Students

MMCC2033 – Music Production: Audio Recording and Mixing

2023 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Mary Mainsbridge
mary.mainsbridge@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
10HA 165E
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores the audio-recording and mixing functions of music production. Acoustic recording practices, the virtual mixing desk, plug-ins, effects, and hardware peripherals are introduced. Conceptual and practical issues regarding audio production and recording are covered through lectures and hands-on tutorials. This unit is taught within specialized Music laboratories fully equipped with individual digital audio workstations, MIDI keyboards, microphones, mixers, and a range of recording and production software and hardware. Students will produce original audio works using music production software.

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: evaluate discipline-specific technical knowledge of digital audio editing and recording.
  • ULO2: analyse and explain sound and creative works, showing critical, analytical and integrative thinking.
  • ULO3: demonstrate independent research skills, organisational abilities, and an ability to problem-solve technical and creative issues.
  • ULO4: formulate audio compositions in music software platforms, demonstrating musical creativity and originality.
  • ULO5: appraise and effectively communicate self-reflection of the creative process through writing.
  • ULO6: recognise issues of ethics and copyright in contemporary music production.

General Assessment Information

Assessment standards

Assessment standards in this unit align with the University's grade descriptors, available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment

Feedback

Feedback on assessments and student learning and performance will be provided in written or verbal form. Students will receive formal individual feedback on their performance in assessments as general comments during class discussions and in-text comments attached to assignments marked in Grademark/Turnitin. Feedback may also be delivered verbally in tutorials, via email communication and in personal consultations on request. Marks are made available in the Gradebook function in iLearn.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Special Consideration

If you find you cannot submit your assignment on time, please apply for Special Consideration through AskMQ. Make sure you read Macquarie University's policy regarding Special Consideration requests before you apply: 

https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Project 1 30% No 11:55pm 8/9/23
Project 2 40% No 11:55pm 3/11/23
Blog 30% No Ongoing - Weeks 7 to 13. Due 11:55pm 3/11/23

Project 1

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11:55pm 8/9/23
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will produce an original musical work (2-4 minutes) in the style of their choice. This project should demonstrate an ability to creatively work with audio files, resulting in a coherent musical composition. The project should incorporate production techniques discussed in lectures, including both sampling and recording. Projects will be accompanied by documentation including a project summary and audio/copyright information. All audio material used must be of copyright-permitted or of Creative Commons origins and all collaborators must be acknowledged in the project documentation. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • evaluate discipline-specific technical knowledge of digital audio editing and recording.
  • demonstrate independent research skills, organisational abilities, and an ability to problem-solve technical and creative issues.
  • formulate audio compositions in music software platforms, demonstrating musical creativity and originality.
  • appraise and effectively communicate self-reflection of the creative process through writing.
  • recognise issues of ethics and copyright in contemporary music production.

Project 2

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: 11:55pm 3/11/23
Weighting: 40%

 

Building on tutor and peer feedback and skills developed in the previous assessment, as well as new course concepts introduced in the second half of the unit, students will produce an original musical work (3-6 minutes). This project should demonstrate an ability to creatively work with audio files and recording, resulting in a coherent musical composition. The project should incorporate advanced production techniques discussed in the unit. All audio material used must be of copyright-permitted or of Creative Commons origins. Projects will be presented to class. The final mix is to be exported from the project as a stereo wave file and uploaded to a music streaming service such as Soundcloud. Projects will be accompanied by documentation including a project summary and audio/copyright information and a link to the audio file online. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • evaluate discipline-specific technical knowledge of digital audio editing and recording.
  • demonstrate independent research skills, organisational abilities, and an ability to problem-solve technical and creative issues.
  • formulate audio compositions in music software platforms, demonstrating musical creativity and originality.
  • appraise and effectively communicate self-reflection of the creative process through writing.
  • recognise issues of ethics and copyright in contemporary music production.

Blog

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Ongoing - Weeks 7 to 13. Due 11:55pm 3/11/23
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will document recording and production processes online, accompanied by independent research, examples of critical listening and analysis of relevant artists’ works. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse and explain sound and creative works, showing critical, analytical and integrative thinking.
  • demonstrate independent research skills, organisational abilities, and an ability to problem-solve technical and creative issues.
  • appraise and effectively communicate self-reflection of the creative process through writing.
  • recognise issues of ethics and copyright in contemporary music production.

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

Lectures (delivered via iLearn) begin in Week 1. Tutorials begin in Week 2.

Required Equipment You will need to bring a suitable pair of headphones to tutorials each week. In-ear (iPod-style) headphones are not recommended, as their sound reproduction quality is generally inadequate and may jeopardise the quality of your work. Consider your headphones an investment. 

Software Compatibility All production work must be completed in Pro Tools software. Pro Tools is available on all music lab and studio computers in 10HA. Online students will be provided with remote Pro Tools licenses for home computers.  Additional software instruments and effects not native to Pro Tools or provided on the lab workstations should not be used, unless documentation of all instruments is provided, along with MIDI source tracks, and instruments are committed as audio (please discuss with your tutor if you plan to use non-standard issue instruments).

Data backup Students must make safety backups of all assignment work in the cloud or on removable devices. Loss of data due to lost storage devices (without backups) is not suitable grounds for an extension. Data backup and project safety copies are core requirements in all music production.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2023.01R of the Handbook