Course overview
This Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree is designed to develop a broad range of industry-specific skills to offer the greatest opportunity for employability in the fields of Live and Studio sound engineering.
The strong vocational emphasis of the course is underpinned by a relevant amount of theoretical study. Our degree has been developed in close partnership with key industry players, allowing for a mix of theoretical understanding and practical application while also working towards industry recognised qualifications in Digidesign's Pro Tools, British Safety Council Health & Safety certification, and Apple’s Logic.
Designed to teach elements of music production and sound engineering, from fundamental to advanced, the course focuses these skills towards the specific purpose of studio engineering and the live sound industry.
Based entirely at SSR, you have access to well-equipped facilities, with professional sound recording studios, a live venue, analogue and digital equipment, industry standard software and IT facilities, as well as editing and post production facilities.
Validated by the University of Central Lancaster, the qualification is nationally recognised by all sectors of the music and media industries, wishing to employ people with practical skills and the ability to apply them.
Detailed course description
Units studied include:
- Sound Wave Theory
- Core Skills
- Studio Engineering Techniques
- Live Sound Engineering Techniques
- Music Production 1
- Studio Production Techniques 1
- Live Music Production
- Events Planning & Organisation
- Work-based Learning
- Studio Production Techniques 2
- Digital Systems for Live Events
- Music Production 2
- Sound Synthesis and Manipulation
- PA Design
- Music Post Production
- Creative Industries Business Environment
- Project
- Music Production 3
Special features
Embedded into the modules will be industry accreditations such as Pro Tools 101, Pro Tools 110, Logic 101, and British Safety Council Health & Safety certification.
FAQ
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for those wishing to build a career in music production in both the studio and live sound environments. The course will train you in all aspects of music production from basic studio engineering and production, to advanced mic’ing and mixing techniques; music technology including Digidesign Pro Tools, Reason and Logic; audio mastering, and music production for a range of media including advertising, web design, film and TV, and computer games. The course provides an in-depth preparation for a diversity of careers in the recording industry, providing the professional skills needed within all areas of music production, but will also teach you the transferable skills needed for all aspects of sound engineering, giving you a broader aspect for opportunities in employment within the creative industries.
It’s suitable for beginners, and those with relevant industry experience or previous training.
Are there any pre-requisites?
If you are under 21, then the normal UCAS requirements apply (see applications page). If you are over 21, and do not have enough academic qualifications, but have relevant industry experience, you may be invited in for an interview. See the applications tab for UCAS requirements.
When will I study?
Normally you will attend lectures 2 - 3 days per week. The days change each semester. The rest of the time is for your own individual research and practical work – SSR’s generous opening hours fit in with our students’ lives:
Monday-Thursday – 8.30-10.00pm (and on occasions we can extend to midnight)
Friday 8.30-6.00
Saturday and Sunday 9.00 -8.00pm
How much will it cost?
Please contact Sarah Bradney on admissions, 0161 276 2111, for up to date information on tuition fees.
Who will teach me?
You will be taught by industry active tutors who are currently working with musicians, TV and film companies, computer games companies. Our tutors have worked for Pet Shop Boys; Snow Patrol; Elbow; Warner Brothers; Granada; 3sixtymedia; LioneyesTV; BBC; Peter Kay; The Royale Family. In addition, our tutors are world expert instructors in Pro Tools.
Where will this course lead me?
As a successful graduate of this course you will have a number of career options available to you. Many freelance sound engineers work in live sound, recording or production, film and television post production, TV broadcast, theatre, audio post production, computer games; radio, or a combination of these areas.
What is the success rate of this course?
As this is a brand new course, we have no statistics yet. But our pass rate on other courses is impressive. Of those who complete, 95% will successfully pass all exams and meet the professional standards that their course demands. Students emerge with a qualification and an impressive showreel to take to employers. Our careers department offers support to students, and through our impressive industry connections and creative partners, we are able to successfully place students into some impressive jobs working for companies such as WIGWAM; Granada; BBC; Sumners; GMAZ; Hummingbird sound; MUTV; as well as leading bands and musicians such as Radiohead, Girls Aloud, Take That; Amy Winehouse, and Westlife.
