If you want to learn the secrets of good audio production and how to work as a freelance engineer/remixer/post production engineer, this course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need.

This course offers you the chance to develop your skills with state-of-the art live sound and studio equipment used in the industry today.

As one of the few Certified Training Locations for Avid in the UK, you'll have access to the latest versions of software and plugins for music and audio production. Students will also have the opportunity to undertake Certified Pro Tools courses. (Please ask us for more information on this.)

Here's more on what you'll be doing:

- You'll look at sound production theory and the common equipment/techniques in audio recording and reproduction, such as microphones, stereo audio imaging and audio signal processing.
- You'll develop skills in audio engineering for multi-track recordings.
- You'll discover the art and science of mixing multi-track recordings.
- You'll explore acoustics, and learn about the nature of sound, how we as humans hear sound and how sound behaves in enclosed spaces.
- You'll develop skills in sound reinforcement equipment for different types of live events, such as music, vocal, audio-visual.
- You'll learn about digital audio workstations, and how to record and manipulate audio and MIDI signals for sound production.
Finally, you'll look at the creative industries as a whole, including the main commercial organisations, and sources of support, advice and funding.
You'll also have the opportunity to:

- Work within our own record label, Sun Turtle Records, and help artists record and release original music.
- Work within our PR and Events company High Tide PR, and help manage two artists signed every year.
- Practise your skills through free access to the studio during the day when it's not in use.

If you’re interested in the creative industries and in particular sound production, this course can help you on your way.

This course develops your technical abilities within an audio environment, with a firm focus on teamwork. You’ll also spend a considerable amount of time working with live sound.

You’ll learn using world class equipment and the latest industry software, such as Pro Tools and Ableton. Your assessments will be based on real-life products in post and music production, in a variety of genres.

Here’s just some of what you’ll be doing:

- You’ll learn about sound engineering systems and basic public address systems (PAs).
- You’ll develop skills in studio production techniques, including mic placement and monitoring, as well as studio etiquette and communication.
- You’ll learn about music programming and virtual instruments, using MIDI software.
- You’ll develop skills in music production, including pre and post production.
- You’ll develop skills in audio editing, learning to edit and manipulate sound in a digital format and how to store it, such as via podcasting.
- You’ll learn about live sound reinforcement systems - otherwise known as PA systems - and practise operating a system for a small-scale event.
- You’ll develop music business know-how, looking at the key organisations and careers within the UK music industry.
Almost all students as part of their bursary funding, receive a production bundle of equipment including microphones, digital recorders and high end headphones when they join and succeed in this course.

You’ll also build transferable Essential Skills in meaningful contexts to help you become more effective in life, learning, and work. This could be communication, numeracy, ICT, working with others, and problem solving.

If you’re interested in the creative industries and in particular sound production, this course is a great place to start.

This is an exciting and hugely popular course aimed at creative types who like a bit of tech. Incorporating an NPA qualification, it will give you basic skills in sound production and a great foundation for further study.

You’ll learn using world class equipment and the latest industry software, including Pro Tools, Ableton and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sequencing. Your assessments will be based on real-life products in post and music production, in a variety of genres.

The main focus of the course is on sound design, and sound engineering and production.

- You’ll look at sound design in visual media and will develop skills in collecting and using sound elements for a visual media sequence, such as one used for a computer game, animation or multi-media presentation.
- You’ll develop practical and creative sound engineering and production skills in using multi-track recording equipment to record and mix different sources of audio.
- You’ll also look at the different sectors within the creative industries and the range of jobs available. We’ll help you develop your own skills for employment too.
- You’ll build transferable Essential Skills in meaningful contexts to help you become more effective in life, learning, and work. This could be communication, numeracy, ICT, working with others, and problem solving.

Almost all students as part of their bursary funding, will receive a production bundle of equipment including microphones, digital recorders and high end headphones when they join and succeed in this course.

This National Progression Award (NPA) is designed to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills you will need to succeed within the creative industries sector or to progress to further study. It is designed to bridge the gap between entry level education and professional career development. The NPA will allow you to develop a skill set, linked to National Occupational Standards for Sound, which has a thorough grounding in audio recording practice and allows individual and personalised skills development through the optional Units.

