Outline

Overview

This unit explores the use of the studio from the viewpoint songwriter and is intended to prepare first year students in the Contemporary Music major for their recording projects throughout the degree. In addition, this unit will provide the fundamental critical listening skills which are built upon over the course of their studies, and into their future careers. In this unit, students will gain a thorough understanding of basic studio concepts to use when recording their creative work, with a focus entirely on contemporary music and recording techniques suited to this music. Students will work in small groups in tutorials to complete practical tasks such as file management, reverb techniques, panning, bussing, effects, EQ, microphone placement, basics of compression and limiting, grouping and mixing. However, the purpose of this course is not only to learn about recording techniques, but to understand how these techniques specifically work in support of the song.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Contemporary Music
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	MUSC1401
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Students enrolling in this unit of study must have some experience with writing their own original songs in a contemporary music style
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Paul McDermott, p.mcdermott@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Marcus Whale, marcus.whale@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task - Canvas quiz Canvas quiz based on first 3 weeks of content #earlyfeedbacktask	0%	Week 03 Due date: 20 Aug 2025 at 23:59	10-15mins	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Critical Listening Log Submitted assignment.	30%	Week 06 Due date: 14 Sep 2025 at 23:59	1500 Words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Show Your Working Demo ¬tes Submit audio recording and written notes to Canvas	25%	Week 08 Due date: 28 Sep 2025 at 23:59	2min audio 500words notes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Mixing a track & analysis video Submitted recording to canvas	25%	Week 13 Due date: 09 Nov 2025 at 23:59	3-5min audio & 2min analysis 500-700word	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	In-class Tutorial Participation & Weekly Tasks Weekly participation and engagement.	20%	Weekly	Weekly	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Task - Canvas quiz

In-class Tutorial Participation & Weekly Tasks – Students will be marked on their particpation and ability to work in their groups each week on tutorial tasks.

Critical Listening Log – Students will select 2 of the songs provided and complete a critical listening log, describing the sounds and production elements throughout and detailing their wider context to the meaning and mood of the songs.

“Show Your Working” Demo – Students will subnit the cover track they have worked on in class in their groups to show their ability to master the skills each week in the tutorials.

Mixing a track – Students will select 1 song from the stems provided and produce the track. Students will apply 8 different production techniques learned this semester and complete a listening notes document detailing creative process.

Assessment criteria

Rubrics available on Canvas.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

University policy on late penalties applies.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	INTRODUCTION Welcome to unit, choosing a DAW, introduction to signal flow, caring for the space, DAW selection (Logic).	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	TASKS 1) Drawing signal flow diagrams for the Con studio rooms. 2) File management exercise creating tracks, naming and markers. Fixing up a badly labelled session.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	DAW BASICS: This lecture will cover how to start a song from scratch, track types and windows, plug-ins and pitfalls, synths and samplers.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	TASKS 1) Creating a session from scratch, 2) Creating different track types 3) Setting a click track 4) Recording the start of a cover song.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	VOCALS & MICROPHONES This class will focus specifically on the use of microphones, their types, and how they’re used to record vocals. Also, polar patterns, phantom power.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	TASK 1) Microphone shootout - learning what types go with what vocal sounds.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	VOCALS & PANNING: This class will explain how panning works in relation to vocals, creating space within a recording, and double-tracking.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	TASKS 1) Adding a vocal arrangement of a lead and backing vocals to your cover track 2) Using panning techniques to create space in the arrangement.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	REVERB PART 1 This class will cover the history of reverb, the different types we use, and analyse some important recordings that use reverb in interesting ways.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	TASKS Applying and describing different kinds of reverb: 1) Plate reverb 2) Dry/ambient reverb 3) Impulse response 4) Spring 5) Hall 6) Room	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	EQ This class will cover a history of EQ and what it can do for your own tracks in terms of arrangement and mixing.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	TASK 1) EQing vocals exercise - who’s the boss?	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	COMPRESSION & LIMITING This class will cover how compression works and how you can use it on your tracks - particularly vocals.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	TASK 1) Applying compression and limiting to the vocal arrangement started in week 4.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	REVERB CONTINUED + ECHO & DELAY This class will cover a history of delay, what it’s used for and specific types of delay used in contemporary records, and older methods like tape delay.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	TASKS 1) Experimentation with echo and delay on your cover tracks. 2) Gated reverb	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	EFFECTS This class will cover the sounds of common effects like chorus, flanger, phaser, distortion and reversing, and how and why they are used.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	TASKS 1) Critical listening task to key tracks using effects. 2) Adding effects/bussing effects on an original song.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	GROUPING & MIXING This class will start to prepare students for finishing off their stems submission. This will cover how to group sounds together, how to “glue” tracks together, and basic mixing techniques.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	TASK 1) Practicing grouping and mixing from given stems and sessions.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	MIXING AND MASTERING This class will build from the previous class, with advice on final mixing and bouncing of files. There will also be some Q&A time for questions about the final assessment.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	TASK 1) Working on your final assignment with feedback from your tutor.	Tutorial (1 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There readings may be helpful to you during this class (and the rest of your degree).

- Audio Production Prinicples: Practical Studio Applications by Stephane Elmosnino

- Your Mix Sucks by Marc Mozart.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Have an understanding of DAWs and their uses.
LO2. Understand and apply important studio concepts, like editing, EQ, compression, reverb, effects, panning, microphone techniques, grouping, bussing and mixing.
LO3. Critically listen to contemporary music recordings and reflect on their own creative process.
LO4. Confidently engage in future recording tasks in the Contemporary Music major.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback consistently positive. Assignment weightings adjusted post USS feedback

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

MUSC1611: The Studio for Songwriters 1

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links