Advanced AI for Audio and Sound Design
(
IMD11122
)
You will learn how to use the latest artificial intelligence technologies for audio and sound design. This module will introduce students to the concepts and the skills and knowledge to understand and use these new tools effectively in their ongoing practice. Students will learn how these technologies are developed using python, as well as how to choose and use deep learning models for audio and sound design related tasks. They will integrate these technologies into creative workflows and learning how to adjust and train for bespoke tasks and evaluate their effectiveness.
Further information
Introduction to Audio Programming
(
IMD11124
)
This module offers you an in-depth examination of audio effects and processing techniques, essential for advanced studies in sound design and audio production. Through a structured curriculum, you will engage with critical concepts, integrating both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, equipping you with the skills necessary to innovate within the field of audio engineering and sound design. Assessments are designed to encourage analytical and creative abilities, requiring you to conceptualise and develop original VST plugins, including user interfaces, thereby demonstrating their technical expertise and design proficiency.
Further information
Listening
(
IMD11116
)
You will study the properties of sound, which are also known as acoustics. This includes vibration, waves and transmission. You will then progress to psychoacoustics, which relates to hearing, and includes: anatomy, mechanisms and processes. Listening is then addressed in terms of: objects, music and language. Soundscapes, or the unique listening experience of a place, identity and memory are explored. Finally different approaches of Perceptual Audio Evaluation are considered, specifically: design, procedure and analysis.
Further information
Masters Dissertation
(
SOC11101
)
The work for this module comprises the completion of an individual research project. Each student is assigned a personal Supervisor, and an Internal Examiner who monitors progress and feedback, inputs advice, examines the dissertation and takes the lead at the viva. There are two preliminary deliverables prior to the submission of the final dissertation: (1) Project proposal (2) Initial Report including time plan and dissertation outline
Further information
Sound Design for Interactive Media
(
IMD11118
)
You will begin by considering different types of interactive media, such as Auditory Displays, Video Games, and Sound Art, and their evolution and patterns of use over recent decades. Interactive media production methods are then surveyed, which include: requirements gathering, dialogue editing, dialogue recording, location recording, foley, sound editing, sampling and synthesis, programming and testing. Strategies for planning are examined, incorporating: event mapping, actions (triggers, cues, events), emotions, duration, variation and interactivity. Finally approaches to implementing sound design are reviewed, which comprises: palette, mix, elements, parameters, memory/stream management, geometry, and environments.
Further information
Sound Design for Linear Media
(
IMD11117
)
This module provides you with a comprehensive understanding of sound design for theatre, radio, audiobooks, film, television, and animation, equipping you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. You will explore production methods such as location recording, Foley, dialogue editing, ADR, re-recording, sound editing, sampling, and synthesis, alongside script analysis strategies focusing on explicit sounds, environments, emotions, transitions, and sound maps. The module also covers field recording, sound library management, mixing, and re-recording techniques, including spatialisation, predubbing, and final mix workflows. Specialised topics in theatrical sound, radio production, and animation introduce cueing systems, voice processing, acoustic considerations, and sound-image relationships. Throughout, you will examine how sound influences audience perception, exploring techniques such as sound imagery, listening modes, emotional expression, and spatial positioning to enhance engagement. By the end of the module, you will have the critical and practical skills needed to create expressive and impactful audio for linear media.
Further information
Soundscapes
(
IMD11123
)
You will engage in an advanced exploration of the fundamental properties of sound, beginning with acoustics, examining vibration, waveforms, and transmission, before progressing to psychoacoustics, which critically analyses hearing mechanisms, auditory processing, and cognitive influences on sound perception. The module interrogates listening processes, evaluating how individuals interpret language, spatial perception, and auditory scenes, alongside the role of soundscapes in shaping place, identity, and memory. You will critically examine environmental sound, spatialisation, and aural architecture, as well as the implications of hearing disorders and impairments, including noise-induced hearing loss and presbycusis, on sound design and audience perception. A key focus is on sound mapping and classification methodologies, developing the ability to evaluate and document listening experiences using repertory grid techniques, listener evaluations, and qualitative analysis. Throughout, you will apply these principles to a sound design project within your chosen form of media, integrating psychoacoustic research and listener feedback to inform creative and technical decision-making. This module synthesises theoretical frameworks, research-led inquiry, and advanced practical application, ensuring a rigorous and reflective approach to contemporary sound design.
Further information
* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.