User manual | national unit specification: general information

Higher National Unit Specification
General information for centres
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
Unit code: DR31 34
Unit purpose: This Unit is designed to develop candidates’ skills in the design and use of audio
within multimedia artefacts. The overall context of this Unit has been developed to give a detailed
and practical insight into the planning, development, creation and application of audio use within a
multimedia context. This Unit is intended for candidates hoping to pursue a career in audio
production for multimedia artefacts.
On completion of the Unit the candidate should be able to:
1
2
3
4
Develop a pre-production plan for sound design to be used in a multimedia artefact.
Create musical sequences for use within a multimedia artefact.
Create sound effects for use within a multimedia artefact.
Apply, synchronise and process audio to a visual production.
Credit points and level: 2 HN Credits at SCQF level 7: (16 SCQF credit points at SCQF level
7*).
*SCQF credit points are used to allocate credit to qualifications in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF). Each qualification in the Framework is allocated a number of SCQF credit points at an
SCQF level. There are 12 SCQF levels, ranging from Access 1 to Doctorates.
Recommended prior knowledge and skills: Access to this Unit is at the discretion of
the centre. Candidates should have an understanding and experience of digital audio within a
multimedia environment. An understanding of music creation and digital audio recording and editing
would also be beneficial. This may be evidenced by completion of the HN Unit: Audio for
Multimedia: An Introduction (DJ1Y 33).
Core Skills:
There may be opportunities to gather evidence towards Core Skills in this Unit,
although there is no automatic certification of Core Skills or Core Skills components.
Context for delivery: If this Unit is delivered as part of a Group Award, it is recommended
that it should be taught and assessed within the subject area of the Group Award to which it
contributes.
Assessment: The Outcomes within this Unit must be assessed on an individual basis.
It is
recommended that the candidates should work through the Outcomes in order as all submitted work
for Outcomes 2, 3 and 4 relate to the candidate’s response to Outcome 1.
HN Unit (DR31 34): Audio for Multimedia
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General information for centres (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
The Unit as a whole should be approached in the form of a project, with the candidate demonstrating
the relevant pre-production, production and post-production skills within the development of audio
for multimedia. It is recommended that the assessor should utilise material in the form of a brief
detailing ‘the client’s requirements’ for audio within a particular multimedia artefact, when
instructing the candidates for Outcome 1.
Evidence should take the following form:
Outcome 1 — written report
Outcomes 2, 3 and 4 — assessor checklists recording candidate’s achievement
— an artefact recorded in the appropriate format
HN Unit (DR31 34): Audio for Multimedia
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
Unit code: DR31 34
The sections of the Unit stating the Outcomes, knowledge and/or skills, and Evidence Requirements
are mandatory.
Where evidence for Outcomes is assessed on a sample basis, the whole of the content listed in the
knowledge and/or skills section must be taught and available for assessment. Candidates should not
know in advance the items on which they will be assessed and different items should be sampled on
each assessment occasion.
Outcome 1
Develop a pre-production plan for sound design to be used in a multimedia artefact
Knowledge and/or skills
Working to a brief
Developing a project timescale
Development and need of appropriate music within a multimedia artefact
Development and need of appropriate sound effects within a multimedia artefact
Use of appropriate audio formats within a multimedia artefact
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by providing a
written report to a production brief. The report should illustrate the candidate’s understanding of the
pre-production stage in the development of an audio soundscape for multimedia artefacts by:
analysing client’s requirements for the creation and application of audio and sound design
within a multimedia artefact
creating a timescale for each area of production
creating a plan detailing both the development and need for appropriate music and sound
effects within a multimedia artefact
explaining the appropriate audio formats for use within the multimedia artefact
identification of file types and compression formats relevant to the specified multimedia
context
Evidence for the knowledge and or skills within this Outcome will be provided by a written report to
a production brief. The report should clearly identify each individual aspect of audio production for
multimedia, with one section of the plan dedicated to each area of the Evidence Requirements. The
pre-production plan should be a written report and should be completed within a time specified by the
assessor. It should not be carried out in a controlled environment. The candidates should use both
course notes and research where necessary.
HN Unit (DR31 34): Audio for Multimedia
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
Assessment guidelines
This Outcome must be assessed on an individual basis.
