Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module MUSI3641: Audiovisual Production

Department: Music

MUSI3641: Audiovisual Production

Type	Tied	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Not available in 2013/14	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Tied to	W300

Prerequisites

MUSI2xx1 Creative Music Technologies and Sound Design

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combination of Modules

None

Aims

To enable students in their final year to undertake a substantial audiovisual project that will result in the production of a high quality (Red Book standard) Audio CD, and of a DVD-Video. Building on the practical skills acquired in the first two years, students will learn advanced techniques of capturing, editing and outputting digital audio and video. In addition to technical skills, the importance of contemporary research uses for digital audio and video will be emphasized during the lectures and developed through submission and discussion of various stages of the audiovisual products.

Content

The course will discuss advanced techniques of capturing and editing audio and video, and teach how to produce high quality Audio CD and DVD-Video. These techniques will be illustrated also through critical examination of examples of relevant applications within the context of research in music. The student will produce a high quality Audio CD and a DVD-Video.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Students will learn a range of techniques used to plan and produce an audiovisual work that can illustrate and complement research on music, or finalise and represent a music composition.

Subject-specific Skills:

Building on the previous experience and knowledge acquired during the first and second year, they will learn to capture digital audio and video, edit audio and video material, output the final results as high standard audiovisual products.

Key Skills:

Upon completion of this module, students will:
know how to capture digital audio and video to a high standard;
know how to edit with audio and video editing software;
develop an understanding of file formats, compression, encoding, etc.;
create audio/video pieces that demonstrate competence, technical accuracy, and complement a piece of scientific research or music composition

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Two lectures will introduce advanced techniques of capturing and editing audio and video, and teach how to produce high quality Audio CD and Video DVD; these concepts and skills will be developed in 4 seminars (to groups of no more than 15 students), while one-to-one tutorials will guide students through the individual production of the audio/video work. During the seminars general comments will be given about the submission of a) written proposal of theme and plan of action for the audiovisual productions; b) samples of pre-production work; c) samples of final production work. Students will have to show written reports and/or audiovisual samples also in all one-to-one tutorials, in order to discuss with their tutor the progress of the work during all stages of the media production: from planning, to pre-production, production, and finalisation. Personal dialogue with the supervisor will sharpen students' ability to critically evaluate their work, both from the technical point of view, and in relation to research/composition/performance work that the audiovisual production relates to.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	2	weekly	2 hours	4	■
Seminars (max 15 students)	4	2 in terms 1/2	2 hours	8	■
One-to-one tutorials	4	2 in terms 1/2	1 hour	4	■
Preparation, production and writing				184
TOTAL				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Audiovisual Product 1		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Audiovisual product in the format of a high quality Audio CD and DVD-Video, with total duration of 15-20 minutes, depending on the complexity of the production. To be accompanied by 500 words illustrating the technical details of the production, and 500 words considering how the audio/visual product conveys music research/composition/performance work. The final product will show significant efforts in the planning and capturing phase, and in the editing and finalisation of audio and video material. The number, topic and format of the product must be approved by the tutor. Instruction on the presentation of the audiovisual works will be given by the Department of Music		100%	No
Component: Audiovisual Product 2		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Audiovisual product in the format of a high quality Audio CD and DVD-Video, with total duration of 15-20 minutes, depending on the complexity of the production. To be accompanied by 500 words illustrating the technical details of the production, and 500 words considering how the audio/visual product conveys music research/composition/performance work. The final product will show significant efforts in the planning and capturing phase, and in the editing and finalisation of audio and video material. The number, topic and format of the product must be approved by the tutor. Instruction on the presentation of the audiovisual works will be given by the Department of Music		100%	No

Formative Assessment:

Collective and individual comments will be given on written reports about the various phases of the audiovisual production and on the relevant audiovisual sample materials (sound, image, or video excerpts or final draft of the work etc.) submitted by students for tutorial sessions.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University