Digital Audio Engineering (Taught)

On our MSc in Digital Audio Engineering, you will explore the varied uses of technology in the delivery and creation of digital audio systems. With access to many useful resources, including both hardware and software, you will be able to develop real-world technical expertise to design, develop and operate a range of innovative solutions.

Digital audio is part of all aspects of modern life. It is used in music and sound production, media and gaming, 3D spatial audio, mobile devices, streaming, online media and the internet of things (IoT), plus many others. There is a growing demand for people who have the necessary technical and creative abilities to enable and progress how digital audio is embedded in these areas.

As such, this course is designed for graduates from a range of engineering, music technology and computer science backgrounds.
The focus of the course is on the analysis and design of systems and tools within the context of business needs.

A mix of teaching methods are used to give you a balance of theory and the practical application of skills, ranging from lectures, tutorials and workshops to the examination of case studies and practical programming projects.

Field trips, a programme of invited industry professionals and collaborative projects with other postgraduate students within the school and elsewhere will give you further insight into the real-world applications of your work.

On graduating, you should have an informed and critical understanding of the use of technology within industry. You should also have sufficient creative, investigative and critical thinking abilities to apply your knowledge and skills to practical situations and problems. This will allow you to play a strategic role in the use of technology and the delivery of digital audio systems and processes, including audio analysis, effects and synthesis plug-ins, digital controllers, installation and embedded systems for public spaces.

Some of the coursework and project work you may engage with include:

• audio pattern recognition, such as speech analysis

• noise-cancellation algorithms

• audio software plug-ins such as EQ, dynamics, spectral morphing and delay/reverb

• virtual synthesiser and sample instruments

• real-time audio and MIDI controllers

• audiology

• acoustic and psychoacoustic control algorithms and devices

• audio and A/V installations

• gesture- and motion-based music performance software/controllers

• multi-channel speaker configuration and control.

• Resources and opportunities

While studying, you will have access to a range of useful resources and equipment, including:

• multiple PC labs on campus with course-relevant software installed on all machines

• two Mac Labs with audio production and programming software

• electronics labs for hardware development, simulation, building and testing.

The software and hardware made available and used on the course include:

• Prism Sound dScope Series III hardware analyser

• MATLAB/SIMULINK

• LabVIEW

• OrCAD

• SIMetrix

• C/C++

• Bela development kit

• Arduino boards

• Cycling ‘74 Max

• SuperCollider.