mixing in Dolby Atmos

In recent years, mastering has undergone innovative changes, making it even more important for music production professionals to understand how to work in this area. Building on your skills from the Advanced Sound Design module, you’ll produce a fully polished piece of creative work and gain a solid understand of the techniques needed to mix and master both single tracks and album projects. 

• Explore listening skills and mastering techniques
• How to use appropriate referencing material
• Working with stereo
• Signal processing
• EQ techniques
• Dynamic processing
• Loudness using clippers and limiters 
• Advanced metering
• Metadata and International Standard Recording Codes (ISRCs)

This module will equip you with a detailed understanding of the entrepreneurial pursuits within modern music and broader global creative industries. You'll focus particularly on creative problem-solving and lateral thinking and the business issues relevant to creative producers working in the live, recorded and project-based sectors. You will explore business models across the music industry. All industry areas will be covered, including fundraising and sustainability, building teams and governance, and communicating your brand awareness.

• Grassroots approaches to tackling sector problems 
• Funding, subsidy and sustainability
• Establishing an organisation, building teams and growing project support
• Audience development and engagement   
• Comparing profit vs non-profit pursuits

With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake a major project of your own choice across this double module, employing a combination of research methods, practice as research, project planning and management. Your major project should explore advanced, contemporary and experimental music production techniques and could be an album, live production performance, multi-media composition, installation or something else entirely. Whichever medium you decide upon, you’ll graduate with a substantial piece of creative work to showcase as you launch your electronic music production portfolio career.   

• Explore creative music production techniques
• Discover artistic research methods 
• Develop a personalised production identity      
• Take part in audio–visual composition workshops
• Learn how to present work and ideas