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MUS-20094 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

MUS-20094 - Studio Engineering and Live Sound
Coordinator: Tim Canfer
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Before taking this module, students must complete MUS-10128 Unlocking the Studio: Your Journey into Sound Engineering.

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

In this module, you will gain comprehensive skills by integrating live sound and studio engineering practices. You'll learn industry best practices and gain practical experience as both a live sound technician and engineer. This includes professional PA setup and mastering a cutting-edge digital PA system for live performance events. The studio engineering segment will build on your first-year foundations, allowing you to develop advanced techniques in various genres, ensuring a well-rounded expertise in both live and studio environments.

Aims
To build sound recording and mixing techniques, including more advanced studio preproduction and microphone techniques and more critical awareness of dynamic processing, device routing and ordering and additive effects.
To evidence, test, and develop the student's agile studio engineering best practices into student-led projects in social and industry contexts, building on their awareness of historical and leading-edge practices and more nuanced genre-specific music production aesthetics.
To introduce theoretical concepts and best-practice practical live sound engineering techniques and to apply these techniques in specific real-world setups.
To prepare students for future work at level six and to refine their workflows and critical practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Apply nuanced critical listening in analysing a broad range of reference tracks and relate this to their work.: 1
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of audio, recording techniques and mixing techniques and critically apply this knowledge in realising a music production project.: 2
Demonstrate the ability to organise and complete a complicated studio engineering project with a clear production aesthetic.: 2
Show awareness of key live sound concepts, techniques and equipment.: 3
Safely set up, sound check and pack down a PA system.: 3
Successfully operate a PA system, creating an effective front-of-house (FOH) and monitor mix.: 3

Study hours

48 Active Learning Hours Consisting of:
28 hours of practical workshops and demonstrations
12 hours of interactive lectures
8 hours of seminars
252 Independent Study Hours Consisting of:
72 hours of preparation for workshops, group work and tutorials
180 hours of preparation for summative assessments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Podcast weighted 10%
Critical listening playlist podcast
The critical listening playlist is a ten-minute podcast presenting the student's critical analysis of a playlist of six to eight musical releases chosen by the student. Characteristic elements of genres or subgenres should be identified and explored in the context of the production aesthetic and other relevant factors (such as era, technology, socio-cultural forces, scenes and authenticity). At least 20 seconds of relevant audio from each track in the playlist should be played in the video, illustrating key points. Students should also submit a doc file listing the academic references for each track (including a URL using an easily accessible online music streaming platform e.g. YouTube, Spotify).

2: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Studio production project
The studio production project covers the whole span of a studio project, from preproduction, recording and overdubs to mixing and mastering. Students will pre-produce and record in groups of two to four, then mix and master individually. Each group member should contribute a choice of at least four microphones and at least two microphone techniques to suit the project. (Alternate takes or microphone comparisons that do not make the mix are acceptable if needed). This project is to be accompanied by a 1500-word report identifying, justifying, and critically analysing the pre-production and recording process, including individual work and roles within the group, and the mix and mastering process. Students should include photographs and diagrams of setups and screenshots of key mix and mastering elements (between two to five). Students are marked individually.

3: Group Assessment weighted 50%
Live sound event
The live sound event is the students' opportunity to set up, operate and pack down a professional PA for a music performance event. In groups, students will set up (and pack down) a complete PA system and answer questions about the procedure. Individually, students will each take turns to sound check musicians and then manage the front-of-house and monitor mixes. The live sound setup and operation will be videoed. The grade will be informed by tutor notes, recording student aptitude and critical awareness, as well as the student's ability to answer questions about live sound and how effective their equipment operation is. The assessed live event will likely take one to two hours to set up and another two to back down. All students must spend at least half an hour setting up and packing down. Student engagement and communication in this process will inform the grade. Each student will spend approximately five minutes sound-checking an element of the performance and ten minutes operating the front-of-house mix. These activities will likely be spread over an afternoon and evening, reflecting industry situations.

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: 17 March 2026