Advanced Sound Engineering and Production

Duration
This is a Full-time one-year course which runs from September to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.

Overview
This one-year Level 6 course allows students to further develop and enhance their skills in music and sound production. It is an ideal add-on for our Level 5 students, for students from other Level 5 courses, and for mature applicants (over 21) with relevant experience. Taught by professionals working in the industry, this course will prepare students for both further academic progression and careers in the media, entertainment and music fields. Students will work with performers and musicians in a purpose-built industry-standard professional recording studio. Editing, mixing and production take place in a state-of-the-art all iMac digital sound production facility. All workstations are equipped with software, including Pro Tools, Ableton Live and Logic Pro.

Entry Requirements
One of the following:

• Relevant QQI Level 5 Award such as Sound Production 5M2149
• For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over), appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
• Applicants whose first language is not English require level B1 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules

• Sound Engineering and Music Technology
• Studio and Location Sound Production
• Media Ethics and Legal Framework
• Media Industry Awareness
• Multimedia Sound
• Communications
• Personal and Professional Development
• Musicianship

Certification
Level 6 QQI Award Media Production (6M5130)

Special Features
This is a highly practical course and students will get hands-on experience of a wide range of industry-specific skills, including: studio recording; location sound recording; electronic music composition and production; audio post-production for film and TV; organising and running live events; and podcast production.

Specialist resources include:

Industry-Standard Sound Production Studio with Audient ASP8024HE Edition console, full set of instruments and assorted hardware effects.

iMac Digital Sound Studio.  Our new iMac Lab replicates real-life industry experience.

DJ Room equipped with the most up-to-date industry-standard Pioneer DJ equipment, including CDJ 3000s and DJM A9, as well as XDJs and vinyl turntables.

Digital Radio Studio with Adobe Audition.

Internal live venue with stage and sound booth.

Free full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud Software for all students on this course for one year to facilitate assessment work.

All Dublin College Dun Laoghaire students are provided with a M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and OneDrive.

Additional Information
Assessment

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Portfolio/Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examinations – Written or Practical
• Project
• All assignments are submitted electronically.  Therefore, all students need access to a device such as a computer/laptop.

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details.

Progression Opportunities

Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 and Level 6 major award. Places are not guaranteed and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process, especially if a student is looking for advanced entry into third level and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Progression Examples
BA Arts (DN520)

BA Humanities (DN530)

University College Dublin – www.ucd.ie
BA Creative Music Production (DL838)  There is an option to do QQI Level 5 Mathematics module if a student does not have the LCE Mathematics requirement.

IADT, Dún Laoghaire – www.iadt.ie
BA Commercial Modern Music (BIMM assessment/audition) (TU961)

Bachelor of Music (audition) (TU963)

BA Media Production and Digital Arts (TU982)

BA Creative Digital Media (TU981)

Technological University Dublin – www.tud.ie
BA Music (audition) (DK860)

BA Audio and Music Production (DK865)

Dundalk Institute of Technology – www.dkit.ie
BA in Music Technology (MH101). There is an option to do QQI Level 5 Mathematics module if a student does not have the LCE Mathematics requirement.

BA Arts (MH101)

BA Media Studies (MH109)

BA Psychology (MH106)

Maynooth University – www.nuimaynooth.ie
Higher Certificate Music and Instrument Technology (AL605)

BEng Music and Sound Engineering (AL718)

Athlone Institute of Technology – www.ait.ie
BSc Music Technology and Production (LC270)

Limerick Institute of Technology – www.lit.ie

Career Paths
Most graduates will opt to advance to further studies, while others will be able to progress to work in recording studios, live sound, conference services, broadcasters, film and TV companies and web content-related employment.