Advanced Music Technology MA

This module will give you a practical introduction to the software design and programming techniques involved in designing contemporary audio applications. You will focus on the Max language and its wide variety of uses, studying the theory, design and architecture of synthesizers, samplers, effects, sequencers and composition engines. You will then develop and demonstrate your own original application.

You will explore many of the concepts, research and techniques associated with various aspects of immersive audio in a focused and detailed framework. You will study 3-D audio, through both binaural approaches when working with 360 video – typical of contemporary virtual-reality applications, and speaker-array reproduction using Dolby Atmos as is increasingly used for cinema sound.

You will be schooled in concepts associated with contemporary electronic sound-art, music and sound design for multi-media-installation art, interactive music software and electronic/electroacoustic composition. You will select a particular area for a research, production and performance project of your own. This project will culminate in a performance or installation involving audio technology in a public space as part of LCM’s 'Electric Music' series.

You will learn about the evolving notion of the contemporary audio producer as a reflexive, multidisciplinary and innovative sonic artist. You will engage with parallel analogue and digital, software and hardware – hybrid – production workflows (recording, sampling, synthesis, programming, mixing and mastering). You will be able to apply advanced audio techniques, pushing the expressive boundaries of the sonic medium and contextualising current practice.

You will be trained in research methods and critical methodology as preparation for undertaking research that supports and advances the project work in your course. You will define, articulate and critically reflect upon the research concerns of your own practice, thereby underpinning and enhancing your knowledge and understanding of your chosen field of study. You will present your work at the multi-disciplinary LCM postgraduate conference.

For this module you will undertake an ambitious and self-managed large-scale practical project on a topic of your choice. The project will be framed by a study of contemporary research around your topic, and will be designed to expand and enhance the skills and knowledge around a specialised area. The project makes an excellent showcase to kickstart your future career.

You will analyse and study methodologies, practices and positions on recorded ‘realism’ and be introduced to more experimental approaches to recording that might subvert this. You will be given the opportunity to conduct self-directed research into both development and future use of microphone & recording technology via both stereo and surround microphone techniques.

This module focuses on music composition and sound design in video games. You will gain considerable practical experience in composing music and creating sound design for games using specialist game-creation software, while analysing and responding to the unique challenges posed in composing nonlinear and interactive music and sound effects.