SOUND PRODUCTION GRADED UNIT PROJECT

Transcription

1 SOUND PRODUCTION GRADED UNIT PROJECT Rachael Campbell Project Title: Sound Production Portfolio

2 Planning Stage The Planning Stage for my project is in five sections and relate to the five components of this stage as follows: 1. Introduction interpretation of the brief and project outline 2. Project Aims 3. Research and information sources 4. Materials and resources 5. Stages involved and the timescales for completion of each stage 6. Appendices

3 Graded Unit The Planning Stage Project Title Sound Production Portfolio 1. Introduction the brief This plan is a layout of how I will create a portfolio website. This will contain evidence of all of my work from HNC Sound Production as well as evidence of my personal skills and achievements that relate to sound production. Project Outline I have decided to create a website to display my portfolio. This is because I would like it to be accessible to the public and future employers as a CV. It also means that it can be linked to my social media so that I can use networking to promote my portfolio website and career. In this way I can easily show a record of my work as I progress in my studies as an audio engineer. I will display my work in the form of video, photographs and written posts. I am experienced in editing media and this will help me to make an appealing website. I will work to achieve a website that is well designed and easy to use so that I can clearly display my work. My portfolio will include evidence from all of my HNC Sound Production core units but will focus on studio engineering and live engineering because these are the job roles that I am most interested in and suited to. I am also going to include projects that I have worked on in my own home studio and a record of my experiences as an audio engineer so far. The first step of my planning was to create a SWOT analysis table. This helps me identify the areas where I am confident as an audio engineer and the areas that I will need to focus on more in this project and in my future career.

4 SWOT Analysis Strengths I have knowledge on how to create and edit a website which will help me with my portfolio website. I have good timekeeping skills so I will stick to my planning I am good at communicating with people and this helps me complete projects that will be a part of my portfolio. I am well organised Weaknesses I can become stressed if I feel I do not have enough time to complete a task. I have limited knowledge to HNC level for my portfolio. I have limited experience in sound production outside of my college work Opportunities I have networked at the college to identify bands to record. Creating a portfolio that I can use if I continue my studies to degree level. I know many different people who can help me in my studies and also to build a career. Threats Not having the same job opportunities in the audio engineering industry because of location. Job opportunities in this industry can be scarce and difficult to get without experience. The process of creating my portfolio website will mean I will have to produce a wide range of materials. Many of those materials will be produced as part of my HNC course and I can therefore use these for my portfolio. For example: Recording session evidence. Mix- down and mastering evidence. Destiny short film editing and Cubase projects. Live Engineering Evidence. Evidence of my understanding of the creative industries and job roles. Evidence of my understanding of acoustics and sound production theory.

5 The following table identifies which units will help address the above. Materials / Information Source Unit Recording session evidence Sound production practice Multi- track mixing Mix- down and mastering evidence Sound production practice DAW Multi- track mixing Destiny short film editing and DAW Cubase projects An introduction to audio for multimedia Sound production practice Live Engineering Evidence Sound re- enforcement Sound production practice Evidence of my understanding of the creative industries and job roles Creative industries infrastructure Working in the creative industries Evidence of my understanding of acoustics and sound production theory

6 2. Project Aims Below are my project aims for how I will achieve my goal to create a portfolio website. 1. Create evidence to show an understanding of acoustics and sound production theory. 2. Maintain my Graded Unit logbook starting in February and complete it by June. 3. Finish mastering all recording projects. 4. Compile video evidence for all core units. 5. Create evidence to show an understanding of job roles suited to me in the creative industries. 6. Complete home studio projects. 7. Create website and chose appropriate domain name. 8. Edit website so that all pages and layout is complete before uploading the portfolio content. 9. Add all content to the portfolio website by the third week of May. 10. Complete this Graded Unit Project by the first week in June. 3. Research and information sources Research and information sources to be used or accessed include: The HNC units, especially core units and the notes from each class Online research UHI Blackboard materials Reference books Personal Experience Course information and how I plan integration of knowledge and skills The table below shows what I intend to produce for my portfolio and how I will use skills and knowledge gained from core units in my HNC studies. Each core unit is listed as well as the outcomes then in the opposite column I have stated what I intend to include in my portfolio, therefore showing integration of the knowledge and/or skills.

7 HNC Sound Production Graded Unit Project Core Unit Creative Industries Infrastructure Types of organization Organisation structure Trade organisations Sources of advice Sources of funding and finance Business development opportunities Networking opportunities Working in the Creative Industries Career development skills Marketing Health and Safety issues Legal - contracts and copyright The physical properties of sound The human hearing mechanism The acoustic properties of enclosed spaces Sound Production Practice Recording in a studio Mixing recorded sounds Mastering a record Digital Audio Workstations Setting up and running a DAW programme correctly Using DAW to create a recorded track Mastering a record using DAW Sound Production Theory Imaging theory Microphone technique Audio Processing Audio recording and reproduction process How knowledge and/or skills might be integrated I will explain the organisations that a sound engineer could be employed in. I will also explain how organisations in the creative industries can be structured and how they operate. I will display research of how trade organisations could benefit the careers of audio engineers. I will show how businesses in the creative industries can offer advice to audio engineers. I will also show how businesses in the creative industries can offer funding and finance to audio engineers in various careers. I am going to display how business development could benefit an audio engineer in their career. I will show how networking is an effective way for an audio engineer to make contacts which can help to further their career. I will use this to show how I plan to achieve a career as an audio engineer. I will demonstrate how I could use marketing in my career through promoting client s work and my own services as an audio engineer. I will show how health and safety is to be considered during different aspects of an engineer s career. I will show my understanding of the legal aspects an audio engineer has to consider. I use an understanding of the physical properties of sound to improve my engineering techniques in my sound production projects. Show how I can understand the human hearing mechanism in relation to how we perceive recorded and live sounds. Show how I can understand acoustic properties and consider them when engineering in a studio or live situation. I will show how I have learned how to record professionally in a studio. I will show how I have gained the skills to mix a recorded track. I will show how I am able to master the recorded and mixed track to a professional standard. I will display how I can understand and use a DAW programme such as Cubase or Pro Tools effectively. I will show how I have been able to use the DAW programmes to create a recorded track during my HNC studies. I will show how I have learnt to master a recording on two different DAW programmes. I will display how as an audio engineer imaging theory needs to be considered in all projects. I will show how microphone technique benefits me as an audio engineer both in my current studies and future career. I will show how I have used audio processing during my recording projects. I will show how I can use audio recording and reproduction in different ways as an audio engineer.

8 4. Materials and Resources These are the resources that I will use to create the content for my portfolio. Materials and Resources for completing this project include: Knowledge from the HNC units and the notes from each of the classes. Reference books. The Internet. A computer to type up reports and produce materials. Video and audio submission evidence from DAW, Multitrack mixing, Sound Reinforcement etc. DAW software eg Cubase, Pro Tools and Ableton. Video and Photo editing software. 5. Stages and timescales I will use planning sheets to help manage my time, as produced on the Blackboard support materials. I have identified the stages and timescales for completing my Graded Unit project as follows: 1. Maintain my Graded Unit logbook starting in February and complete it by June. 2. Create evidence to show an understanding of acoustics and sound production theory by the beginning of April. 3. Complete mastering all recording projects by the second week of April 4. Compile video evidence for all core subjects by the second week of April 5. Create evidence to show an understanding of job roles suited to me in the creative industries by the end of April 6. Complete home studio projects by the end of April. 7. Add all evidence of work to portfolio website by the third week of May. 8. Complete this Graded Unit Project by the first week in June.

9 6. Appendices Time Management Templates The following time management layout sheet may be used to plan and track my activities. They identify action points and who does what and by when. Template 1. Short and Medium Goals Actions Required Who or what can help me achieve my goal? Target Date for Action