BA (Hons) Radio Production Multi-Track Audio SEMESTER TWO 2013/14 2RAD408 Module Leader: Matthew Linfoot Email: m.j.linfoot@westminster.ac.uk Phone: x68024 Lecturers: Matthew Linfoot & Aasiya Lodhi
Full module title: Multi-Track Audio Short module title: Module code: Credit level: 4 Length: 0.5 semester UK credit value: 15 credits ECTS value: 7.5 School and Department: MAD/JMC Module Leader(s): Matthew Linfoot Extension: 4100 Email: M.J.Linfoot@westminster.ac.uk Host course: BA (Hons) Radio Production Status: CORE Subject Board: Media Pre-requisites: Co-requisites: Study abroad: Special features: Access restrictions: Summary of module content: This module involves the teaching of multi-track audio production, including skills such as mixing, to create audio for a variety of uses.
Module aims 1. To teach students how to use editing software such as Adobe Audition to compile and mix a range of audio material in an appropriate narrative style. 2. To introduce students to an advanced digital editing and mixing software such as SADiE, to enable them to compile and mix audio material for relevant use. 3. To teach students the basic skills needed to record and edit a vox pop. Learning outcomes By the end of this module students will be able: 1. To grasp the main editorial and creative aspects of the radio package: e.g. identifying appropriate themes and material, establishing an appropriate structure and style, and managing available time and resources. 2. To operate multi-track editing software such as Adobe Audition in order to edit and mix a short package to acceptable broadcast standards. 3. To operate an advanced audio editing software such as SADiE in order to be able to edit and mix a short piece of creative audio or radio to acceptable broadcast standards. 4. To use appropriate software to be able to produce written content for the internet in a blog format. 5. To record, edit and prepare for transmission an audio vox pop, acting with limited autonomy, under supervision, within defined guidelines. Indicative syllabus content Introduction to multi-track mixing with a software such as Adobe Audition Introduction to an advanced editing software such as SADiE
Introduction to the Radio package: including narrative structures, different formats, use of sound and variety of audio Introduction to web content related to radio / audio output and the opportunities for the creative uses of multi-platform delivery Recording and editing appropriate audio accompaniments to illustrate news stories and a vox pop. Teaching and learning methods Students will be taught in a variety of ways: Whole class sessions: these involve lectures with the module leader using resources such as OHP, Powerpoint, listening to examples of radio & audio. (4 days) Small group exercises: students working on tasks in groups and reporting back in a seminar-style session. (2 days) Studio workshops: sessions incorporating demonstration and practice of relevant production skills. (3 days) Assignments: Students working on assignment briefs, supported by Tutorials with the module leader and forming part of Guided Independent Study.(3 days) Classroom work will be supported by hand-outs, lecture notes, presentations and examples of audio. Material will be made available via Blackboard Assessment rationale The outcomes of the module work (examples of multi-track audio and a basic blog) will be assessed (using the criteria below), as a means of gauging students understanding and application of the genre, techniques and practical skills involved. Specifically these are: a. performing a range of tasks associated with using two different types of audio editing and mixing software (Courseworks One and Two, associated to Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3) b. performing a range of tasks associated with recording and editing a vox pop. (Coursework Three, associated to Learning Outcome 5)
