Unit 14: Listening Skills for Music Technologists – Assignment brief 3
Haslingden High School
47505
Faculty of Expressive Arts
Course title: BTEC Nationals in Music Technology
Tutor name:
Assignment title:
Know Sonic Faults or Negative Components in
Recordings or Performances
Learner name
Start date:
Ref:
14.3
Deadline:
Scenario
Working as a studio engineer, you have received demo CD’s from three bands/artists. You
will need to analyse at least one recording from each band / solo artist – providing feedback
about the quality of their musicianship and recording, mixing and mastering techniques.
Assessment evidence:
Grading criteria
Unit
The grading criteria that this assignment relates to:
P3: hear and describe sonic and musical faults in recordings or
performances
M3: hear and explain sonic and musical faults in recordings or
14
performances
D3: hear and comment critically on the sonic and musical faults in
recordings or performances
Summary assessor’s feedback
Achieved
Internal verifier’s comments
Learner’s signature
BTEC National Music Technology Unit 14 - Assignment 3
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Learning outcome: On completion of this unit the learner should:
- know the sonic faults or negative components of recordings or performances.
Unit content covered:
. Musical sonic faults: incorrect notes; intonation (sharp, flat); keeping time; variations in tempo
and pitch . Balance and timbre sonic faults: audio spectrum; acoustic environments; blend; intelligibility;
stereo or surround field; monitor speaker choice and positions; volume and safety
considerations; reverb issues; EQ; effect of the listening environment . Negative components: e.g. pops and clicks, clips, signal to noise ratio, rumble and excessive low
frequency content, hums, balance, editing mistakes, crosstalk, microphone and headphone
spill, feedback and howl-round, slap-back and echo problems, drop-outs, clicks, crackle,
distortion, sibilance, wind noise, extraneous instrumental noise, matching tracks, loudness
Task 1
As part of a group, listen to a selection of recorded music and analyse negative components
and sonic faults using relevant technical terms. Present your findings to the class,
describing the faults with appropriate technical language.
P3
Task 2
Using Logic Pro9, listen to a mix from a local band and analyse the negative components
and sonic faults in the recording. Explain how the recording could be improved.
M3
Task 3
In exam conditions and unaided, listen to a selection of recorded music and analyse
negative components and sonic faults using relevant technical terms. Suggest ways in which
the recordings could be improved.
D3
Pupil Sources of information
Textbooks:
 Davis G and Jones R – The Sound Reinforcement Handbook (Hal Leonard Corporation,
1990) ISBN 978-0881889000
 Moulton D – Total Recording (KIQ Productions, www.KIQproductions.com) ISBN 9780967430409
 Paynter J – Sound and Structure (Cambridge University Press, 1992) ISBN
9780521355810
BTEC National Music Technology Unit 14 - Assignment 3
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 Rumsey F and McCormick T – Sound and Recording, 5th edition (Focal, 2005) ISBN 9780240519968
 Talbot-Smith M (editor) – Sound Engineer’s Pocket Book (Focal Press, 2000) ISBN 9780240516127
 Winterson J, Nickol P and Bricheno T – Pop Music: The Text Book (Peters Edition, London,
2003) ISBN 978-1843670070
Websites
 www.livesoundint.com
 www.prosoundeurope.com
 www.audiomedia.com
 www.KIQproductions.com
Other sources of information:
BTEC National Music Technology Unit 14 - Assignment 3
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Unit 14: Assignment brief 3
Feedback
Unit title:
Listening Skills For Music Technologists
Assignment title:
Know the Sonic Faults or Negative Components of Recordings or Performances
Start date:
Task
Sub-tasks
1
P3
2
M3
3
Deadline:
Feedback
Done
Y/N
Teacher
verified
Action points
D3
Learner signature:
Assessor signature:
Learner comment:
BTEC National Music Technology Unit 14 - Assignment 3
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