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MUS-10124 - 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-10124 - Sound Synthesis in Music Production
Coordinator: Miroslav Spasov Room: CKF06 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

none

Barred Combinations

none

Description for 2025/26

Sound Synthesis in Music Production offers a fun and engaging way to explore synthesis techniques (additive, AM/FM, granular, chorus, AI-based concatenative) and supports the development of your creative sound generation abilities. You will design your own software synthesiser and organise your musical ideas into audio tracks. You will reflect on the many popular music genres, such as Hip-hop, House, and Techno, which will prepare you for future exploration of sound for visuals, games, advertisements and Foley in your second semester.

Aims
To establish practical foundation in sound synthesis and sound transformation.
To develop students’ creative abilities in designing a software synthesizer.
To enable students to engage with technical and aesthetic concerns arising when working creatively with digital audio technologies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate knowledge of sound generation and transformation techniques essential in creating digital audio and its further application in a variety of music and multimedia industries: 1,3
recognise and describe key aesthetics and techniques of sound synthesis and sound transformation in different genres and media.: 3
realise a sound synthesis based technologically-mediated creative project: 2,3
solve technical problems in applying sound synthesis techniques in music production: 1,2,3
identify contemporary and established techniques for sound synthesis and processing: 1,2,3
Articulate theoretical principles underpinning time- and frequency- domain signal processing algorithms and discuss their application in music production
: 1,3
apply a critical reflection and contextual understanding to their own creative practice and aesthetic objectives: 3

Study hours

48 hours of contact time, to include: 28 hours lectures and workshops
20 hours small group tutorials
Independent study:
72 hours of preparation for workshops and tutorials
180 hours of preparation for the summative assessment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exercise weighted 20%
Sound synthesis exercises
Students will create six distinct audio files, each ranging from 10 to 15 seconds in length. Each audio file will demonstrate a different sound synthesis technique. Alongside the audio files, they will provide a brief document (about 500 words) that identifies the sound synthesis technique used for each file and details the key parameters and settings applied in the synthesis process.

2: Project weighted 30%
Designing a software synthesizer
Students will be required to design a software synthesizer using a graphical object-oriented programming environment which can be based on one or more of the sound synthesis techniques taught in class. Students will have a choice to create the synthesizer as a standalone instrument or to design it as a plug-in compatible with a digital audio workstation (DAW).

3: Project weighted 50%
Creative Project and report
Students are required to compose and produce two original songs in a style of their choosing (e.g., Hip-hop, House, Techno/Trance, Dubstep, Drum and Bass). Each song must incorporate a minimum of two different sound synthesis techniques covered in class, and at least one of the two songs must feature the sound synthesis instrument that the student has designed. Each song should be approximately 3-4 minutes long. If one song is shorter, the combined duration of both songs must range between 6-8 minutes. The project must also include written documentation (1000-1200 words). Students will have to identify the sound synthesis techniques used in each song and explain how these techniques were applied to create the final production. Further, they will have to discuss any creative decisions or challenges encountered during the process.

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