Miskin Music

Assignment Cover Sheet

Assignment Reference:

T5.1 BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Brief IVd By: A Pettitt

Title:

Music Technologist Project

PASSED: 30/10/15 /RETURNED

Units:

Unit 48 Music Recording (GC1-4) Unit 49 Introduction to Music Technology (GC1-4)

Timing within Course:

Yr 2, Term 2, 2016

Hand Out Date:

26/01/16

Hand In Date:

22/02/16

Special Considerations/
Resources:

Independent study and time management is essential.

Access to internet required. All sequencing work must be available on the software
provided in your workspaces. All uploads must be tagged.

Tutors in charge of Assignment:

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Matt Power

Miskin Music
2nd Year BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Music Technology TERM 2
Producer in charge of Assignment: Matt Power
Evidence: You will need a Tumblr and Soundcloud account for this unit. Evidence will be in the form of written booklet/PDF, observed participation,
audio recordings and research notes.
Grading Criteria: Pass, Merit or Distinction are attainable. The whole Unit is available.
English and Maths: This project may include embedded functional skills in English and Maths. Please bear in mind your industry requires eloquent
use of English and accurate use of figures.
Note on copyright and plagiarism: This process will require independent research. Copying from the internet and additional sources is not appropriate
and violates copyright and will be classed as plagiarism unless fully annotated and credited. You must make your work your own. We need to see that
you have an understanding of the areas that you have researched. Copying work directly from ANY source will not be tolerated. If you quote ANY
existing material you must put it in quotation marks and in brackets, attribute the source / author. For example: Velcro, what a rip-off! (Tim Vine,
2016, Live at the Bloomsbury)
SUBMISSION DEADLINES: 22/02/16
On completion of this project you should:

Unit 48 Music Recording (from Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Creative Media Production)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Understand production characteristics of music recordings.

Be able to mic up instruments in different recording situations.
Be able to record music from different sources for specific contexts.
Be able to mix and remix recordings from different sources.

Unit 49 Introduction to Music Technology (from Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Creative Media Production)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Be able to connect, set up and test music technology equipment.

Be able to produce a virtual performance of a given piece of notated music.
Be able to produce a creative arrangement of an existing piece of music.
Be able to design and create a piece of original music using available resources.

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Miskin Music

The Brief in Detail MUSIC TECHNOLOGIST PROJECT

(Unit 48 Music Recording / Unit 49 Introduction to Music Technology)
This unit is concerned with developing your basic understanding of the equipment and processes in the field of music technology. It also
allows you to gain experience of current music recording technology in the context of traditional skills. The project is designed to prepare you
to work in the media industries in an employed or freelance capacity. (Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Creative Media
Production). This project allows you to consider the roles of music technologists in many creative art disciplines.
Scenario: You have been asked to present a written article with links to music on a specific area skill of a Music Technologist. The article will
include 3 finished musical pieces, plus a selection of developmental/experimental pieces that highlight the different possibilities of music
recording. The written article will allow you to justify the technical choices you have made, with reference to existing recorded music by
artists/music technologists within the same field.
Planning sessions and required personnel will be a key element to this project and it is therefore crucial that for each musical project you
devise a production schedule that includes a number of targets and deadlines. Justifying your decision-making is important when delivering
a product, and effective listening is critical in determining the decisions made.
Task 1: (Evidence required 3 finished recordings)
Decide a focus of Music Technology within any of the creative media fields and create three pieces of music: one of which should be of an
existing recording made using MIDI techniques; a new arrangement or a remix of an existing piece; and production of a new piece. Show
that you can work with some assistance, occasional assistance, or independently. (U49 GC2-4, U48 GC3&4)
Task 2: (Evidence required recorded developmental pieces)
Consider different recording situations and through a range of (not necessarily developed) musical pieces and experiments, demonstrate
how particular instruments can have different musical and tonal characteristics depending on the shape and reflectivity of the room, and the
microphone used. (U49 GC1, U48 GC2-4).
Task 3: (Evidence required written article)
Create your written article covering how you recorded your pieces in task 1, and what considerations you took in task 2, whilst
reviewing/explaining/justifying production techniques across the field of your chosen focus. (U48 GC1)
PASS, MERIT AND DISTINCTION are attainable (see grading sheet below for criteria and evidence required)

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Miskin Music

Miskin Theatre Grading Criteria Sheet (Please see your brief)

Qualification: Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Name:

Project: MUSIC TECHNOLOGIST PROJECT

Unit Title: 48 Music Recording (from Creative Media)

Criteria: 1-4

Initials:

I.V.:

Date:

To achieve a pass grade the

evidence must show the learner is
able to:

To achieve a merit grade the

evidence must show the learner is
able to:

To achieve a distinction grade the evidence

must show the learner is able to:

Evidence

P1 Review the production

characteristics of music recordings with
some appropriate use of subject
terminology.

M1 explain the production

characteristics of music recordings with
reference to detailed illustrative
examples and with generally correct
use of subject terminology.
M2 Mic up musical instruments in
different recording situations to a good
technical standard with only occasional
assistance.
M3 Produce recorded music from a
variety of sources for specific contexts
to a good technical standard with only
occasional assistance.