The assessment for this Outcome is a written report undertaken as a pre-production plan, within a
project covering the whole Unit, leading to the production stage for sound design specified in
Outcomes 2, 3 and 4. It is essential that the candidates meet all areas within the Evidence
Requirements before moving on to the remaining Outcomes.
Should there be ambiguity regarding a candidate’s technical understanding or written response, oral
questioning may be used to eliminate any doubt as to the candidate’s understanding. The lecturer
should note questions and responses.
Outcome 2
Create musical sequences for use within a multimedia artefact
Knowledge and/or skills
Work effectively to a given brief
Develop music for use in a multimedia artefact
Utilise audio hardware
Utilise audio production software
Save and compress music for use within a multimedia artefact
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by
undertaking a practical project showing appropriate use of music based hardware and software to
develop music sequences.
Evidence will show that the candidate can:
Effectively follow a brief by processing music sequences to enhance a multimedia artefact.
This should include looped, single shot and musical ‘sting’ sequences.
Set up and use audio hardware for the capture and playback of music sequences.
Set up and use music production software for editing music sequences. This may be by
demonstrating effective use of either appropriate MIDI or audio editing software. This should
also include file handling and folder management within a computer environment.
Save and compress music in the appropriate format for use within a specific multimedia
artefact. This should include file format, compression settings and file destination.
This Outcome will be assessed on the basis that the candidate has detailed all musical requirements
within the pre-production plan developed in Outcome 1. The candidate must provide at least three
musical examples in the form of looped, single shot and musical ‘sting’ sequences.
HN Unit (DR31 34): Audio for Multimedia
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
The music may be created by any music production techniques. This can include MIDI sequencing,
audio sequencing, looped samples, library music CDs, live recordings and sound synthesis. The
objective is to create appropriate music sequences that will enhance a multimedia artefact.
Reference should be made to the candidate’s response to Outcome 1, to ensure all audio requirements
stated in relation to the designated multimedia artefact have been met.
An assessor checklist must be used to record the candidate’s performance.
All sequences must be collected/recorded in an appropriate finished format and retained as evidence.
Assessment guidelines
This Outcome must be assessed on an individual basis.
Should there be ambiguity regarding a candidate’s technical understanding or written response, oral
questioning may be used to eliminate any doubt as to the candidate’s understanding. The lecturer
should note questions and responses.
Outcome 3
Create sound effects for use within a multimedia artefact
Knowledge and/or skills
Follow a project brief
Capture sound using computer software and hardware
Manipulate sound using computer software
Save and compress sound effects for use within a multimedia artefact
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by
undertaking a practical project showing appropriate use of audio based hardware and software to
create original sound effects.
Evidence will show that the candidate can:
Follow a project brief to create specific sound effects required for the sound design of a
multimedia artefact.
Set both hardware and software settings for recording audio within a computer environment.
This should include, where appropriate, cabling, mixing signal inputs, recording format and
parameters, sound synthesis, sampling.
Manipulate sound using computer software to create the desired sound effect. This should
include all forms of digital effects and processing, including time stretching, mixing of
multiple audio files, reversing, and fading in/out.
Save and compress audio in the appropriate format for use within a specific multimedia
artefact. This should include file format, compression settings and file destination.
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
This Outcome must be assessed on the basis that the candidate has a plan (created in Outcome 1) of
all required sound effects needed for a multimedia artefact, as detailed in the brief. The sound effects
created must be appropriate to all aspects of the plan. The candidate must, on completion of this
Outcome, create five appropriate sound effects - these may include variations of sound effects created
by the candidate.
Reference should be made to the candidate’s plan ensuring all sound effect requirements for the
multimedia artefact have been met.
The captured audio may be collected from any source necessary to meet the requirements stated in
the plan. This may include compact disks, mini disk, location recordings and studio recordings. The
final result must be recorded as digital audio onto a computer using the appropriate hardware and
software means. All sound effects must be edited to the required specification using standard audio
editing software.
An assessor checklist must be used to record the candidate’s performance.
All sound effects must be collected/recorded in an appropriate finished format and retained as
evidence.
Assessment guidelines
This Outcome must be assessed on an individual basis.
Should there be ambiguity regarding a candidate’s technical understanding or written response, oral
questioning may be used to eliminate any doubt as to the candidate’s understanding. The lecturer
should note questions and responses.
Outcome 4
Apply, synchronise and process audio to a visual production
Knowledge and/or skills
Import and embed audio within a multimedia artefact
Synchronise audio to visual media
Process audio within an multimedia package
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by
undertaking a practical project showing appropriate use of computer software programmes in the
appliance of audio to a multimedia artefact.
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
Evidence will show that the candidate can:
Correctly import and embed audio to a multimedia artefact to create a multi-channel sound
track. This should include file attachment, placement and folder creation.
Effectively synchronise audio within a multimedia artefact. This should include the appliance
of audio to specific time points within an audio visual artefact. This should include correct use
of frame rates, audiovisual continuity, and steaming of audio files.
Process audio within a multimedia software package. This should include all necessary audio
processing to create a finished, integral audio soundtrack, eg mixing, panning, fading and
effects processing.
Evidence should be presented in the form of the completed physical artefact, collected/recorded on an
appropriate medium, which should then be reviewed and a checklist completed.
An assessor checklist should be used to record the candidate’s performance on completion of each
area of the project.
Assessment guidelines
This Outcome must be assessed on an individual basis.
Should there be ambiguity regarding a candidate’s technical understanding or written response, oral
questioning may be used to eliminate any doubt as to the candidate’s understanding. The lecturer
should note questions and responses.
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Administrative Information
Unit code:
DR31 34
Unit title:
Audio for Multimedia
Superclass category:
KG
Date of publication:
August 2005
Version:
02
History of changes:
Version
02
Source:
Description of change
Removal of Word Count.
Date
02/06/11
SQA
© Scottish Qualifications Authority 2005, 2011
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that no
profit is derived from reproduction and that, if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged.
SQA acknowledges the valuable contribution that Scotland’s colleges have made to the development
of Higher National qualifications.
Additional copies of this Unit specification can be purchased from the Scottish Qualifications
Authority. Please contact the Customer Contact Centre for further details, telephone 0845 279 1000.
HN Unit (DR31 34): Audio for Multimedia
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
This part of the Unit specification is offered as guidance. The support notes are not mandatory.
While the exact time allocated to this Unit is at the discretion of the centre, the notional design length
is 80 hours.
Guidance on the content and context for this Unit
This Unit is primarily intended to develop the candidate’s skills in the design and use of audio within
multimedia artefacts. The overall structure of the Unit has been developed to give candidates both an
insight into and experience of all stages of audio production and application to a multimedia artefact.
The candidate should, on completion of the Unit, be able to confidently and appropriately follow a
design brief for the requirements of audio within a multimedia artefact by creating a plan, musical
soundtrack, sound effects and appropriately applying all audio to a multimedia artefact.
It is possible that some candidates may have prior knowledge in audio recording or multimedia
production. This Unit should be used as a tool to develop the candidate’s understanding further, to a
competent and professional level, of both the creation and appliance of audio within a specific
context.
Although it is recommended that candidates should have an understanding of the general use of audio
within a variety of commercially available multimedia genres, candidates are only required to
develop course evidence for use within one multimedia application, familiar or accessible, to
candidates within, for example, their place of study. It would be advisable for candidates to use an
audio-free, pre-produced multimedia application as a reference for each Outcome, leading to their
appliance of audio to this specific multimedia context.
Outcome 1 looks at the planning of audio’s use within a specific multimedia artefact. Candidates
should develop a plan, to a given brief, meeting all Performance Criteria.
They should be encouraged to think about the following:
the client’s requirements for audio as detailed in the brief
the intended target audience
musical requirements covering, for example, style, format, length and appliance
sound effect requirements covering, for example, source, format, length and appliance
dedicated timescale for each area of the sound design process
Outcome 2 looks at the creation of music for a multimedia artefact. Candidates should have all the
necessary planning, preparation and understanding to complete this Outcome. The candidates should
have detailed in a plan exactly what effect they hope to achieve and how they will go about creating
music for the artefact. This should be taken into account when selecting and editing music needed
for this Outcome.
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
Outcome 3 looks at the creation of sound effects for a multimedia artefact. Candidates should have all
the necessary planning, preparation and understanding to complete this Outcome. The candidates
should have detailed in a plan exactly what effect they hope to achieve and how they will go about
creating sound effects for the artefact. This should be taken into account when selecting and editing
sound effects needed for this Outcome. Spoken dialogue may also be considered as a sound effect.
Outcome 4 looks at the appliance of audio to a multimedia artefact. Similar to Outcomes 2 and 3, the
candidates should already have all necessary preparation written and detailed within a plan for
Outcome 1. Candidates should create a finished soundtrack meeting the requirements of the brief.
As candidates have to apply the prepared audio within a multimedia artefact, they should have a basic
understanding of the software used in the creation of the chosen multimedia project. The candidates
should have prior knowledge of all file types and compression formats used within the chosen
multimedia context, as well as compatibility with the software used in the creation process.
Guidance on the delivery and assessment of this Unit
This is an optional Unit in the framework for the HND Sound Production Group Award, which is
primarily designed to provide candidates with the technical and professional knowledge and skills
related to a specific occupational area. The Unit is designed to be used as an insight into each stage of
the complete production for audio within a multimedia context. It would be expected that candidates
might, on completion of this Unit, follow a career in the production and design of audio for
multimedia artefacts.
The Unit should be delivered in the form of a project. It will be necessary for the candidate to receive
both a production briefing and a physical multimedia artefact as chosen by the assessor. This will
ensure that, both practically and theoretically, the assessor can oversee the distribution of specific
multimedia artefacts, which are easily accessed by them. The objective for this Unit is for candidates
to follow a design brief given to them based on a specific multimedia artefact which they have had no
prior access to, thus enabling them to approach the project in a similar way to a professional ‘real
life’ situation.
Assessment should be carried out by three instruments of assessment. Outcome 1 will be assessed by
the production of a written plan in response to a production brief. This should be carried out within a
time specified by the assessor, and should not be carried out in a controlled environment. The
candidates should use both course notes and research where necessary. Outcomes 2, 3 and 4 will be
assessed on the candidate’s practical performance. The timescale in which the candidate must have
each Outcome completed should be specified by the client themselves, within their production plan. It
is advisory that the candidate be allowed to keep a copy of the plan written for Outcome 1 for use as
reference for the completion of Outcomes 2, 3 and 4.
Open learning
It may be possible for this Unit to be completed on an open learning basis, although centres will need
to devise and approve methods for ensuring the validity of submitted work that contributes to
assessment evidence.
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes (cont)
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
For further information and advice please refer to Assessment and Quality Assurance for Open and
Distance Learning (SQA, — publication code A1030).
Candidates with additional support needs
This Unit specification is intended to ensure that there are no artificial barriers to learning or
assessment. The additional support needs of individual candidates should be taken into account when
planning learning experiences, selecting assessment instruments or considering alternative Outcomes
for Units. For information on these, please refer to the SQA document Guidance on Assessment
Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities and/or Additional Support Needs, which is available
on the SQA website www.sqa.org.uk.
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General information for candidates
Unit title: Audio for Multimedia
This Unit is designed to give you a practical understanding of the planning, production and appliance
of music and sound effects within a multimedia artefact. If you do have prior knowledge or
experience of multimedia development you should be able to make good use of it during your study
of this Unit. This Unit should give you all the experience and skills required to follow a brief and
create an appropriate soundscape for a designated multimedia artefact. You will also develop skills in
the planning for such a project and how to manage your time effectively during each stage of
production.
There are four main areas to cover within this Unit, each of which is subject of a separate Outcome.
In Outcome 1 you will be required to create a plan for the design and application of audio for use
within a specific multimedia artefact — all requirements will be detailed in a brief. You will have to
consider all areas of the production of audio for this particular multimedia artefact; this will include
analysing the client’s requirements, creating a production timescale and planning all areas within the
design, creation and appliance of both appropriate music and sound effects. You will then be
required to submit a plan detailing how you intend to utilise all of these considerations when
developing audio required for the given multimedia artefact.
In Outcome 2 you will be required to create music for use within the multimedia artefact. You will be
expected to use your response to Outcome 1 as a reference for your production of music for this
Outcome. On completion of this Outcome you should have developed practical knowledge and
understanding of the hardware and software elements required to create music for multimedia. You
should also have developed the skill of accurately and appropriately producing music to a brief for a
specific multimedia artefact.
Outcome 3 will require you to create sound effects for use within the multimedia artefact. This
Outcome will be structured similar to Outcome 2 — only this time you will be using your skills to
create appropriate sound effects.
Outcome 4 you will be required to use the audio, which you created for Outcomes 2 and 3, and apply
it appropriately to the given multimedia artefact, following closely both your plan and the design
brief. You will then be required to submit the final product on suitable media to your assessor.
HN Unit (DR31 34): Audio for Multimedia
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