Music Technology

Assessment

Component 1: Recording Students will use technology to explore a range of techniques for capturing, editing and manipulating sound which will help them understand the impact of music technology on creative processes in the studio. They will then produce a completed mix. Component 2: Tech-based Composition Students will use technology to explore a range of techniques for developing ideas. They will then turn their ideas into completed technology-based compositions. Students should develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of musical elements and musical language, and apply these, where appropriate, to their own technology-based compositions. Component 3: Listening and Analysis This component gives students the opportunity to identify, analyse and evaluate a range of creative music production techniques, as applied to the unfamiliar commercial recordings supplied in the examination. As well as identifying effects and their associated settings, students will explain the principles behind the choice of the effects heard on each recording, and their sonic character, in a series of written responses. Through the deconstruction and analysis of a final, commercial product, students will expand their knowledge of the recording and production practices associated with a number of historical eras. Component 4: Producing and Analysing The examination 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, plus a final stereo mix. Students will refine and combine pre-existing ‘ingredients’ of a mix to form a convincing final product. Students will also comment on sonic characteristics of the materials provided, interpreting the underlying theory associated with these as well as justifying decisions they have made in respect of selecting processes and parameters when undertaking the practical tasks.