Audio Technology or Acoustics Degree
The degree course offers two pathways; Audio Engineering and Acoustic Engineering and in the first year, common to both pathways, you will study acoustics, electronics, music technology, mathematics and audio engineering covering all aspects of processing, delivery and engineering of audio signals and acoustic spaces. On completion of the first year, you have the option to specialize in either the Audio Engineering or Acoustic Engineering pathway for level two and three of the degree.
In the second year on the Audio Engineering pathway, you will broaden your knowledge in the studio environment, alongside course modules in acoustic principles and electro-acoustics, further developing an in depth knowledge of the physics and engineering of sound, audio technologies and audio production. The final year of the Audio Engineering pathway covers aspects of speech, musical acoustics and spatial audio, with a significant element of project work to develop practical and research skills and an opportunity to study an area of audio technology of particular interest in depth.
In the second year of the Acoustic Engineering pathway, you will broaden your knowledge of acoustics, the course modules specializing in environmental noise, principles of acoustics and architectural acoustics. The final year of the Acoustic Engineering pathway covers aspects of speech, music, spatial and architectural acoustics, with a significant element of project work to develop practical and research skills and an opportunity to study an area of acoustics of particular interest in depth.
Throughout the course, support modules in programming, mathematics and computing provide the framework required to progress your degree and prepare for a career in audio technology or acoustic engineering. Graduates from the course go on to pursue careers in a wide range of positions in the audio and acoustics industries including cutting edge research and product development and design, noise consultancy, architectural and building acoustics and environmental assessment.
YEAR 1
Introduction to Acoustics
This module is an introduction to a wide range of concepts in acoustics and allows you to begin to gain skills in the practical measurement and analysis of acoustic devices and audio technologies.
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Audio Systems
This module will introduce you to a broad range of audio technologies including microphones, transmission, digital audio and loudspeakers. You will learn basic practical skills by carrying out a simple audio electronics project.
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Audio Electronics
You will look at the basic building blocks in audio electronic circuits and develop an understanding and appreciation of impedance, current and voltage in circuits, use of complex numbers and circuit analysis. You will also use SPICE simulation for circuit analysis and design.
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Mathematics
You will be given the basic mathematical skills and concepts required to appreciate and succeed in understanding acoustics and audio engineering.
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Computer Programming
You will be taught appropriate high level programming techniques at a level sufficient to code elementary procedural programs. Coding is at the heart of much acoustic engineering and audio technologies.
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Acoustics Laboratory
You will be taught about a wide variety of specialist acoustic and audio measurements, in terms of equipment familiarity, correct use, interpretation of data and correct reporting (oral and written).
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YEAR 2
Digital Audio Processing
This module gives a thorough grounding in the techniques and applications of digital technology in the acquisition, processing, storage and transmission of acoustic signals.
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Principles of Acoustics
This module will teach you the fundamental acoustic principles that are required as a foundation for the remainder of the course such as Fourier’s theorem, 3D wave equation, the finite string and radiation impedance.
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Environmental Noise (Acoustic Engineering pathway)
In this module you will be taught how to calculate noise levels from a range of commonly encountered noise sources , assess individual and group reaction to different noise environments and use current standards and guides for the assessment of community response to noise.
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Audio Production (Audio Engineering pathway)
This module is an introduction to the techniques used at all stages of the audio recording and production process. The subjects covered in the module will ensure you have a good understanding of the terminology and technology used in current recording studio practice and provide experience in audio recording both within a group and individual context.
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Microphone/Loudspeaker design
On completion of this module you should have an understanding of electroacoustic transduction mechanisms and the modelling techniques used in the design of microphones and loudspeakers.
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Industrial studies and career management
In order to better prepare you for a career in acoustics and audio this module will help you understand the nature of entrepreneurs and the development of entrepreneurial organizations. You will cover popular business theories such as theory of management, the role of enterprise in the economy, leadership and management of an enterprise and developing and managing quality in the enterprise.
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Architectural Acoustics
This module will equip you with the knowledge and critical understanding of the behaviour of sound in architectural spaces and the associated objective effects and subjective perception.
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YEAR 3
Final Year Project
The final year project is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and application of the knowledge you have acquired on the course. The project topic chosen will be on an agreed subject related to audio or acoustics and you have the option to work within a group or as an individual with regular supervision.
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Speech & Signal Processing
You will be introduced to speech production and modelling, speech analysis and synthesis with particular reference to the application of speech technology in modern communication devices. Also decomposition of signals using frequency analysis techniques, the development of frequency domain statistical descriptors of signals and systems and the manipulation of signals using digital filters.
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Psychoacoustics and Musical Acoustics
You will develop a systematic understanding of human perception of sound and its application in a musical context including detailed analysis of hearing physiology and competing theories of aural transduction.
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Master class in Acoustics & Audio
You will engage with leading practitioners from the latest cutting edge research in acoustics and audio engineering across a number of different key subjects, including research being undertaken at Salford University.
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Spatial Audio (Audio Engineering pathway)
Spatial audio can be broadly defined as the recording, synthesis, processing and reproduction of audio signals with the intention of satisfying psychoacoustic requirements such that human listeners will perceive some spatial attributes along with all the other intended components of the reproduced signal. This module aims to give an introduction to the theory and applications of spatial audio. This includes human hearing and psychoacoustics, the implementation of spatial audio and the design and assessment of spatial audio systems.
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Computer Simulation (Acoustic Engineering pathway)
You will use contemporary computer modelling techniques for solving complex acoustics problems as applied to practical situations such as concert hall and recording studio design.
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