BSc Sound Engineering & Design

BSc Sound Engineering & Design course overview

Have you ever wondered who created the sound of the TIE Fighters in Star Wars? How about the weapon fire and impact damage in Halo? Or the sound of plants growing in time-lapse photography? Or even the soundtrack to Emmerdale?

Although film, TV and computer games are essentially a visual experience, it is often the soundtrack or sound effects that really convey things like action, setting, narrative and atmosphere. The role of the Sound Designer is to create and arrange these elements of sound to ensure that the visual element of the production is supported by appropriate audio content.

Our Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree is designed to develop the necessary industry-specific skills for a career in live and studio engineering, and sound design in visual media.

Designed to train you in elements of sound recording and music production, from fundamental to advanced, the course focuses these skills towards the specific purpose of sound design for visual media.

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 while working towards vocationally-recognised qualifications in AVID's Pro Tools.

You have access to well-equipped facilities on two sites, with professional sound recording studios, analogue and digital equipment, industry standard software and IT facilities, as well as editing and post production facilities.

BSc Sound Engineering & Design detailed course description

Units studied include:

Core

• Live Sound and PA Design
• Post Production Techniques for Music
• Post Production Techniques for Video
• Business Issues of Digital Media
• Professional Development for the Creative Industries
• Sound in Context
• Electronic Music, Theory and Practice
• Science of Sound   the Recording Chain
• Studio Techniques
• Introduction to Synthesis and MIDI
• Digital Sound Production
• Post Production Techniques
• Studio Design
• Electronic Composition
• Work-based learning
• Acoustics and Experimentation

Optional

• Advanced Studio Techniques
• Radio Active
• Analysis and Synthesis of Foley Effects

BSc Sound Engineering & Design course special features

You have access to well-equipped facilities on two sites, with professional sound recording studios, analogue and digital equipment, industry standard software and IT facilities, as well as editing and post production facilities.

FAQ

Who is this BSc Sound Engineering & Design course for?
The BSc Sound Engineering & Design course is designed to train you in sound engineering skills specifically for sound design in visual media. If you want to learn up to date skills, or expand on your current skills as a sound engineer then this course is for you. It’s suitable for beginners, and those with relevant industry experience or previous training. The course starts from first principles, and trains you through to an advanced level of sound engineering. There are optional modules in 2nd year when you can tailor the course to your requirements, and a period of work placement where you will get real industry training in the workplace. Third year will take you into more advanced areas of study in Post Production and also introduce you to Live Sound.

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 wish to apply for the FdSc Sound Engineering and Design instead - this is subject to interview.

When will I study?
Normally you will attend lectures 2 - 3 days per week. The days change each semester. Most of the training is here at SSR but you will also have some tuition at University of Bolton. 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 – 8.30am-10.00pm (and on occasions we can extend to midnight)
Friday 8.30am-6.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 10.00am-8.00pm

How much will the BSc Sound Engineering & Design course cost?
Please contact SSR on 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 the BSc Sound Engineering & Design 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 the BSc Sound Engineering & Design course?
Our pass rate on this course is impressive. Of those who complete the course 95% will successfully pass all exams and meet the professional standards that the course demands. Students emerge with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Sound Engineering and Design, 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 VR Legend console housed in our impressive 1500 sq ft Spirit Studio
• The AVID ICON D-command console in our ICON Suite
• Digico’s Soundtracs DS-00 console in our Digico Studio
• A dedicated post-production facility which includes a Foley suite, the only one in the Northwest, and edit suites
• 8 other introductory and intermediate studios
• A 2000sq ft live venue
• The AVID VENUE D-Show Live console
• Pro Tools HD
• Final Cut Studio
• 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 the BSc Sound Engineering & Design 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. The Pro Tools 101 certification exam is also embedded into the course in Year 1.

Will I be expected to buy software?
Our studios and computer suites are all fully equipped for everything you need on the course. If however you want to continue studying and practising at home, then it would be advisable to buy some software – but ask us first! SSR students get enviable discounts on lots of software and plug-in packages. As part of your course, you will be expected to buy some books (just like studying at any university), especially Pro Tools books.

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 including our Neve facility at heavily discounted rates; special discounted rates on continued training courses such as Pro tools and Apple software.

BSc Sound Engineering & Design course entry requirements & applications

For more information, please follow this link to the University of Bolton website

Applications for the BSc Sound Engineering & Design course must be made via UCAS. To apply, you will need the following information.

Award - BSc (Hons)
UCAS code - H340 BSc/SED
Institution Code - B44
Mode of attendance - Full time or part time
Duration - 3 Years
Start dates - September and January (January is subject to demand)

Entry Requirements

260 UCAS points incorporating two A2-level passes (or equivalent) in two of the following: a mathematical subject, a physical science subject, or a technology-based subject or music.

Applicants must also have five GCSE passes at grade C or above including mathematics and English.

You may be required to attend for interview.

Awarding body - University of Bolton

TO START YOUR UCAS APPLICATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE