Overview
This unit is a detailed introduction to music sequencing and sampling using industry recognised software. Students will gain experience with Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), software synthesizers, audio loops and region-based multi-take recording leading to mixing and mastering audio. Students undertaking this unit via flexible delivery may be required to own a computer with an approved Digital Audio Workstation. Students interested in enrolling in the unit should contact the unit coordinator before enrolling
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 1 - 2018
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 evaluations
Assessment Feedback
The unit coordinator will ensure that all assessment items are returned in a timely manner.
- Create complex sequences of both MIDI, digital audio loops and recorded digital audio;
- Sample live audio into the digital domain and manipulate the audio artefact;
- Synchronise MIDI and audio samples to time-based video media;
- Mix and Master completed audio files to broadcast standard.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
An introduction to music technology
Second edition (2015)
Authors: Daniel W. Hosken (Daniel William)
Routledge
New York New York , NY , United States
ISBN: 9780415825733
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Sibelius Music Notation Software (for more detail see term-specific information)
- A recent computer running IOS or Windows
- A copy of Garageband v10, Reaper v4, or Logic X
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.
d.reaston@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Unit Introduction
Module 1: Digital Sound
Chapter
Hosken, D. (2014). An introduction to music technology. New York: Routledge. (pp.7-17)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 1: Digital Sound
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 2: Digital Audio
Chapter
Hosken, D. (2014). An introduction to music technology. New York: Routledge. (pp.53-76)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 2: Digital Audio
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: MIDI and Software Instruments
Chapter
Hosken, D. (2014). An introduction to music technology. New York: Routledge. (pp.136-163)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: MIDI and Software Instruments
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: MIDI and Software Instruments
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: MIDI and Software Instruments
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 4: Computer Notation
Chapter
Hosken, D. (2014). An introduction to music technology. New York: Routledge. (pp.273-294)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 4: Computer Notation
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 4: Computer Notation
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 4: Computer Notation
Chapter
As per last week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
To enable you to get the best results in this unit, I suggest the following:
Purchase Sibelius music notation software. This can be bought in full or on an annual subscription. This will be mainly used in Assessment 3. However, you will find this music notation software very useful for other units in the Bachelor of Music degree. For more information on how to purchase this software, please go to the links on the Moodle website or contact me, the unit coordinator, David Reaston. Email: d.reaston@cqu.edu.au
The textbook for this unit is available via the CQUniversity library website.
1 Written Assessment
Length: Approximately 30 seconds of audio + 500 word essay
Re-groove Drums (Hosken, 2014, p. 78)
- Import an audio file of a short drum groove into your D.A.W. You can use a loop (Apple Loops), a drum sample from online, or use an isolated section of drums from a recording. MIDI is not allowed.
- Use your DAW’s editing techniques to rearrange the elements of the groove to form a new one.
- The clock and timeline should measure time in bars and beats rather than real time or SMPTE time, so you can match up elements to beats or parts of a beat.
- Even if the groove was originally on one track, use a separate track for each element (kick drum, snare drum, cymbals, toms).
- You may use fades and cross-fades to smooth out transitions.
- If your D.A.W. allows it, you can also pitch shift or time stretch various sounds to create a very different kind of groove.
- You can use a different rearrangement of the drum elements to create a contrasting groove followed by a return to the original groove.
Your track should last for approximately 30 seconds and include the original groove at some point.
A 500 word essay should accompany your submission explaining your individual process used to create the new groove. Screenshots of your D.A.W. maybe included to clarify points, and the structure of your track (including where the original groove and your modified groove are located) should be referenced in regard to seconds. (Example: New groove: 0s - 10s; Original groove: 11s - 21s; New groove: 22s-30s.)
Assessment submission and presentation
You must submit:
- An .mp3 of your final project
- The D.A.W. session of your project (GarageBand Project)
- 500 word essay as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx)
Your essay:
- Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
- Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
-
Include your name and student number.
- May use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
- Must adhere to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide.
References
Hosken, D. (2014). An introduction to music technology. New York: Routledge.
Week 6 Monday (16 Apr 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Monday (7 May 2018)
Re-Groove Drum Task
- Appropriate choice of original (unaltered) drum groove (5%)
- Application and effective use of track separation for each element (5%)
- Application and effective use of a clock/timeline (10%)
- Application and creative use of editing tools (cut/paste/effects) (30%)
- Overall presentation and appropriate duration (10%)
Essay
- Clear explanation of method used to create new groove (12%)
- Clear explanation of editing tools and effects used (10%)
- Clear explanation of the track’s overall structure (5%)
- Accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of writing style (8%)
- Meeting delivery requirements (presentation, word count, style guide) (5%)
- Create complex sequences of both MIDI, digital audio loops and recorded digital audio;
- Sample live audio into the digital domain and manipulate the audio artefact;
- Synchronise MIDI and audio samples to time-based video media;
- Mix and Master completed audio files to broadcast standard.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Create an audio recording using MIDI instruments from a score. The score will be provided on the Moodle website. Write an accompanying 500 word essay.
Steps:
- Add a ‘software instrument’ track in your D.A.W. for each voice in the piece.
- Select the desired timbres for each track.
- Set up key-signature and time signature and tempo in your D.A.W.
- Record/enter each part of the score into their assigned track. This maybe done via real-time, step, or manual entry. You may use a software instrument or a MIDI instrument. Remember the recording tempo can be different from the playback tempo, and to activate the metronome and count-off. Quantisation may be use to even out parts.
- Use editing tools (cut/copy/paste/loop) to complete the arrangement as per the score.
- Add a drum track to the arrangement (either Apple loops, GarageBand 'drummer', or your own)
- Mix session
- Add reverb to master track.
- Add a fade in to the master track at the start, and a fade out at the end.
- Export session as an audio file (.mp3).
A 500 word essay should accompany your submission explaining your individual process used to the create audio recording including any challenges you faced along the way.
Assessment submission and presentation
You must submit:
- An .mp3 of your final project
- The D.A.W. session of your project (GarageBand Project)
- 500 word essay as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx)
Your essay:
- Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
- Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
- Include your name and student number.
- May use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
- Must adhere to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide.
Week 9 Friday (11 May 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Monday (28 May 2018)
MIDI Realisation
- Appropriate number and timbre of ‘software instrument’ tracks (5%)
- Appropriate key-signature and time signature and tempo (5%)
- Correct entry of parts into the D.A.W. (35%)
- Application and effective use of editing tools (cut/copy/paste/loop) (5%)
- Application and effective use of fades and cross-fades (5%)
- Appropriate drum-track (5%)
- Appropriate mix of session (5%)
- Overall presentation and appropriate duration (5%)
Essay
- Clear explanation of method used to create the audio recording (15%)
- Clear explanation of any challenges faced (5%)
- Accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of writing style (7%)
- Meeting delivery requirements (presentation, word count, style guide) (3%)
- Create complex sequences of both MIDI, digital audio loops and recorded digital audio;
- Mix and Master completed audio files to broadcast standard.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
3 Written Assessment
Re-create a score using musical notation software. The score will be provided on the Moodle site. Generate parts from your score.
Use mouse and computer keyboard or step-time entry with a MIDI instrument to re-create the score. Try and make your score look identical to the original, copying the correct amount of staves, the key signature and all markings (repeat marks, articulation, dynamics etc).
Generate parts from your score. You may have to individually edit the layout of each part.
Export score and parts as PDFs.
Assessment submission and presentation
You must submit:
- Score and parts as PDFs.
- Include your name and student number on each page as part of a header or footer.
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (6 June 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Will be returned at the end of term.
- Accuracy of text (4%)
- Accuracy of key-signature, time-signature and tempo (4%)
- Accuracy of pitch (28%)
- Accuracy of rhythm (28%)
- Accuracy of all marking (repeat marks, articulation, dynamics etc.) (12%)
- Score layout (6%)
- Parts layout (6%)
- Overall presentation of score and parts (8%)
- Meeting delivery requirements (4%)
- Create complex sequences of both MIDI, digital audio loops and recorded digital audio;
- Sample live audio into the digital domain and manipulate the audio artefact;
- Synchronise MIDI and audio samples to time-based video media;
- Mix and Master completed audio files to broadcast standard.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
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?