SQA Course Units:
• Sound Engineering and Production
• Sound: Understanding the Signal Path
• Sound Reinforcement
• Music Remixing

Film is a dominant art form, both reflecting and influencing society and culture. This A level will give you a broader knowledge of film, exploring it over a range of time periods and movements including silent cinema, Hollywood, British film, American film, global films, documentary films and experimental films.

Learning to read films as more than a form of entertainment will develop your skills in analysis and interpretation. You will also have the opportunity to work on a practical film project of your own.

Visits to the cinema, and other course related places such as the National Media Museum, are planned to ensure that students gain a wider perspective of the film industry.

Why choose this course?

This is a unique programme that allows you to explore ways of working with light. You will have the opportunity to learn and work with world-leading designers, learning from their working methods and practices, before moving on to develop and test your own practice as a performance maker working with light. On completion of the course you may wish to work as an independent lighting designer for performance, or return to your own specialist practice with an enhanced understanding of how light can be used in performance.

The course is international in nature and ambition, and is strongly supported by a range of key industry partners.

The programme is aimed at lighting specialists who want to develop and expand their practice in designing with light, as well as non-specialists who want to expand their knowledge of working with light, such as directors, designers, choreographers, dancers, musicians and artists.

The programme includes 8 weeks of practical workshops in fully-equipped performance spaces, led by four world-leading lighting designers. For 2020-21, these will be: Andi Watson, Michael Hulls, Paule Constable, and Willie Williams (subject to confirmation). You will work with each of the designers one at a time, learning from their working methods and processes.

The programme also offers a range of practice-based opportunities to explore collaborative and inter-disciplinary creative processes, work placements at a range of partner organisations both in the UK and abroad, and an opportunity to further develop your personal practice through an individual or collaborative realised lighting design project.

Location: Lewisham

This degree is based at USW’s purpose-built campus, in the creative centre of Cardiff.

At the nexus of creativity, technology and business, the MSc Music Engineering and Production is designed for graduates who want to further develop their music engineering and production skills, to establish a career as a professional producer in the music industry or related fields.

An important element of the music engineering masters is the practical application of your knowledge to generate highly creative work.

Allied areas are also examined, which allows graduates to apply their skills in many other media-related fields, including film and animation. Such a strategic approach to your higher-level study engenders responsibility, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the highly creative generation of musical and visual tangibles.

This Master’s programme is based at USW’s purpose-built campus, in the creative centre of Cardiff.

The MA Songwriting and Production course is delivered in the context of a thriving contemporary music and cultural scene in Wales. This innovative Songwriting and Production programme will inspire you to develop your own artistic voice, and make serious connections within the world of songwriting.

As well as offering numerous opportunities for collaboration, the course embraces the DIY philosophy of being able to fully produce your own original songs.

Designed for those interested in songcraft and studio production, you’ll learn a range of traditional and contemporary songwriting approaches, and have access to our well-equipped studios, rehearsal and writing rooms.

Your major project is reviewed and judged by an industry panel that includes our course ambassador, Gruff Owen CEO of Libertino Records.

Songwriting & Production and Blended Learning:
In most cases we prefer to be on campus, experiencing our songwriting workshops and creative events in real time. However, just like the rest of the music industry, we have had to rethink our approach and embrace new models to help minimise the risk. This has been an invigorating refresh, and one that has brought about new habits to embrace more permanently such as asynchronous songwriting co-writes, overseas guests beamed in via satellite, remote mixing and mastering etc.

This course has been devised in response to industry and student-led demand for practical training in make-up and hairdressing techniques for theatre, film, TV, fashion, festival, carnival and entertainment arenas.

Key features

- All tutors are industry specialists
- Campus facilities include a working theatre and photographic studios
- Students gain work experience on high profile films, TV series and West End shows
- Graduates are now working on major films, TV series, adverts, West End shows and magazine shoots

With pathways in Stage Management, Production Management, Lighting Design and Sound Design, this course offers practical and vocational training in our professionally equipped theatre and studio space.

Key features

- The Northbrook Theatre – our on-campus professional theatre
- Studio 21 – double truss studio space for rehearsals and performances
- ETC ION Lighting Desk and extensive selection of intelligent and generic fixtures
- Digico SD Series consoles
- Counterweight, hemp, motors and truss for flying and rigging
- Prompt desk, radio comms and cue lights
- Ten on-campus rehearsal studios
- AV mixer, projectors and video mapping software