Bachelor of Audio Production

at Southern Institute of Technology

Year One
 

AUD501 Acoustics 1

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of the science of sound. The nature of sound is explored, both theoretically and practically, providing an understanding of the audio process. The sonic theories of binaural localisation and psychoacoustics of sound gives a necessary platform from which all further sound mixes, and decisions, will benefit.
 

AUD502 Applied Audio Engineering 1

This paper is intended to address the principles of audio engineering equipment through the practical knowledge and application of audio engineering tools at an operational level. The development should bring operational competence on each audio device.
 

AUD503 Applied Audio Production 1

The paper prepares students in the use of recording and production techniques used to operate a recording studio correctly and safely, recording modest-sized groups in a professional manner.
 

AUD504 Information Technology and Audio Software

This paper prepares students in the use of a personal computer as a tool for audio engineering and music production. Through an in-depth knowledge of computer architecture required for this production task, students will develop skills in fundamental computing for digital audio workstation design, installation and operation. The required desktop publishing skills necessary for academic publications, presentations and multimedia file integration required for successful study are integrated through audio industry-relevant topics and projects.
 

AUD505 Music Theory and Technology 1

Music technology involves any device used in the creation of music. Audio technicians and producers work for a significant part of their time with music tracks. This paper develops both rudimentary music theory and musical instrument performance skills for audio producers and musicians ensuring an acceptable understanding when dealing with the music industry conventions. As important as it is for sound engineers to follow a musical score, especially when recording instrumentalists as in the case of classical music, subsequently the pursuit of music contextual history and style analysis from classical to popular music periods are necessary elements to inform recording engineering and production processes.
 

These music theory, instrument and style analysis skills are combined within a compositional framework to produce complex recorded and electronic musical works.
 

AUD506 Audio Electronics 1

Many components of audio engineering and production is fundamentally based on creating music with electronic interconnections and instruments. As well as electrical and electromagnetic theory, audio electronics includes the ability to maintain audio cables and equipment and instrument, implement reasonable repairs, and rudimentary circuit construction for audio engineering and production requirements.
 

CON501 Contextual Studies 1

The student will develop knowledge and skills in academic writing and presenting in the context of music and audio creative arts. The students will develop this knowledge and these skills by examining historical, technological influences and developments in popular music in socio-cultural contexts. This paper leads onto Contextual Studies 2.
 

MAI501 Music and Audio Industry Studies 

Students will be introduced to the music, audio, and related industries internationally and in New Zealand. This paper will examine different roles and how they function within the industries (locally, nationally, and internationally). Students will gain an awareness of the supporting societies and organisations within these industries in New Zealand. Students will learn the basic principles of small business management and self-employment skills pertinent to practitioners in the music and audio industry, along with relevant marketing and promotional skills.
 

Year Two
 

AUD601 Acoustics 2

In order to produce and engineer quality productions, an audio engineer or producer needs to have a skillset and a fundamental understanding of the acoustics of critical listening environments. Room acoustics and soundproofing/correcting, as it relates to studio recording and production is addressed in this paper, both theoretically and practically. This is coupled with a detailed investigation and conservation of the most significant tool in the engineers or producers toolkit, the human auditory system. This is investigated also through a study of audiometry and common ear disorders.
 

Students will analyse and reflect on audio engineering and production environments and tools, including the conservation of hearing, to improve practice, and a fundamental understating of studio acoustics. This also developing potential additional careers paths in critical listening acoustical room design and audiology.
 

AUD602 Applied Audio Engineering 2

Advanced audio engineering skills are a necessity when recording and editing music or operating audio sound systems in a modern environment. These skills aid the engineer in capturing complex music, problem-solving technical issues, and operating technical equipment to an industry standard. This paper is intended to address the critical and advanced use of audio tools to develop employment opportunities within the audio engineering industry.
 

AUD603 Applied Audio Production 2

Succeeding as an audio producer requires the skills and knowledge to best produce complex music to a professional level. This paper prepares students in the use of recording and production techniques within some of the different audio industry sectors.
 

AUD605 Music Theory and Technology 2

Music production skills are to be developed in an industry that is extremely reliant on creativity through technology in production. Having an understanding of music analysis from both a theory and production perspective is a critical skill set for audio engineering and production. This paper engages the music technology through aspects of applied music theory and production analysis for students to create, produce and manipulate music, recordings and other sound related works to a professional level. These music theory, instrument and style analysis skills are combined within a suitable compositional framework to produce complex recorded and electronic musical works.
 

