Outline

Overview

In this unit of study students will be introduced to a range of music technologies and gain a basic proficiency in sound recording, editing and mixing. Students will learn to work with audio in a digital audio workstation, how to make good quality recordings with portable recording devices, and make use of these skills in service of a creative outcome. The unit will include an overview of software for notation/sequencing, as well as basic sound synthesis concepts. In the final assessment students will explore the creative possibilities of music technology by realising a sound work using either instrumental and/or environmental sound recorded and edited by them.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Composition and Music Technology
Credit points	3
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Alexis Weaver, alexis.weaver@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Alexis Weaver, alexis.weaver@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Adam Karl Melzer, adam.melzer@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Liam Mulligan, liam.mulligan@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Participation and Engagement Participating in fortnightly discussion tasks and watching lectures.	20%	Multiple weeks	Discussion tasks of 100-200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Creative assessment / demonstration	Creative Audio Assignment Demonstrate creative application of skills and artistic reflection	40%	STUVAC Due date: 10 Nov 2023 at 23:59	3-6 min sound work, written reflection
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Collaborative Composition Task Create a collaborative sound work	10%	Week 06 Due date: 08 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1-2 min sound work, 500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Creative assessment / demonstration	Formative Skills Assessment Practice DAW skills and artistic reflection	20%	Week 08 Due date: 22 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1 min sound work, 2 min video or podcast
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Creative Audio Assignment: Work-In-Progress Submission Deliver a 2-minute work-in-progress and 100-200 word program for tutorial	10%	Week 13 Due date: 01 Nov 2023 at 23:59	2-minute work-in-progress
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Participation and Engagement Tasks:

Participation in online discussions pertaining to fortnightly listening, reading or video tasks.

Engagement with online lecture videos (i.e. watching full lecture, participating in occasional commented discussions and quizzes).

Assessment Detail:

This component of the class is designed to give students a broad overview of the historical context of creative approaches to the use of new technologies in composition, to stimulate discussion and to extend student learning in certain technical areas.

The works you are required to listen to will be listed in Canvas under Discussions. These works will be available via Spotify and/or YouTube. Students will need a free Spotify account to access Spotify.

If given a listening task, students are expected to listen to one or more of the works listed for the week in question. Students write a brief forum post or comment reflecting on the discussion question for that week. The responses should be at least 200 words long.

Collaborative Composition Task:

Work with an assigned group of 3-5 students to generate a creative sound work of 1-2 minutes. You will also submit a group and individual reflection.

Assessment Detail:

This work may be in any style and incorporate recorded audio, MIDI, and synthesised sound. Assignment groups will submit one audio file as well as one group document outlining the assigned roles of each group member, creative process and reflection on the artistic result. In addition, each group member will submit an individual reflection on the process and their creative contribution. Class time in Week 4 will be allocated for work on this task.

Formative Skills Assessment: Compose a 1-minute sound work using only the audio samples provided and the skills covered during previous classes. This should be accompanied by a 2-minute video or podcast reflecting on the skills demonstrated and your creative application.

Assessment Detail:

This assessment will allow you demonstrated your proficiency with recorded sounds. Using the samples provided (samples will be available by the end of Week 4), create a short audio-based composition of 1-minute duration displaying skills learned so far this Semester. Your work may be in any style, but should show knowledge of basic audio editing, arrangement and mixing, sampling, audio effects, etc.

To accompany the work, record a short video description of your production process (maximum 2 minute duration). The video should include a brief discussion of the skills implemented, how you applied these to your original work, the artistic goal, and include any challenges you encountered while composing. Show some vision of your project file as evidence of your work, either by including this in your video or accompanying screenshots if choosing the podcast option. You can use screencast software, screenshots or simply film/photograph your device’s screen.

Creative Audio Assignment: Compose an original creative audio work of 3-6 minutes. This should be accompanied by a 1-page written description OR 2-minute audio description, as well as a zipped folder containing your DAW file.

Assessment Detail:

Students choose from one of the following options for the composition portion of this task:

Option 1: Compose an electroacoustic sound work of between 3 - 6 minutes in length. This may include a live instrumental or vocal component, but if so should be accompanied by a score.

Option 2: Compose up to 6 miniature electroacoustic pieces between 45-60 seconds in length, with the works tied together by a central theme. The collective duration should amount to at least 3 minutes.

APPLIES TO ALL OPTIONS:

Include a written description of approximately one page OR a recorded audio description of approximately 2 minutes explaining the technical and musical choices you made. Address the following: What was your artistic goal with the piece? What source materials did you use? How did you process this material? What challenges did you face in the production and what have you learned in the process?
Include your complete DAW project file with all necessary external files included (see below for more information).

The piece should be an original (not a cover/remix) and is to be created using original source material wherever possible. You may use royalty free samples as part of this work, but please acknowledge which samples are not your own. Vocal samples and pre-made drum loops are heavily discouraged. You may use any software for editing and mixing your audio, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, Pro Tools and others.

Where possible, you are strongly encouraged to make use of the facilities available to you at the Conservatorium.

Submission:

All materials are to be submitted to the relevant assignment portal within the CMPN1013 Canvas site. Students are also welcome to provide links to external file sharing services (Dropbox/Google shareable link), for these media files instead of uploading to Canvas. If so this must be linked to in your written documentation. Please DO NOT provide links to timed download services such as WeTransfer, etc. – files must be accessible for marking at any stage after submission.