Assessment criteria For the short package: 1. Students will be assessed on the basis of producing work that is of broadcast quality, with correct use of levels, edits, evidence of mixing (seques, junctions, use of music, sfx and wildtrack); the identification of a suitable subject/issue/theme, with an appropriate structure and narrative style; good use of contributors and meeting the time specification. For multi-track audio produced on an advanced software such as SADiE: 2. Students will be assessed on the basis of producing work that is of broadcast quality, with correct use of levels, edits, evidence of mixing (seques, junctions, use of music, etc) and evidence of the creative potential for short, mixed audio in the context of trails or idents. For the vox pop: 3. Identify a suitable issue for a vox pop and to record and edit the audio to broadcast standard Marks are awarded as follows, characteristics of performance to be determined on the basis of criteria as outlined above. Characteristics of Performance: Mark: Outstanding at a consistently broadcast level Above 80% Excellent approaching a consistently broadcast level 70-79% Consistently good, some excellent elements 60-69% Satisfactory, some weak, some good 50-59% Significant weaknesses 40-49% Poor, but marginal fail 35-39% Clear fail Below 34%
Assessment methods and weightings 1. Students will be required to submit a recorded three- to five-minute radio package (individual) prepared using specified editing software, such as Adobe Audition without technical assistance (40%). 2. Students will be required to produce (individually or in pairs) a short piece of mixed audio or radio using advanced software such as SADiE (for instance a series of programme trails or station idents) (40%). 3. A short audio vox pop recorded and edited ready for broadcast (individual) (20%). Closed/ Name of assessment Weighting % Short radio package 40% Advanced audio mixing 40% Vox Pop 20% 30% Qualifying mark % Qualifying set open book exam (incl. No of hrs) Sources Boyd, A, Broadcast Journalism: techniques of radio and TV news (2 nd edition), Focal Press, 1993. Fleming, C, The Radio Handbook, Routledge, 2009. Fries, B., Digital Audio Essentials, O Reilly, 2005 Hendy, D. Radio in the Global Age, Cambridge: Polity Press (2000), particularly Chapter 2 ( Production, pp. 69-114) McLeish, R, Radio Production (5th edition), Focal Press, 2006.
Essential reading list Starkey, G. Radio in Context, Palgrave:Macmillan, 2004 Internet Radio gateways: MIT Radio-Locator: http://www.radio-locator.com/ RealPlayer tuner: http://radio.real.com Windows radio guide: http://windowsmedia.com/mediaguide/gbhome Yahoo!Radio: http://music.uk.launch.yahoo.com/launchcast/default.asp BBC Radio Stations: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/ Google Radio Directory: http://directory.google.com/top/arts/radio/formats/ Adobe Audition http://www.adobe.com/products/audition/main.html On Podcasting http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/directory/ Additionally, students are encouraged to watch and listen critically to a range of current TV and radio output, and be prepared to discuss programmes.
Timetable Monday 24/25 February 3/4 March Introduction to Practice vox module; Adobe pops Audition revision AL: RP1 AL: RP1 10/11 March Packages and features in more depth AL: RP1 17/18 March 24/25 March 31 March/ 1 April Introduction Further SADiE SADiE trail to SADiE. skills. assignment Introduction Assignment hand-in to radio work on SADiE ML: Sadie adverts and ML : Sadie Room/RP1 trails; set Room/RP1 assignment ML: Sadie Room/RP1 Tuesday Introduction to vox pops; set assignment AL: RP1 Vox-pops handin; set assignment; practice Adobe Audition AL: RP1 Working on assignment/ Tutorials AL: RP1 Working on assignment/ Tutorials AL: RP1 Working on assignment/ Tutorials AL: RP1 Audition Assignment hand-in AL: RP1 AL: Aasiya Lodhi ML: Matthew Linfoot
How this module fits into the degree: (see appendix for learning aims of the course) Multi Track Audio (level 4 Radio Production module) This module will help you nurture your skills at storytelling, through practical and creative expression and learning about narrative structure, especially in the context of a topical story or item suitable for a short package. It will help you develop skills in research, presentation and analysis of ideas, and problemsolving. You will learn about time-management, planning and legal and ethical issues.
