Faculty of Design, Media and

Management

Assignment Brief

Academic Year 2015/16

Module Title:

Principles of Audio Technology

Module Code:

AP401

Assignment No/Title:

Coursework 1

Assessment
Weighting:

100%

Submission Date:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Feedback Target Date:

Various

Module Co-ordinator/
Tutor:

Natanya Ford

Degree/Foundation
Please Specify:

BA(Hons)

Task 1. w/c 12/10/2015

Task 2. 13/11/2015
Task 3. w/c 16/11/2015
Task 4. w/c 30/11/2015
Task 5. 24/02/2016
Task 6. w/c 02/05/2016

This assignment is to be submitted electronically using Blackboard

Submission Instruction:

1. This assignment must be submitted electronically using Blackboard by 2pm on the submission
date
2. To submit electronically you must upload your work to the e-submission area within the
Blackboard module concerned. Simple instructions are provided within the module.
3. Please do not attempt to submit assignments direct to lecturers as this is not allowed and will
result in a non-submission being officially recorded
4. You will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission. This will be sent to your Bucks e-mail
address; please keep this for reference.
5. You are reminded of the Universitys regulations on cheating and plagiarism. In submitting your
assignment you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations.
6. Late submission within 10 working days of the deadline will result in the mark for the assignment
being capped at 40%. Beyond this time the work will not be marked.
7. You are reminded that it is your responsibility to keep an electronic copy of your assignment for
future reference.
Assignment format and other relevant instructions to students:

Students will be expected to complete all of the outlined tasks.

Each task should be completed by the date specified in the module schedule and will be checked in that
week.
Specific guide for the submission of written exercises (tasks 2 & 5):
The exercises should be typed using a word processing package
Each page should contain your ID number, title and code for module, page number and total number
of pages in header
You should save your word documents as PDF files and upload these to the E-Submission portal on
Blackboard by the dates outlined above.
Specific guide for the submission of group presentations (tasks 3 & 4):
Your Power-point presentation should be saved as a .pdf file.
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Power-point presentations in PDF format should be submitted electronically to the E-Submission

portal on blackboard by the dates outlined above
Each member of the group should submit their own copy of the group presentation.
Please keep a copy of your presentations

Specific guide for the submission of task 1 practical:

When asked to present your work in week 3, you will need to have prepared for presentation:
A SINGLE Pro Tools/Logic or Audacity file containing all required elements
You will also need to prepare a screenshot of the file for submitting electronically to the ESubmission portal on blackboard by the dates outlined above.
Specific guide for the submission of task 6 practical.
When asked to present your work in week 32 you will need to have prepared:
A completed track bounced out of Pro Tools/Logic and recorded as a full quality (44.1/16) stereo wave
audio file.
You will also need to have prepared a series of bulleted notes to accompany your audio presentation. These
notes will accompany the presentation of your work and should be submitted electronically to the ESubmission portal on blackboard by the dates outlined above.
This assignment tests the following Learning Outcomes for the module:

LO1: Understand the principles of acoustics, psychoacoustics and sound theory

LO2: Understand key technological developments and their impact on production practices
LO3: Successfully identify and evaluate fundamental attributes of sound
The Assignment Task:

You are required to complete the following exercises.

TASK 1: Basic principles of sound (PRACTICAL TASK). Presented & submitted in week 3
Create three practical examples of how complex sounds can be created from sine waves
1. A square wave
2. A sawtooth wave
3. A triangle wave
When asked to present your work, you will need to have prepared:
1. A SINGLE Pro Tools OR Logic file containing all 3 of the above WAVE files.
2. A screenshot of the file displaying the 3 waveforms (for e-submission)
3. You may present an additional WAVE which demonstrates a creative use of additive synthesis
TASK 2: Auditory Perception (WRITTEN TASK) E-Submission by WEEK 7
A written piece of 750 words explaining loudness perception. The piece should be fully referenced and include
a graph mapping your own loudness curve. Please follow the guidelines above for submitting written
exercises.
TASK 3: Microphone Presentation (GROUP TASK): PRESENTED (& E-Submitted) IN WEEK 8
Group presentation (5 - 10 mins) detailing technical and aesthetic characteristics of 1 microphone
Please notify your lecturer ASAP if you cannot attend the presentation
TASK 4: Loudspeaker Presentation (GROUP TASK) PRESENTED (& E-Submission) IN WEEK 10
Group presentation (5 10 mins) detailing technical and aesthetic characteristics of 1 loudspeaker
Please notify your lecturer if you cannot attend the presentation
TASK 5: Dynamic Compression (WRITTEN TASK) E-Submission by Week 22
A written piece of 750 words explaining the technical process and aesthetic uses of dynamic compression
(focusing on one technique and associated use). Please follow the guidelines above for submitting written
exercises.
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TASK 6: Recreating the acoustics of different spaces (PRATICAL TASK) E-submission + Presentation
in week 32
You will be provided with an anechoic recording of female speech. Using your knowledge of the acoustics and
psychoacoustics of spaces, it is your task to create a short compositional work that places the voice in a
specific acoustic environment. You should choose your ONE acoustic environment from the following:
1) A field in the middle of the countryside
2) A busy caf
3) Someone speaking in a deserted stairwell
For your environment you will need to decide on (and where necessary capture) the background sounds,
noises and voices required to complement the female voice. You should also carefully consider how to
employ reverberation, effects, processing and editing techniques to achieve a realistic sound scene. Your
sound-scenes can be created using any audio production/editing tools. When deciding on appropriate
software/hardware, you should consider using tools that will enable you to produce the best results.
You will be required to submit (to the e-submission site on blackboard) a page of (bulleted) notes explaining
your practical work.
Assessment Criteria

The exercises that make up this workbook will be marked according to the following criteria:
1) Basic principles of sound: 20%
The creation of three complex sounds from sine waves (5% each sound)
Submission of (optional) additional creative additive synthesis (5%)
Practical examples should be presented as documented previously.
2) Auditory Perception: 20%
750 words explaining loudness perception and including a graph mapping your own loudness curve. You
should include appropriate references (using the Harvard system for referencing).
3) Microphone Presentation 10%
A group power-point presentation detailing technical and aesthetic characteristics of 1 microphone. Your
group will be marked on your written presentation and your ability to communicate content
4) Loudspeaker Presentation 10%
A group power-point presentation detailing technical and aesthetic characteristics of 1 loudspeaker. Your
group will be marked on your written presentation and your ability to communicate content
5) Dynamic Compression 20%
A written piece of 750 words explaining the technical process and aesthetic uses of dynamic compression.
You should include appropriate references (Harvard format). You will be marked on your ability to critically
evaluate how compression is used in one particular situation.
6) Recreating the acoustics of different spaces 20%
1. Appropriate use of background noises, voices and sound effects (5%)
2. Creation of suitable acoustic environments (5%)
3. Effective editing and mixing (5%)
4. Overall aesthetics and realism of the sound scene (5%)

University Generic Undergraduate Degree Grade Descriptors can be found on the University website
in the document Assessment of Students- Appendix 1

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Quality Assurance Record

Internal Approval:

External Approval:

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