Overview
Through a series of practical and theoretical activities you will explore the fundamentals of sound theory, including sequencing, MIDI and signal processing. You will learn the fundamentals of sound design, synthesis and programming using Ableton Live software. These skills will be applied to the genre of your choice in various music production activities.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Production portfolio was a lot of work and most of the assessment was due right at the end of the term.
Change the requirements of the assessment to be more focussed on fundamental skills and less on creation of new work.
Feedback from Staff feedback
The performance elements included within this unit create a large work and assessment load for students.
Remove the performance elements and focus the unit on electronic music production, sound design, sampling and synthesis.
- Describe music technology fundamentals associated with sequencing, MIDI, synthesis and signal processing
- Analyse the production elements of various popular music genres
- Demonstrate music technology fundamentals associated with sequencing, MIDI, synthesis and signal processing using Ableton Live software.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - In-class Test(s) - 30% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - In-class Test(s) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Mac lab with Ableton Live software
- Creative Arts Studio Facility
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.preece@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Ableton Live software and electronic music
production (EMP)
Critical listening session number 1
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rhythm and beats in EMP - part 1. Creating drum racks
Critical listening session number 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rhythm and beats in EMP - part 2. Synthesising and sampling
in drum racks
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class test 1
In Class Tests Due: Week 3 Wednesday (31 July 2019) 10:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Keys and chords in EMP - part 1. Synthesising pad and lead
instruments
Critical listening session number 3
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Keys and chords in EMP - part 2. Chord devices, modulation
and effects
Critical listening session number 4
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Bass parts in EMP. Synthesising bass instruments
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class test 2
Module/Topic
Lead parts in EMP
Sampling session number 1. Synthesising lead instruments
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Approaches to writing in EMP
Sampling session number 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Arrangement in EMP
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class test 3
Module/Topic
Vocal sampling techniques
Vocal recording for EMP
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Applying genre specific production and mixing techniques
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Media preparation and export
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 In-class Test(s)
Assessment one of CART11010 is comprised of a series of three in class tests undertaken online in weeks three, six, nine. Some questions will assess materials from the readings or the lectures. The questions may be short or long answer and marks will be assigned based on the difficulty of the question and the format. The in class tests are closed book. Web browsing, text books or class notes may not be used during the test. A time limit of thirty minutes will be assigned. Only one attempt at the test will be permitted. The in class tests are each worth 10%.
Week 3 Wednesday (31 July 2019) 10:00 am AEST
Tests will be held during class time in Weeks 3, 6 and 9. Refer to Moodle for more information.
Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019)
Marks will be given once moderation has been completed.
Subject knowledge of electronic music fundamentals.
Subject knowledge of audio including synthesis, sampling, MIDI and mixing.
- Describe music technology fundamentals associated with sequencing, MIDI, synthesis and signal processing
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
2 Written Assessment
In this assessment, you are
to choose a music style whose instrumentation is primarily electronic and provide
a written critique of its elements. The genres you may choose from are:
· House
· RnB
· Pop
· Drum
n Bass
· Dubstep
· Grime
· Synth
Pop
· Downtempo
Your analysis should
consider:
- Instrumentation – hardware or software
synthesisers or samplers
- Particular styles of synthesis or sampling
- Form
- Effects
- Historical / sociological context
- Where the genre derived from
Your analysis should use
primary sources to support your argument. Your assessment (1000 words) must be
submitted as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx) and:
- Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
- Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the
assignment
- May use sub-headings to organise your assignment
clearly
- Must adhere to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide.
The word count is considered
from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It
excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and
appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Week 7 Friday (6 Sept 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Friday (20 Sept 2019)
Marks will be given once moderation has been completed.
Appropriate description of musical material (40%)
Appropriate description of production techniques (20%)
All submission criteria met (20%)
Use of primary sources to support argument or theme (10%)
APA referencing implemented effectively (10%)
- Analyse the production elements of various popular music genres
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
3 Portfolio
You are to submit an audio recording of an original composition. The composition will be no more than 4 minutes in length and contain electronically composed musical elements developed over the term. Your composition will demonstrate genre specific production techniques and may contain audio samples.
All sounds should be created, edited and mixed using Ableton Live software and be no more than 4 minutes in length.
· Your final bounce will be a stereo mix of your signals with a peak level of no more than -6dBFS.
· You will be required to submit both a stereo bounce of your composition as well as your Ableton Live Project.
· Your project should not contain any missing media or unused tracks.
Review/Exam Week Friday (18 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)
Marks will be given once moderation has been completed.
Composition demonstrates
genre specific production techniques (40%)
Composition meets submission
requirements (20%)
Production is free from
extraneous noise (10%)
Final bounce does not exceed -6dBFS (10%)
Presentation and project handling (20%)
- Demonstrate music technology fundamentals associated with sequencing, MIDI, synthesis and signal processing using Ableton Live software.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