Assessment details: Assignment Description % Date Set Deadline for Submission Deadline for preliminary feedback and method of delivery* One Vox Pop 20 24.02.14 04.03.14 25.03.14 Two Advanced audio mixing 40 17.03.14 31.03.14 23.04.14 Three Short Radio Package 40 04.03.14 01.04.14 24.04.14 * Preliminary feedback must be given within THREE working weeks of submission. This feedback does not have to include the final mark, but can include a provisional mark. Feedback can be written or oral. Students should be made aware that this is their preliminary feedback. Staff Contact Details: Name Role Room Office Telephone Number Hours Matthew Module M2.13 X68024 Linfoot leader Aasiya Lodhi Lecturer M2.13 Mondays & Tuesdays 1-2pm X68026 Tim Carter Technician M2.13
Tutorial times: Date/days Time Location Mondays & 1-2pm M2.13 Tuesdays Listening You should find short features to listen to in the following programmes: Newsbeat - Radio One: (Monday to Friday, 12.45pm and 5.45pm) Today Radio Four (Monday to Friday 6.00am to 9.00am) Woman s Hour Radio Four (Monday to Friday 10am to 10.45am) The World At One Radio Four (Monday to Friday 1pm to 1.45pm) You and Yours Radio Four (Monday to Friday 12noon to 1pm) PM Radio Four (Monday to Friday 5pm to 6pm) Suggested listening for programme trails on the following stations: Trails: Radio 1 Radio 2 Radio 4 (normally just before the top of the hour) 5Live 6Music 1Extra 4Extra
Radio Production Assessment sheet: Student: Module + Assignment : Marker: Excellent Good Satisft. Needs more work Needs much more work Planning and targeting work Range of audio sources (interviews, actuality, archives, etc) Research (incl. quality and suitability of interviewees) Structure and composition (including dramatic qualities) Recording quality Editing and mixing Presentational style (if applicable) Quality of writing/scripts Timings /deadlines Creativity Legal/ethical awareness Understanding/appreciation of the radio genres being practised Other comments: Individual or Group Mark? Signature of Marker: Mark: Date of marking:
Seminar Groups (if appropriate) Electronic Submission of WRITTEN coursework: (this section must be included verbatim with no alteration) Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing by the module leader, all coursework on this module is submitted via Blackboard only. It will automatically be scanned through a text matching system (designed to check for possible plagiarism). DO NOT attach a CA1 form or any other form of cover sheet; YOU MUST include your name and student ID on the first page of your assignment. To submit your assignment: Log on to Blackboard at http://learning.westminster.ac.uk; Go to the relevant module Blackboard site; Click on the Submit Coursework link in the navigation menu on the left-hand side, as advised by the module teaching team; Click on the link for the relevant assignment; Follow the instructions. Finance holds. If on the due date you have a finance hold on your student account, you may not be able to access Blackboard to be able to submit electronically. If this is the case, you may be able to submit a paper copy to the Registry. Assignments submitted this was will ONLY be accepted if it is clear that you have a finance hold on the due date. The penalties for late submission will still apply. You will be given details by the module teaching team about how and when you will receive your marks and feedback on your work. REMEMBER: It is a requirement that you submit your work in this way. All coursework must be submitted by the set time on the due date. If you submit your coursework late but within 24 hours or one working day of the specified deadline, 10% of the overall marks available for that element of assessment will be deducted, as a penalty for late submission, except for work which is marked in the range 40 49%, in which case the mark will be capped at the pass mark (40%). If you submit your coursework more than 24 hours or more than one working day after the specified deadline you will be given a mark of zero for the work in question. The University s mitigating circumstances procedures relating to the nonsubmission or late submission of coursework apply to all coursework.
Appendix: Aims of the four courses The BA Media degrees aim to provide students with the opportunity to study media and to gain basic professional expertise in a chosen area of it. We aim to: a) develop understanding of the social, political and economic context in which the media operates, in all its forms; b) nurture skills at storytelling, through practical and creative expression and in terms of narrative structure; c) develop analytical and critical insight into media content, in order to understand their social and cultural significance and to gain awareness for a student s own practice d) provide the opportunity to develop a range of intellectual and practical skills in research, analysis and problem-solving to help students maximise their learning on the course; e) to provide a range of professional knowledge and skills including understanding media law, ethics, and issues concerning production guidelines; the use of information technology, organisation, planning and team work, writing/producing for different media and for different markets or audiences; f) to enable students to gain professional expertise through work experience, and to help develop subsequent employment opportunities in either television or radio production, journalism, public relations and advertising or digital media and their related fields. Learning Our Teaching and Learning Strategy is designed to reflect the rapidly changing media world and the multiple skills needed for academic study and practical work. The teaching and learning methods on the course are directly related to the aims and learning outcomes identified above. We have designed the course to develop student s knowledge and skills in five keys areas: Media Contexts Storytelling Content and Analysis Critical and Problem Solving Skills Professional Skills