CON601 Contextual Studies 2

This paper aims to prepare students for professional practice by presenting research as a uniting strategy for practice, theory and scholarship. Students will learn critical, analytical, and reflective approaches to assess current knowledge, and will be introduced to various research methodologies with a focus on research in the creative arts.
 

CIB601 Creative Industries Business and Legal

Small business management is essential for anyone intending to, or finding themselves, running their own enterprise within the creative industry sectors such as music, sound engineering and audio production, post production and other related creative industries. Students will learn to manage their own professional business practice, professional development and industry knowledge to develop employment opportunities. They will research and analyse material and contexts for application to a creative industry business.
 

Plus two of the following electives:
 

AUD606 Audio Electronics 2

In order to provide technical expertise for industry, an audio engineer needs to have a skillset understanding an application of fundamental and common fault-finding and repair of audio equipment. 240 volt instruction should ensure that students can operate safely with mains electricity in a live sound and production environment understanding ETNZ and Worksafe NZ standard industry practices such as the tagging and testing equipment. This paper also builds on the fundamentals of electronics and passive electronics from the previous level with active circuit construction for applications in sound manipulation, processing and synthesis are the accents of this paper.
 

AUD607 Sound for Visual Media

Though research analysis of the evolution of historical and current professional roles, technologies, equipment and processes, students will gain creative and technical skills to effectively apply this knowledge to manipulate sound and music, to produce creative outputs for visual media projects.
 

Elective 1 Related Elective (not already completed) from this or other SIT programme.
 

Year Three
 

Core
 

BAP 700 Applied Acoustics

Specialised audiological ear-testing is addressed, a foundation for future industrial or hospital vocations. Analytical assessments of indoor areas are practiced.
 

BAP 730 Applied Audio Engineering and Production 3

The diverse range of industry applications within the audio field has a common thread of sound reinforcement technology throughout. The ability to convey knowledge, implement, manage and operate these technologies in the public arena, for various applications, is a vital skill for audio professionals.  An overview of the lighting profession is essential at this stage, as many live sound operators are being asked to supply basic lighting along with their hire-sound services.
 

BAP 750 Professional Studies

Public speaking skills and a high level of communication skills are required for success in the audio industry. Along with acute hearing skills, students will develop professional practices appropriate to the industry.
 

BAP 765 Major Research Project 

This paper aims to provide students with the ability to undertake an informed personal research project including appropriate research; collection, assessment and reporting of the project in an appropriate academic manner or prepare a critically informed professionally presented portfolio of a collection of high quality recordings applicable to the audio production and engineering fields of study.
 

Choose 30 credits
 

BAP 755 Specialist Audio

Specialist audio is a paper that offers students the opportunity to specialise in two areas of choice, all involving advanced and/or investigative applications within a wider audio field.  Other areas will be added in time, to reflect new developments and refinements within the broad field of audio, and staff research interests.
 

BAP 707 Advanced Audio for Visual Media
 

BAP 760 Workplace Practices & Internship
 

BCM 706 Music Education Studies 2

School Leavers
 

University Entrance - NCEA Level 3 

• Three subjects – at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each, in three NZQA University Entrance approved subjects, and
• Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing, and
• Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of specified achievement standards through a range of subjects, or package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)
   

Mature Applicants

Mature entry applicants will be the age of 20 by March 1 of the first year of enrolment in the programme, and have provided evidence of relevant prior learning and experience.
 

However, in exceptional circumstances, an applicant below the age of 20 who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry e.g. Certificate in Audio Production.
 

Completion of an external or overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of any of the above qualifications, will also be considered subject to approval by the head of faculty.
 

Special Admission

An applicant who does not meet academic criteria may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers, provided he or she meets the requirements above. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.
 

Additional Criteria

Applicants are required to provide two confidential references from people who are able to affirm that the applicant is of good character and reputation.
 

English Language Requirements
 

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
 

• NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
• an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
• Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
• Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
• Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
• Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
• Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
   

• IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
• Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
• Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

Bachelor Degrees    NZ$19,600    Per academic year

Graduates will be skilled in high quality studio recording and live sound work.  They will have skills in business management and career options include: audio work in radio, television, film or the theatre. Further options include acoustic consulting, sound system installation, DJ work, record production, music publishing or work in a record company. Specialist audio training provides our graduates with the ability to work in more specialist fields.  Graduates from this programme may also choose to enter the audio education industry.