Music Technology

Assessment

Externally Assessed Coursework: Multi-track Recording - 20% Using our recording studios, you will have to record, edit and mix a piece of popular music from a choice of ten artists given by the exam board. The recording will have to fulfil several criteria set by the board including its length and the choice of instruments that must be on the recording. You will oversee the entire process. Externally Assessed Coursework: Technology-based Composition - 20% For this piece of coursework, students will have to compose and realise a piece of music using music technology as a key element of the music to a brief set by the board. Technology must play a large part in the compositional process, including the use of synthesis and sample editing for sound creation, and the creative use of audio effects. Written Exam: Listening and Analysing – 1hr30mins - 25% In this exam, students are given several unfamiliar commercial pop recordings from 1940 to modern day. In a series of written responses, they will be asked to identify, analyse and evaluate a range of creative music production techniques found within the recordings, including recording methods, the identification of audio effects and their related parameters, and the principles behind the choice of the effects heard and their sonic character. Written/Practical Exam: Producing and Analysing – 2hr15mins - 35% This exam assesses students’ knowledge of the techniques and principles of music technology through a series of written and practical tasks, in the context of audio and MIDI materials provided by the exam board. Using a Digital Audio Workstation, students will work with unedited audio and MIDI materials that have been captured using microphone, DI and sequencing techniques. It will assess the ability to process and correct these materials using a range of production skills, culminating in a series of audio bounces/exports for individual instrumental/vocal parts. Students will refine and combine the pre-existing ‘ingredients’ of a mix to form a convincing final stereo mix.