An exploration of sound and environment through the practice of recording, this course considers issues relating to soundscape, acoustic ecology, environmental aesthetics and everyday sonic experience. The course will also explore approaches to spatial audio reproduction.

Weekly 2 hour seminar/workshop, Semester 2 weeks 1-5.

None

Students will undertake an audio recording project of 5-15 minutes duration (as appropriate to the materials and context) exploring the relationship between listening and environment and exploiting the spatial properties of sound (80%). The audio materials will be accompanied by a reflective analysis of ca. 1000 words (20%).

The overall aim of this course is to investigate field recording as a way of exploring sound in relation to environment, everyday experience and sense of place. In particular the course aims to:

■ Examine approaches to field recording, technically and aesthetically

■ Develop students' practical field recording skills

■ Develop students' understanding of sound in relation to space, place and environmental aesthetics and everyday experience

■ critically examine soundscape practices

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

■ produce high quality field recordings making appropriate choices of method and equipment

■ deploy field recording in producing a piece of creative soundscape work

■ identify and deploy appropriate means to reproduce spatial work

■ recognise and realize spatial features in sonic design

■ apply critical reflection and analysis to their soundscape practice

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.