| CODE | MCS2240 | ||||||
| TITLE | Audio Communications | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The Audio Communications study-unit explores the creative and strategic use of audio in media and communications, with a particular focus on its role in storytelling and audience engagement within contexts such as moving images, podcasts, branded content, and other multimedia platforms. This study-unit goes beyond technical audio production, focusing instead on the communicative, narrative, and emotional potential of sound. Students will learn how to design, compose, and integrate audio elements to effectively convey messages, enhance storytelling, and create immersive experiences tailored to specific audiences and media formats. Through practical projects, theoretical inquiry, and critical analysis, students will develop a deep understanding of audio’s communicative power and gain the skills to apply sound in innovative and impactful ways. Study-Unit Aims: - To develop an understanding of audio as a critical tool for communication and storytelling across media platforms; - To foster creative and strategic thinking in the design and use of audio elements; - To equip students with the skills to analyze, create, and integrate audio content tailored to diverse media contexts and audience needs; - To encourage students to critically engage with the emotional, psychological, and cultural dimensions of sound in communication. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate an ability to conceptualize and execute audio strategies for various media platforms, including film, podcasts, advertising, and interactive media; - Analyze and critique the role of audio in shaping narratives and engaging audiences; - Apply sound design principles to create impactful, audience-centered audio content; - Integrate technical knowledge with creative and strategic thinking in the use of audio for communication; - Collaborate effectively with peers and professionals to develop multimedia projects that emphasize the role of sound. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Create and apply advanced sound design tailored to specific media formats (e.g., moving image, podcasts, branded content); - Analyse the communicative and emotional dimensions of sound across media; - Integrate sound design into multimedia and cross-platform projects; - Engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration in creative industries. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Sauls, S.J., & Stark, C.A. (2016). Audio Production Worktext: Concepts, Techniques, and Equipment (8th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315733418. Supplementary Readings: - Dowsett, P. (2016). Audio production tips : getting the sound right at the source (1st edition). Focal Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315751122. - Schulze, H., Krause, J., & Maier, C. J. (2019). Sound works : a cultural theory of sound design. Bloomsbury Academic. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781501330254. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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