Students

MMCC3000 – Music Production: The Recording Studio

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor / Lecturer / Tutor
Mary Mainsbridge
mary.mainsbridge@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
10HA 165E
By appointment
Lecturer
Julian Knowles
julian.knowles@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including MUS203 or MMCC2033
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines techniques for music production. Moving beyond desktop music production and software tools, students learn about the recording studio environment by using studio hardware and production tools. Students produce original creative music works using a fully-equipped music studio, gaining practical studio experience. Further aspects of this course include the establishment of critical listening skills, research of specific musical genres, and the development of an understanding of audio production concepts in a recording studio environment. Students obtain a knowledge base which may be applied to many areas of music production in real-world contexts, and create recordings that incorporate a practical and theoretical understanding of contemporary music production.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: apply advanced music production techniques and digital audio concepts.
  • ULO2: create and arrange musical works.
  • ULO3: research a range of contextually relevant production and recording practices.
  • ULO4: analyse sonic texts in terms of production techniques, composition, and context.
  • ULO5: critique and evaluate the creative process of music production.
  • ULO6: research contemporary production practices and technologies.

General Assessment Information

Production Work Requirements

All students must pass a basic competency test (carrying no marks) before they are given access to booking system university facilities in 10HA.

All recordings made in department recording facilities and files (including progress and final assignment files) must be stored on the NEXIS file server. Instructions will be given on using NEXIS in class. Production assignment files must be uploaded to the NEXIS file submission drive by the listed due date. Proper file management and delivery via NEXIS form part of the assessment criteria. Evidence of timely bookings to complete production projects within deadlines are also used to assess the quality of planning for each project. All written assignments must be uploaded to the TurnItIn links on the iLearn website.

Academic Integrity and Originality

University policies on academic integrity apply to production work in addition to written work. All production work must be your own. Assessment is individually based and not group based. Students must must certify that all production work is their own and they have not included work from any other individual. Students may use others as performance talent but must not use production materials from others, or involve others in the production process. Original recordings of existing musical works are permitted. Use of commercial sample libraries is permitted as long as samples are credited. Please be aware that sampling released music constitutes a breach of copyright and so students should not include this material in their assignments.  

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests

Assignment Grading

All assignments of this unit are aligned to the standards outlined in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-andgovernance/university- policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment). A marking rubric for each of the assignment is available on iLearn. Students are expected to read the rubric before working on the assignment.

Feedback

Feedback will be given to students via the following ways:  

Whole class:

  • Comments from the unit convenor in the forum discussions and unit activities
  • Through the ‘announcement’ function in iLearn, if there are points of relevance to the whole class
  • Consolidated feedback on whole of class assignment performance, summarising key strengths and weaknesses (in class and/or via video feedback for technical concepts requiring revision)

Individual

  • The opportunity to discuss assignment progress with the convenor is available via email or face to face student consultation. This provides a mechanism to provide feedback on progress made, prior to submission.

Formal

  • Text based comments attached to assignments marked in Turnitin/GradeMark

Marks are made available through the Gradebook function in iLearn  

Examples of work

Examples of relevant and related assessment tasks will be made available at workshops.

Assessment standards - rubrics

Rubrics for each assignment are made available on iLearn. Students are encouraged to consult these before commencing an assignment.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Studio recording theory 20% No Weeks 5 (24/3) & 12 (26/5)
Guided recording tasks 35% No Week 9 (5/5)
Production project 45% No Week 13 (6/6)

Studio recording theory

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Weeks 5 (24/3) & 12 (26/5)
Weighting: 20%

Students will undertake a series of quizzes to build and assess essential contextual and theoretical knowledge.

Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply advanced music production techniques and digital audio concepts.
  • research a range of contextually relevant production and recording practices.

Guided recording tasks

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 9 (5/5)
Weighting: 35%

Students will undertake a series of guided recording tasks in the studio.

Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply advanced music production techniques and digital audio concepts.
  • analyse sonic texts in terms of production techniques, composition, and context.
  • research contemporary production practices and technologies.

Production project

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Week 13 (6/6)
Weighting: 45%

Students will produce a multitrack recording in any style, delivered as a project file conforming to professional standards. The recording must demonstrate advanced recording and production techniques, including multiple (at least 8) tracks, at least 2 tracks of recorded material from live performers using Recording Studio 2, group tracks, send/FX/aux busses, automation, full track naming, and track notes.

Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply advanced music production techniques and digital audio concepts.
  • create and arrange musical works.
  • analyse sonic texts in terms of production techniques, composition, and context.
  • critique and evaluate the creative process of music production.
  • research contemporary production practices and technologies.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Attendance

Classes provide students with the essential production skills required to successfully complete assignments. They deliver important content and are a central component of meeting the learning outcomes in this unit. Academic and/or technical staff cannot deliver technical instruction to students that is already covered in the timetabled classes. Students who elect to not attend classes will miss out on unit content and technical demonstrations risk failing the unit. Students who miss classes due to illness should speak with the convenor as soon as possible to discuss how to catch up on the missed content. Attendance will be recorded.    

Required Equipment

You will need to bring a pair of good quality headphones to individual lab work sessions. In-ear (iPod-style) headphones are not appropriate. 6.5mm jack outlets are provided in the labs for headphone monitoring (3.5mm mini-jacks are not supported). Consider your headphones an investment. Technical staff will provide advice if necessary. 

Commencement of teaching

Seminars will commence in Week 1. No advance reading or preparation is required.  

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook