Students will be given the opportunity to develop their own personal specialism within Music Production by exploring one of the areas delivered in a carousel of different Sound Design specialisms including but not limited to:

- Foley
- ADR Recording
- Sound Effect Development
- Field Recording
- Synthesis
- Sampling
- Mastering

The planning and pitch presentation will set out the specific area of specialism the student will be working in as well as the proposed work they will complete. They will outline the proposed workflows and working processes in line with the relevant professional norms.

The specialism portfolio will be based on an approved version of the proposal outlined in the pitch and will demonstrate a well informed approach to the specialist area and cover an amount of work commensurate with the overall weight, level and credits for this module. The specifics of the minimum expectations will depend on the specific specialism which the student chooses and negotiated as part of the pitch, the requirements will be benchmarked against a project where the student undertook all of the recording, editing and mixing of the sound design of 1 or 2 clips totalling 4-5 minutes of run time.

This module will be taught through a number of short introductions to specific areas of practice outlined above giving students the opportunity to pick an area and specialise in that for the module. Sessions will include a mixture of time in the labs undertaking both taught sessions and independent working as well as sessions based in the University recording studios. Teaching will be through a variety of methods including practical exploration of music and sound related tools, academic instruction into the underlying science of the topic area.

1. Develop and realise a focused Sound Design practice within a chosen specialism, demonstrating technical competence, creative control, and informed appropriate decision-making.

Knowledge and Understanding, Application and Problem Solving.

2. Select and apply appropriate tools, techniques, and workflows relevant to the chosen area of sound design, making informed decisions and demonstrating effective use of professional technologies and methods while working collaboratively where appropriate.

Critical Reasoning and Collaboration, Personal Development and Entrepreneurship.

3. Communicate, plan, manage, and complete an independent production project, evidencing effective self-direction, organisation, and professional working practices.

Application and Problem Solving, Digital literacy, Communication.

University recording studios
University Music & Sound Apple Mac labs
Logic Pro X, Ableton Live Suite, Pro Tools Ultimate software
NI Komplete & McDSP software
University Media stores and SISO
PSE SoundQ

Texts will vary depending on chosen specialisms, more developed reading lists will be developed for each specialism.

Ballou, G. & Jones, D., 2025. Handbook for sound engineers. 6th Edition, Focal Press.

Huber, D.M., Caballero, E. and Runstein, R., 2023. Modern recording techniques: a practical guide to modern music production. 9th Edition. Focal Press.

Izhaki, R., 2023. Mixing audio: concepts, practices, and tools. 4th Edition. Focal Press.

Find your focus. Develop your sound. Own your production style. This module gives you the freedom to specialise in the area of Sound Design that matters most to you. Whether you’re drawn to Foley, ADR, field recording or developing sound effects, you’ll shape your learning around your creative goals. With expert guidance and access to professional tools, you’ll deepen your skills, refine your workflow, and develop a distinctive sound design voice aligned with your chosen pathway.