As one of our students recently commented:
“Other organisations have got a toe in the water of the industry SSR is fully immersed.”
For more information on student success stories click here.
What facilities and studios will I use?
We have some impressive and highly professional equipment and resources that are used in the industry including:
- The Neve console VRP48 series, housed in our impressive 1500 sq ft Spirit studio.
- The Digi-design ICON console
- The D-Show Live consol
- A Digico DS-00 consol
- Pro-Tools High Definition systems
- Final Cut edit suites with Fibre Channel
- 9 introduction and intermediate studios
- A dedicated post production facility which includes a foley studio, the only one in the north west
- A 2000sq ft live venue
- DJ booths
- Computer facilities including a dedicated Mac suite
- The Green Room – the student common room
In addition to the teaching what extra features does this course have?
Students on this course can expect to have field trips to highly exciting music venues and events, recording studios and media companies to see what goes on behind the scenes and meet key people in the industry. Some recent examples include ELBOW; Girls Aloud and Westlife, as well as trips to Granada. We also have regular guest lectures from key experts from the Music industry, and the TV and film world. Some examples are; the sound engineers for Prince, Def Lepard, and Ian Brown, and the post production staff for Peter Kay and Steve Coogan. Pro Tools 101 and 110 accreditation is also embedded into the course in Year 1, as is Logic Pro 101.
Once I leave is that it?
We have a saying at SSR: "Once an SSR student, always an SSR student", and through our Graduate Support Programme you can expect to receive additional services from SSR. This includes continued access to our careers service and introductions to our creative partners; information on job opportunities; use of studios and edit suites at heavily discounted rates; special discounted rates on continued training courses such as Pro Tools and Apple software.
Student Quotes
BSc Studio & Live Music Production launches in September 2009. Please read the following quotes from students and graduates from some of our other degree courses:
"A fantastic experience from start to finish"
"A recent trip to 3sixtymedia and Granada studios to observe post production process at work was incredible. I can’t wait to get started working in this field."
"SSR feels ands acts like a professional place but at the same time like a really cool college."
"With 25 years of experience it’s no wonder that the SSR name carries so much weight in the industry."
"The tutors are awesome. They bring real industry experience into the classroom. This kind of day to day industry knowledge is something that can not be learned from a text book and it gives us the edge we need over other students from other courses."
"A great deal of importance is put on learning the foundations of audio engineering allowing us to build our knowledge and skills upon the fundamentals of audio so that we can develop into well rounded, diverse, knowledgeable industry standard engineers."
"As a student at SSR, you get what I feel to be the best training in the country."
"I am extremely pleased and proud to be a student of the School of Sound Recording"
"The studios and equipment at SSR are great giving us the chance to work in top notch professional facilities that can’t be found easily anywhere else."
"I really appreciate the range, quality and quantity of studios available to me 7 days a week to suit my life."
"The staff are really friendly (I love Sarah) and the extra events like the live gigs make being a student at SSR a totally great experience."
"Due to their connections, I have managed to secure work experience, and hopefully a job with a leading company, in which I can put into practice what I have learnt in my two years here."
"I feel that SSR is the only place in the country I could have gained the diverse experience that I have, which I believe will stand me in better stead than young sound engineers in Britain in the coming years."
Entry requirements & applications
Applications for this course must be made via UCAS. To apply, you will need the following information.
Award - BSc (Hons)
UCAS code - J931 BSc/SLMP
Campus code - CLANC / C30
Mode of attendance - Full time and part time
Duration - 3 Years
Start dates - September
Entry Requirements
200 UCAS points from at least two A2-level passes (or equivalent) including one science or technology-based subject and one music or design-related subject.
Applicants for these courses must also have five GCSE passes at grade C or above (or equivalent) including mathematics and English.
Applicants may be required to attend for interview.
Awarding body - UCLAN