These are applicable both to theory and practical work, and are reflected at each stage of a student s career during the course, with incremental progression. At the point of graduation we also intend that our students will have gained professional opportunities open to them for their future careers. The key focus is to engage students with different ways of learning, to help support a variety of learning styles and personal development in the academic environment. We support our modules with online material through the University s Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. This material may include practical examples, technical support, key references, discussion groups and many other functions. Knowledge and Understanding Theory all degrees At Level 4 students will gain a general understanding of the main theoretical approaches to studying media and the institutional and social context within which media operate. They will also be provided with the tools, vocabulary and historical perspective required so that they can start engaging critically with print, audio and video texts. At Level 4 students will also learn how to make basic analyses of media production, texts, consumption and policy and the relationship of media to society. At Level 5 students will learn about how different approaches to studying the media have emerged from a range of disciplines and gain an appreciation of the main chronological stages in media development over the last 120 years. They will also explore in more detail the political, social and economic implications of social technologies. Students then begin to specialise in particular areas of media theory. At Level 5 students have a solid grounding in the use of historical evidence in the development of a theoretical understanding of the media, and will learn how to make critical and more advanced analyses of media production, texts, consumption and policy. At Level 6, students will gain an in-depth understanding of a number of particular areas of media analysis and media research techniques and be able to apply critically them to the analysis of media production, texts and consumption. At Level 6 students will gain full command over the use of evidence and theory to develop rigorous and sophisticated analyses of media production, texts consumption and policy. Also at Level 6 students will undertake a detailed piece of original research and produce a 12,500 word dissertation which presents the results in the context of their methodology and related to current media analysis. Practice-based learning outcomes for specific courses: BA (Hons) Radio Production At level 4, students will gain a general understanding of industry practices and techniques in radio production. Students will learn a selection of basic production
skills: for example basic sound recording and editing, interviewing, radio news writing and packaging. At level 5, students will begin to learn to apply these techniques in the production of radio programmes. Radio Production students will learn to make live radio programmes including speech, music and news, how to make radio drama and how to produce multimedia content to accompany programmes. At level 6, students learn to apply these techniques through the production of radio programmes to professional publishable, broadcast or industry standards. Radio Production students will create their own radio station, broadcasting online, with a serious of complex live programmes, including talk, music and news to broadcast standard. They will also devise, research and produce an individual piece of audio to broadcast standard. BA (Hons) Television Production At level 4, students will gain a general understanding of industry practices and techniques in television production. Television Production students will learn a selection of basic production skills television: for example basic camerawork, lighting, video editing At level 5, students will begin to learn to apply these techniques in the production of television programmes. They learn how to make documentary programmes, multi-camera production, how to make creative videos and promotional shorts. At level 6, Television Production students will work on two advanced production projects, to apply these techniques to professional publishable, broadcast or industry standards. BA (Hons) Journalism At level 4, students will gain a general understanding of industry practices and techniques in journalism. Journalism students will learn basic journalistic skills reporting, research and writing (short and longer form) across all media platforms. They will be given a basic introduction to multimedia production and storytelling, page design and subbing. At level 5, students will begin to learn to apply these techniques in the production of magazines, web sites and other broadcast media. Journalism students will test and extend the basic skills acquired at Level 4 in a complex production task (creating a commercially viable publication). They will develop their reporting and writing skills to a more advanced level. They will also get the chance to specialise in either broadcast journalism or online media and in either arts/lifestyle journalism or international or lifestyle journalism.
At level 6 Journalism students will develop their multimedia skills to a professional level, creating a challenging extended piece of journalism in the media format of their choice. They will also gain a further chance to develop specialist skills in either fashion journalism, sports journalism or investigative journalism. BA (Hons) Public Relations and Advertising At level 4, Public Relations and advertising students will learn the basic techniques of public relations and advertising campaigns, public relations and advertising practice and relevant persuasive skills. At level 5, Public Relations and advertising students will cover campaigning practice in more depth as well as digital communications. They will also cover PR and advertising ethics and law. At level 6, Public Relations and advertising students will learn how to devise, plan and implement a public relations and advertising campaign to professional standards and how to deal with some of the major issues of controversy in public relations. They will also study strategic communications.