Your audio works should be submitted as rendered stereo files or either, 44.1/48kHz, 24bit .wav or .aiff files – NOT mp3s/m4as.
All scores and written work should be uploaded in .pdf format through the assignment Dropbox.
A zipped copy of your DAW project file needs to be included in the submission. This must include dependencies (such as necessary audio files) – so include the project file and all related folders.
If you are submitting multiple documents, please zip these files into a compressed .zip archive before uploading.
If you are using your own third party plugin resources, please be aware that these may not be accessible by the lecturer for marking. If you are unsure, discuss with the lecturer prior to submission.

Creative Audio Assignment: Work-In-Progress Submission: Deliver a 2-minute excerpt of your Creative Audio Assignment work-in-progress for the in-class listening party in Week 13. Please note that this is not expected to be complete; it is expected that the submitted file shows a work in progress, but it should be substantial. Accompanying this, you will provide a 100-200 word program note to be displayed while your work is played. The program note should include:

- a working title

- description of the artistic goals for the work

- brief description of how it will be improved before your final submission.

Assessment criteria

Assessment Criteria:

Assessment: Online listening/reading/viewing activities

50%: Genuine participation in homework activity on dates scheduled.
50%: Meaningful and personal response to the stimulus.

Assessment: Formative Skills Assessment

40%: Recording/Sound file processing/technical competence
30%: Musical treatment of the material
30%: Video/recorded description and visual material

Assessment: Collaborative Composition Task

33%: Group and individual contributions to reflection document
33%: Recording/Sound file processing/technical competence
33%: Convincing artistic vision and musical treatment

Assessment: Creative Audio Assignment

37.5%: Recording/Sound file processing/technical competence
37.5%: Musical treatment of the material
25%: Written description including support documentation and performance notes

Assessment: In-Class Listening Excerpt

50%: Submission of 2-minute sound file
50% Written program note including title, artistic vision and reflection

The following assessment criteria are used for written work in this unit of study:

Fail: (Below 50%) Work not of acceptable standard.
Pass: (50%-64%) Work of acceptable standard.
Credit: (65%-74%) Highly competent work demonstrating potential for higher study.
Distinction: (75%-84%) Work of superior standard.
High Distinction: (85%-100%) Work of exceptional standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All late submissions will incur a penalty of 5% mark deduction per day, in line with the University of Sydney late submission policy.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Lecture includes an overview of the Unit of Study outline, the advent of electronic music, recorded sound and Musique Concrète. Tutorial: setting up DAW accounts, determining assignment groups, and introduction to the computer labs and studios.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Lecture includes: Introducing amplitude, frequency, harmonics and timbre. Introduction to Ableton Live, Logic and audio editing basics in Ableton. Tutorial includes: practical implementation of techniques. Introduce Collaborative Composition Task.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Lecture includes: Microphone and portable recording basics. Importing and exporting recorded audio, further audio editing tips in Ableton’s ‘Arrangement’ view. Tutorial includes: practical implementation of techniques. If applicable: Short recording excursion using Zoom or mobile recorders in Collaborative Composition Task groups.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Lecture includes: Manipulating sound through ‘time-domain’ audio editing techniques. An introduction to basic audio effects. Tutorial includes: Practical implementation of techniques. Collaborative work on Collaborative Composition Task. Planning, role assignment, individual composing/curating, etc.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Lecture includes: Introduction to sampling through use of Ableton’s Sampler. Delivery of feedback on weekly discussion posts. Introduction of Formative Skills Assessment. Tutorial includes: Practical implementation of techniques.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Lecture includes: MIDI Sequencing and protocol. Composing with the Sampler and manipulating MIDI through recording, transposition, quantisation, inversion, retrograde, note lengths, velocity, and MIDI effects. Tutorial includes: Practical implementation of techniques.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	No lecture this week. Class includes: Collaborative work on Formative Skills Assessment with guidance from tutor. Assessment due at end of Week 7.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Lecture includes: Introduction to sound synthesis. Creation of new synth patches using Ableton or Logic. Introduction to mixing techniques. Tutorial: Practical implementation of techniques. Mid-Semester break occurs after this week.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Lecture includes: History and use of reverb and space in electronic works. Survey of different reverb types (mechanical, algorithmic and convolution), using an Impulse Response, creative uses of reverb in a mix. Mixing technique: Bussing and Return tracks. Introduction to Creative Audio Assignment. Tutorial: Practical implementation of techniques.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Special Projects Week: no lecture nor tutorial this week.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Lecture includes: Introduction to the Compressor and further mixing techniques. Discussion of various examples of contemporary, electronic & electro-acoustic music. Tutorial: Practical implementation of techniques.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	No lecture this week. Tutorial includes: Revision of rendering/exporting files, file types and formats. Collaborative work on Creative Audio Assignment with guidance from tutor. Discussion of future avenues to continue experimental practices.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	No lecture this week. Tutorial includes: Assessment presentation at in-class listening party. Creative Audio Assignment due in STUVAC.	Presentation (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned. The Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90%.
Due to COVID-19, this information is subject to change and in class attendance may be substituted for online activities. Please always refer to your timetable and information on Canvas.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Evaluate the impact of past electronic works and genres, and discuss their relevance to current ways of creating
LO2. Reflect critically on creative practices and identify possible avenues for improvement in workflow and output
LO3. Demonstrate confidence in using software for recording, editing, and mixing, and apply knowledge gained to other software platforms previously unfamiliar
LO4. Collaborate with others to create original and innovative musical works
LO5. Utilise a range of creative editing techniques to compose original and innovative musical works

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

A heartfelt thank you to all students who completed the Unit of Study Survey for CMPN1013! Generally speaking, results show that the structure of the class and tutor support are strong elements of this course. Suggestions included a longer in-person tutorial time, more time for group tasks, and more focus on inter-DAW skills. These suggestions will be incorporated wherever possible for Semester 2, 2023.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CMPN1013: Creative Music Technology

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect