MUS 331 : Music Production 4

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A continuation and expansion of the topics addressed in MUS 330 including collaborative projects that concentrate on the production of a popular music 'single', including the professional and legal issues associated with high-level studio production. Coursework will require coordination with performers both within and outside the class.

Course Overview

To provide theoretical and practical understanding of professional studio production practices including: live recording of acoustic instrument ensembles, multi-track recording, production techniques, and team-based project management. The course seeks to encourage student interaction across a range of musical sub-disciplines as well as promoting interdisciplinary projects across creative arts and industries programs.
Topics include: vocal, guitar, and drum recording; synthesis; industry-standard production techniques; and mastering. Coursework will require coordination with performers both within and outside the class.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 318 or 330 Restriction: MUS 319

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Music

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Utilise a digital audio workstation to record and edit musical performances. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)
  2. Use and apply multi-track technology to create musical arrangements. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1)
  3. Undertake and manage industry standard recording and production projects (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of of the history and wider context of Music Recording and Production (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  5. Demonstrate proficiency with audio software (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
  6. Create music within a digital environment (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  7. Utilise a variety of modern creative production techniques (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
  8. Develop and demonstrate competence in the practical recording studio environment (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Pre-Production Tasks 20% Group & Individual Coursework
Production Portfolio: Production Process 30% Individual Coursework
Production Portfolio: Mixing Process 30% Individual Coursework
Production Portfolio: Mastering Process 10% Individual Coursework
Production Portfolio: Documentation 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Pre-Production Tasks
Production Portfolio: Production Process
Production Portfolio: Mixing Process
Production Portfolio: Mastering Process
Production Portfolio: Documentation

Assignments are to be submitted, according to submission type specified on CANVAS, by the due date. If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, please complete an application for extension form at the following link:


https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/creative-arts-and-industries/te-whare-o-ng_-pkrero-poro---school-of-music-undergraduate-exten.html


You must submit your extension application as early as possible before the assignment due date.


 Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalised 10% for each day or part thereof and will be automatically deducted on CANVAS. No assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned to students.

Next Offered

Semester 2, 2026

Teaching & Learning Methods

This course has three contact hours per week - one 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week as enrolled. Lectures cover knowledge, skills and background; and tutorials cover practical skills - as such, attendance at both is necessary.
Tutorials in this course begin in week 2. In addition sta oce hours will be posted on Canvas.

Module

• Audio and Technical Background
• Recording and Microphone Techniques
• Software and DAW Skills
• Production and Mixing Techniques

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course

Further information about exams can be found at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/about-exams.html

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 11 tutorials, 72 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 42 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials/studios to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings where possible. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials/studios will not be available as recordings.

Attendance on campus is required for the test.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All necessary reading materials, digital and online resources will be provided via a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas.

Health & Safety

All students must bring wired headphones to each class.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

 

Other Information

Attendance: Given the practical nature of the course, students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials, to conduct weekly reading, practical and listening tasks, to engage in exercises and discussion, and to complete all required coursework.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.