Introduction to Television Production
Professional Sound and Video Technology
School of Computing, Science & Engineering
Full-time
AttendanceThree year
Four year
CourseSeptember 2019
Next enrolmentIn a nutshell
Now is an exciting time to choose a career in the creative industries. Dynamic platforms are creating more engaging music, video and gaming content. If you’re fascinated by media production and technology, and want to create the best in digital media, our professional sound and video technology degree course can help you to discover your potential.
Combining audio visual knowledge, and technical production skills, this practical course will equip you with the skills to succeed in the media industry. Accredited by the Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES), you’ll be educated to the highest industry standards. Get to grips with the technical elements of audio systems, live sound and studio production. Explore the creative side of advanced audio production, interactive media and sound design. Choose specialisms that may include spatial audio, animated graphics or television engineering.
During your studies, you’ll be based at our MediaCityUK campus, the hub of media production in the North and an ideal place to develop a media industry career. We’re next door to the BBC, ITV and the home of Coronation Street. Our students take advantage of this enviable location, working on live projects and gaining work experience on flagship programmes, such as Blue Peter, Comic Relief, Children in Need and X Factor.
You will:
- Study both sound production and the supporting media technologies
- Learn how to make high quality films using our cameras, edit suites and high specification TV studios
- Build the skills to produce 2D and 3D animations
- Enhance your digital repertoire, making high-quality, interactive websites
options available
students accepted
This is for you if...
You want to pursue a career in audio, music production, or in the creative industries
You're fascinated by media production and the technology behind it
You're creative, with an interest in audiences experience audio visual content
All about the course
This exciting and varied course covers both digital media production and media technology. Your studies will include audio and music technology, television and animation and web design.
In your first year, you’ll study theoretical and practical modules, including audio systems, music technology, live sound connection and studio production. During year two, you’ll progress to advanced audio production, creative media and sound design. You’ll also deliver a group design project and get to work on live industry case studies. In your final year, alongside completing your dissertation, you’ll choose specialisms that may include spatial audio, animated graphics or television engineering.
Professional Experience Option
If you are studying full-time, you'll have the option to take an industrial placement year between years two and three. Although you will be responsible for securing your own placement, we will assign you a placement tutor to monitor your progress and assess your final placement report.
This module is split into two parts. In the production part you have lectures to learn the underlying principles of television production and have practical sessions where you make a short film using single camera techniques and have an introduction to the TV studios. In the other part you have lectures to learn about the underlying technologies.
Audio Systems
This module will introduce you to a broad range of audio systems including microphones, transmission, digital audio and loudspeakers. You will learn how to make sound effects for a computer game.
Live Sound Connections
You will study the methods of connecting audio and video equipment for analogue and digital data transmission and power delivery in the context of PA and sound re-enforcement systems. This module also looks at the fundamental electrical principles and practices necessary for the design and assembly of public address and sound re-enforcement systems for delivery of music and sound to a live audience. On completion you should have the organisational skills necessary to specify systems and plan in advance according to the requirements of the venue and performers.
Studio Production
This module is designed to give you an understanding of the underlying concepts and principles of multi-track production, develop your production skills to translate multi-source live music and sound into a recorded stereo image, and develop the organisational skills needed to successfully record an artist/group. Typically, you will use our Pro-Tools sound recording studios to record a band.
Music Technology Systems
You will learn how to use typical computer based tools for the generation, control, processing and audio reproduction in music technology. You will be able to evaluate the importance of the different parameters that influence musical sound. This module also introduces MIDI programming and musical synthesis using both software and hardware
Web Content Creation
You will learn the fundamental techniques of web design. You will learn client side techniques including HTML, CSS and Javascript and have your site will be hosted on the University web server. You will develop techniques to improve the rating of your site in search engine rankings. You will also learn how to produce animated content.
Television Production
This module builds on Introduction to Television Production. In the production part, you move on to multi-camera shoots and begin using animation in your films. Technology lectures cover the techniques involved in digital video processing, coding and broadcasting.
Advanced Audio Production
This module will help you develop the production techniques associated with computer based hard disk digital audio recording, understand the principles and techniques of production planning and location recording and on completion you will be able to apply a range of techniques to a digital audio editing and production project.
Sound Design
This module builds on the Studio Production module from year one. You complete a sound design for a piece of visual content. You use our studio complex to record and master your design.
Web Technologies
Part one of this module is devoted to learning server side techniques needed to make a professional level, interactive web site. The module features programming using PHP and databases with MySQL. Part two explores computer networking. This gives you a detailed understanding of how the internet is used to deliver audio and video content to the audience.
Creative Media Production
On completion of this module you should be able to generate multimedia content across multiple online platforms as well as manage your digital identity. Other skills taught include a high level of critical and professional awareness, taking into account online ethics, privacy, copyright and licensing issues. Recent assessments have included making a mobile phone film with students from New Zealand and France, taking part in an augmented reality game, using phones/tablets to shoot the backdrop to a new opera (State of Being) for its debut at the Tête à Tête Opera Festival in London.
Freelancing and Careers Skills
This module is all about developing the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment in the media industry. During the module you will explore the range of career opportunities within the film, broadcast audio/video and media industries, understand employment practices, recognise how to develop a career pathway, appreciate the importance of transferable skills for employment and of continuing professional development.
Television Engineering
This module is based in our TV studios and is designed to help you develop a systematic understanding of television engineering; in particular, following the programme chain from shot to broadcast. The assessment is to produce an ‘as live’ piece of television in the studios.
Animated Graphics
In this module, you will be taught the key methods and techniques used in the creation of digital animated graphics within 3D space and how to accurately use a range of techniques to create digital animations. Recent assessments have included producing idents for real clients.
Mastering
This module will give you a systematic and detailed understanding of the tools and techniques associated with both audio and video mastering. Assessment for the video element typically includes making short clips in a variety of genres (music video, sitcom, horror, sci-fi, film noir), applying and evaluating appropriate colour correction and compression techniques.
Project
The final year project is your opportunity to carry out, under supervision, an extended study into an agreed topic relating to your degree. You will complete independent investigation to demonstrate initiative and the skills and knowledge acquired elsewhere in the course. The project provides invaluable experience in the planning and delivery of a major study that solves a problem with a unique solution.
Spatial Audio
In this module, the spatial hearing capabilities of the auditory system are further investigated and spatial audio systems including stereo, binaural, transaural, 5.1, ambisonics and wave field synthesis will be investigated both in terms of theory and practical use. There will be opportunities to audition and experiment with a number of different surround systems during practical sessions in the recording studios, listening room and anechoic chamber.
School overview
The School of Computing, Science and Engineering (CSE) seeks to improve lives through proactive collaboration with industry and society. Our stimulating, industry-accredited courses and research programmes explore engineering, physics, acoustics, computing, mathematics and robotics. Through our award-winning lecturers, world-class facilities and research-led teaching, CSE produces highly employable graduates ready for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Our Facilities
Audio Post Production and Audio Suite - Mac-based suites that run a range of audio software, including Pro Tools, Reason. The Post Production suite has a Digidesign Icon D-command desk running Pro Tools 10. You will be in these rooms for modules like Music Technology Systems and Advanced Audio Production.
Post Production Suites - a mix of Mac and PC based suites for animation and video post-production using Avid Media Composer and Adobe Creative Suite. Introduction to Television Production, Advanced Television Production and Animated Graphics are in here.
TV Studios - full professional specification studios. Studio A has separate vision and audio control rooms. Studio B allows us to do a full 3D virtual studio. You have a taster in Introduction to Video Production and use them to make a ‘live’ programme in TV Engineering.
Computer Suites - a range of Mac and PC based computer rooms for general computer work, including web content creation, web technologies and creative media production.
What about after uni?
Employment
There are excellent career prospects in audio-related industries, including live/studio broadcasting, acoustic consultancy, product development (R&D) and AV and gaming audio engineering. Our graduates from the course have forged careers with Abbey Road Studios, BSkyB, Virgin Media, Vodaphone and the B
Further study
If you decide to take your studies further, we offer a range of specialist postgraduate courses. We even offer a fee discount to our graduates and alumni.
Career Links
We are a strategic partner of Avid, who provide high end software applications (Media Composer, Pro Tools). Through this partnership, you will have the opportunity to become an Avid Certified User. Avid also provide sessions in our Next Generation festival – an inspirational programme of master classes delivered by industry experts.
Being based at MediaCityUK, you can also build your portfolio through extra-curricular activities. Our students often take advantage of our location to gain work experience (BBC Blue Peter, Comic Relief, Children in Need, SIS), take part in client competitions (Hewlett Packard) and work on our own live QuaysTV show.
Strong students gain paid freelance work whilst on the programme including working on live premiership football with ADI TV and on big name shows including Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor.
What you need to know
- Provides access to rewarding careers in the media industry with excellent opportunities
- Industrial placement year option
- International students can apply
The Pre-Checklist
International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 5.5 necessary.
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to successfully pursue a programme of study in higher education. Students who do not have formal entry qualifications are required to sit a written assessment to measure their suitability. Please contact Admissions for further information.
GCSE
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as either an English Language and Mathematics at Grade C/grade 4 or above
UCAS tariff points
104-112 points
GCE A level
104 -112 points
BTEC National Diploma
DMM
Scottish Highers
104 -112 points
Irish Leaving Certificate
104 -112 points
International Baccalaureate
30 points
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
HOW MUCH?
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Full-time home/EU | 2019 | £9,250per year |
Full-time international | 2019 | £14,400per year |
Part-time | 2019 | Your annual fee will be calculated pro rata to the full-time fee according to the number of credits you are studying. |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarship Opportunity
Applicants for this course can qualify to apply for one of five scholarships provided thanks to the generosity of the Morson Group. Each scholarship is worth a total of £9,000, paid as two cash award instalments of £1,500 each per annum for a maximum of three years.
The scholarships aim to ensure that talented students starting their first year are not deterred from studying at the University of Salford for financial reasons. Qualifying students will be encouraged to apply following registration and enrollment in September 2019. Priority will be given to students who:
- Can demonstrate the scholarship will provide the necessary support during their studies;
- Would otherwise be deterred from an undergraduate degree by tuition fees and associated living costs;
- Live in the North West;
- Have at least 112 UCAS points or equivalent.