Sound Design BA(Hons)

Upskill & Integrate

The first year of this Sound Design course is all about upskilling and getting immersed in disciplines from across the University's creative departments, from the perspective of sound design. You'll develop your core sound design and related audio skills as well as your understanding of sound design workflows in various contexts. You'll also begin to develop fundamental theoretical and contextual knowledge of contemporary sound design practice. 

Modules

Understanding Sound & Audio

You’ll learn the fundamentals of sound and audio theory, concepts and aesthetics, and associated terminology as relevant to contemporary sound design practices. 

Designing Sound 

You’ll be immersed in the creative possibilities of sound design for different visual media, including film, TV, animation and games. Over the course of the module, you will be introduced to new concepts, techniques and workflows and encouraged to explore the ways in which audio can be sculpted to create new sonic forms. 

Sound Design: Workflows, Tools & Techniques

This module prepares you for a future career in professional audio. You’ll be introduced to the workflows, tools and techniques involved in professional practice, helping you to gain an industry-standard skill set. 

Studiocraft

You'll learn to record, edit, mix and master audio in a recording studio environment using microphones, audio interfaces, mixing desks and digital audio workstations (DAWs).

Music & Sound: Contexts and Cultures

You’ll examine key concepts and debates in music and sounds studies whilst thinking critically about the relationship between music, sound, and culture.

Non-Linear Sound Design

In this module you’ll focus on developing skills and understanding of sound design for non-linear contexts, such as games, apps and the web.

Experience & Expand

The second year of thise degree is focused on live projects, study options, gaining practical sound design experience and developing business and brand thinking. You’ll identify, acquire and apply new skills as you take on collaborative projects with students from across the University. You’ll also explore immersive audio technologies and contemplate future directions of the sound design discipline. 

Modules

The Art of Post 

You'll explore the creative and technical possibilities of audio post-production. Over the course of the study block, you will be introduced to professional concepts, techniques and workflows and encouraged to explore a variety of professional roles and associated creative strategies in areas such as audio editing and mixing in post-production contexts. 

Music and Sound: Resonant Futures 

In this module you will question and explore the relationship between music, sound, technology, context and culture in ways that seek to imagine and speculate on the future of music and sound. 

The Business of Music and Sound 

You’ll be introduced to intellectual property regulations and the subsequent risks of exploitation across the creative industries. You’ll learn the necessary business skills to work sustainably within the music and sound sectors with confidence.  

Sound Design Project 1: Game Audio 

You'll work as a sound designer in a team with students from our Games Academy to create and implement audio assets for an original game, while also learning about the contemporary games industry. 

Sound Design Project 2: Team Project 

You’ll push the limits of your practice by taking on projects as part of a multi-skilled team. You’ll develop your collaboration skills and learn to operate as an effective member of a dynamic team, contributing towards a shared set of aims, objectives and deadlines.   

Immersive & Interactive Audio (optional)

You’ll be introduced to a range of technologies, techniques and applications of immersive and interactive audio. The module is highly interdisciplinary and relevant to film sound, game audio, digital arts and experience design. 

Composing Music for Media (optional)

You’ll develop a critical understanding of music/image relationships and conduct practical work across a range of media. You’ll also enhance your composition and production skills through being shown industry-standard workflows and techniques. 

You can choose to take an optional professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the Employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your professional placement 

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth.

Focus & Connect

Your final year focuses on building your professional identity, knowledge, skills and networks in line with your chosen sound design specialism. You’ll develop a professional portfolio, enhance your entrepreneurial skills and carry out business planning as you prepare to take your first steps into industry. 

Modules

Music and Sound: Dissertation

In this module you will expand on your music and sound subject-based intellectual skills developed in your first and second years through an independently-driven written research project. 

Professional Development 

This module enables you to continue developing your specialist skills, contextual knowledge, experience and entrepreneurial mindset in preparation for the Showcase Portfolio module, careers and/or artistic practice beyond your degree. 

Your Future

This module enables you to understand, develop, practice and analyse skills pertinent to your chosen career path in sustainable ways; both now and in the future. You will further develop legal, financial, marketing and digital skills that relate to specialist areas of the music sector and be able to critically analyse trends and future opportunities that relate to your career. 

Showcase Portfolio

You’ll produce a professional portfolio of creative work that showcases your specialist skills and artistic practice developed over the last three years, ready to take to industry. 

On top of lectures, seminars and tutorials, you'll learn through a combination of masterclasses, workshops, solo and collaborative project work, crit sessions and fieldwork. You'll also learn from guest lecturers and industry panels. 

At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning and teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.

Modules vary in their requirements, but all design projects and assessment tasks can be tailored to suit your own interests, aims and objectives. 

You'll be assessed through coursework and practical submissions. 

Assessments can take many forms, including: 

• Artefacts 
• Case Studies 
• Essays 
• Journals 
• Portfolios 
• Practical projects 
• Presentations 
• Reports 
• Dissertation 

Each module of study has either one or two summative assessment points. You will receive feedback in a range of formats, including written feedback sheets, feedback tutorials and feedback in live sessions. 

Course equipment and costs 

Computers & DAWs

A computer running a suitable Digital Audio Workstation such as Ableton Live, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools, Reaper or Bitwig will be essential. A laptop rather than a desktop is highly recommended. If you need further guidance on computers and software then please contact us to speak to the course team.

Instruments

All of our practice studios are equipped with a piano or keyboard, amplifiers, PA and a drum kit. Drummers should bring their own sticks, cymbals, and snare. Other instrumentalists must bring their own instrument with them, and budget for any expendables relating to your specific instrument such as strings, plectrums and leads.

Headphones

You can book headphones from AMATA’s Technical Resource Stores, however a pair of good quality, open-back headphones are recommended for regular studio and production work. Prices vary but expect to pay upwards of £80-£100. If you are not sure what you need, search the Internet for ‘studio monitor headphone review’.

Ear protection

Your ears are the most important pieces of audio kit you will ever own! Looking after them is therefore top priority. Dispensers with free disposable foam earplugs are situated outside the practice and performance studios throughout the AMATA building, but it is also recommended that you purchase high quality earplugs - especially if you play in a loud group or attend gigs and/or clubs.

Backups

Backing up your work is essential. You will have access to online storage via Microsoft OneDrive but a physical drive may also be useful for additional security or when Internet upload speeds are slower than they are on campus.

Software

You will have free access to Microsoft Office software throughout your time at Falmouth.

Notetaking

You may wish to use your laptop for notetaking. However, if you prefer pen and paper, then we would suggest spending around £10 on pens and notepads / journals.