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MUS-10122 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

MUS-10122 - Sound for Moving Image
Coordinator: Manuella Blackburn Room: CKF07 Tel: +44 1782 7 33298
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

No

Barred Combinations

No

Description for 2025/26

This module introduces you to the world of sound effects for visual media, revealing the process of audio-visual synchronization across various contexts, including video games, films, and advertisements. You will acquire practical skills in creating convincing and believable sound effects and learn the basics of Foley artistry. With a hands-on, practical learning approach, you will be guided step-by-step in crafting unique sounds to complement visual spaces, events, and themes in moving image contexts.

Aims
To introduce techniques for pairing sound with visual media in practical situations. The module aims to engage students with sychronisation approaches where sound can be used to animate and emphasize moving image in believable and convincing ways. The module will provide students with hands-on experience with sound effects creation and application, and impart the basics of achieving perspective, depth and space through sound choices and shaping.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Synchronise sound effects (SFX) to a range of visual media in effective and convincing ways: 3
Acknowledge and implement the various layers of sound which collectively make up media clips, films and animations: 3
Adopt key parameters such as volume, reverb, echo and filters to mark out spaces and depth perspective when working with sound in film: 2,3
Consider a range of visual media and its construction of 'realism' or 'artifice', envisioning and using sound as a primary variable in achieving these outcomes: 1,2
Carry out foley creation and through practical projects (making and recording sound): 1,2

Study hours

20 hours of lectures
16 hours workshops
12 tutorials
32 hours of reflection, revision and consolidation of lecture, workshop and individual supervision content, research through bibliographical and computer mediated sources through individual or group study work.
40 hours of evaluation (recommended existing sound designs), reflection and revision of aesthetic and technical aspects based on lecture content, bibliographical and computer mediated sources.
60 hours of practical work in the lab or student's own DAW on preliminary tasks, to carry out studio tasks, familiarise with software and experiment with relevant techniques.
120 hours of preparation of the three assessments (spotting sheet, sound library and final Foley project and supporting documentation.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 20%
Spotting Sheet
Students will create a sound effects and Foley spotting sheet (cue sheet) for the chosen assessment 2 video clip. This spotting / cue sheet will indicate, with timecodes corresponding to actions or cues in the visual media, what sound effects or Foley needs to be created and how they plan to create this (indicating possible sound sources, recording locations, recording equipment, audio manipulation techniques etc.). This is a planning exercise for assessment 2 and is to be completed before assessment 2. Timecodes will be taken from the video clip used for assessment 2. Timecodes can be generated in the DAW software or taken from a media player (500 words max).

2: Assignment weighted 20%
Sound library
Students will compile a new sound library of approximately 10-15 sounds, derived from bespoke sound recordings relevant for their final Foley / audio-visual project. Students will use portable field recorders to capture these sounds from objects and environments. Sound libraries will be assessed based on the quality of the audio recording, the innovative nature of the sound and its applicability within the context of the visual media (which will be used in the final project). This assessment will be accompanied by an annotated list of each sound detailing how it was constructed and what purpose it seeks to serve in the visual component.

3: Creative Brief weighted 60%
Foley project for moving image
Students will need to create a sound track (SFX based) for a given visual media. Foley work will be constructed by the students to achieve successful pairing of audio and visual parts. The finished project must consider aspects of space, ambience, movement, depth and perspective - all articulated through sound. The approach to bespoke foley design will be reported in an accompanying written text (500 words max).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025