Macquarie University

Advanced Audio and Sound Design - MMCS380

This unit extends previous units of radio and audio production, developing an advanced understanding of audio for a variety of creative media practices. Students work with contemporary production platforms, consolidating techniques introduced in earlier units (radio, music, screen production, multimedia). The unit completes a pathway in radio, and caters for students of multimedia, screen and music production wishing to create sound design and audio-rich projects relating to their specialist interests. Students can complete a major project in radio (a documentary feature, performance, experimental or music-sound theatre work) or in any of the aforementioned areas of production–working to construct their own creative works or soundtracks, or realising new forms through interdisciplinary collaboration. Critically, this unit provides students with a sophisticated understanding of the powerfully affecting sonic dimension; how the auditory functions in audio/audio-visual media and other performance forms. Sound is considered with attention to its cultural and historical expression, the experience of reception and how meaning is constructed in a variety of works and contexts. Lectures extend and challenge students' knowledge of auditory culture and its formal developments; advanced production sessions build sophisticated levels of competency using a range of facilities and equipment.