D1 Comprehensively explain the production

characteristics of music recordings with elucidated
examples and consistently using subject
terminology correctly

Written article

D2 Mic up musical instruments in different recording

situations to a quality that reflects near-professional
standards working independently to professional
expectations
D3 Produce recorded music from a variety of
sources for specific contexts to a quality that reflects
near-professional standards working independently
to professional expectations.

Recorded
developmental
pieces

M4 Produce examples of mixing and

remixing music using different sources
to a good technical standard and with
only occasional assistance.

D4 Produce examples of mixing and remixing music

using different sources to a quality that reflects
near-professional standards working independently
to professional expectations.

P2 Mic up musical instruments in

different recording situations with some
assistance.
P3 Produce recorded music from a
variety of sources for specific contexts
with some assistance.

P4 Produce examples of mixing and

remixing music using different sources
with some assistance.

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Recorded
developmental
pieces /
Finished
Recording
Recorded
developmental
pieces /
Finished
Recording

Grade
achieved

Miskin Music

Miskin Theatre Grading Criteria Sheet (Please see your brief)

Qualification: Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Name:

Project: MUSIC TECHNOLOGIST PROJECT

Unit Title: 49 Introduction to Music Technology (from Creative Media)

Criteria: 1-4

Initials:

I.V.:

Date:

To achieve a pass grade the

evidence must show the learner is
able to:

To achieve a merit grade the

evidence must show the learner is
able to:

To achieve a distinction grade the evidence

must show the learner is able to:

Evidence

P1 connect, set up and test music

technology equipment with some
assistance

M1 connect, set up and test music

technology equipment to a good
technical standard and with only
occasional assistance
M2 produce a virtual performance of a
given piece of music to a good
technical standard, showing some
imagination and with only occasional
assistance
M3 produce a new arrangement of an
existing piece of music to a good
technical standard showing some
imagination and with only occasional
assistance
M4 produce a piece of original music
using a range of techniques to a good
technical standard, showing some
imagination and with only occasional
assistance

D1 connect, set up and test music technology

equipment to a technical quality that reflects nearprofessional standards, working independently to
professional expectations
D2 produce a virtual performance of a given piece
of music to a technical quality that reflects nearprofessional standards, showing creativity and flair
and working independently to professional
expectations
D3 produce a new arrangement of an existing piece
of music to a technical quality that reflects nearprofessional standards, showing creativity and flair
and working independently to professional
expectations
D4 produce a piece of original music using a range
of techniques to a technical quality that reflects
near-professional standards, showing creativity and
flair and working independently to professional
expectations

Recorded
developmental
pieces

P2 produce a virtual performance of a

given piece of music, working within
appropriate conventions and with some
assistance
P3 produce a new arrangement of an
existing piece of music, working within
appropriate conventions and with some
assistance
P4 produce a piece of original music
using a range of
techniques, working within appropriate
conventions and with some assistance.

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Finished
recording

Finished
recording

Finished
recording

Grade
achieved

Miskin Music
Notes:
Task 1: (Evidence required 3 finished recordings)
Decide a focus of Music Technology within any of the creative media fields and create three pieces of music: one of which should be of an
existing recording made using MIDI techniques; a new arrangement or a remix of an existing piece; and production of a new piece. Show
that you can work with some assistance, occasional assistance, or independently. (U49 GC2-4, U48 GC3&4)
Track 1 a cover version recreated using some MIDI techniques
Track 2 a new arrangement or remix of an existing piece of music
Track 3 an original piece of music

Task 2: (Evidence required recorded developmental pieces)

Consider different recording situations and through a range of (not necessarily developed) musical pieces and experiments, demonstrate
how particular instruments can have different musical and tonal characteristics depending on the shape and reflectivity of the room, and the
microphone used. (U49 GC1, U48 GC2-4).
These developmental pieces are comparisons. Therefore an individual piece is no good if it cannot be compared to anything. Ideally you
want to get a singer or instrumentalist prepared to play the same thing at least twice, and use different microphones each time (or with the
mics placed differently, or in a different room). The more variety the better.
Consider comparing:
Dynamic to condenser; a studio mic with the mic on a smartphone; recording in a small room to a large reflective room; different instruments
playing the same melody
This section may or may not link well with your focus, but the investigation here is important for any music technologist. Perhaps a
suggestion as to which techniques suit your focus the best should be made in task 3.

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology

Miskin Music

Task 3: (Evidence required written article)

Create your written article covering how you recorded your pieces in task 1, and what considerations you took in task 2, whilst
reviewing/explaining/justifying production techniques across the field of your chosen focus. (U48 GC1)
This task covers not only U48 GC1 but allows further evidence of all other criteria.
Explain what your focus was and why you chose it.
What are the musical and production characteristics of this genre/sound? How do these differ from
Investigate how music was made/recorded on some examples from your focus. (Try to find quotations).
What instruments did you need?
How did you record each of your 3 pieces?
What problems arose and how did you solve them?
What software did you use? What other software could have also been used?
What special techniques were required to achieve a certain sound?
During your developmental pieces what factors did you take into consideration?
Where some recordings better than others and why do you think this was?
Were some instruments easier to record than others?
When might some production techniques be taken over others?
Include screenshots from Logic or any other DAW you may have used.
Photographs or illustrations of microphone positioning.

Btec Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology