Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (Music) Sound Engineering & Audio Technology
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Course overview
ACM’s Music Production degree develops high-calibre producers with the creative vision, technical expertise and professional judgement to work at the forefront of the music industry. Combining practical studio experience with musical development and collaboration, the course challenges you to create distinctive work and bring out the best in the artists you work with.
Explore recording, mixing, music production, sound design, composition and music technology, developing your skills across a range of genres and production approaches. You’ll deepen your understanding of sound, strengthen your critical listening and learn to make purposeful creative decisions – from the first idea and recording session to a polished final mix.
Develop your own production identity while learning how to realise someone else’s vision. Working alongside musicians, vocalists, songwriters and other creative practitioners across ACM, you’ll gain experience of the relationships at the heart of professional music production. You’ll learn to shape arrangements, guide performances and combine musical sensitivity with technical precision.
Alongside your studio practice, build the professional skills to turn your work into opportunities. Develop a compelling production portfolio, understand the music industry and learn how to manage projects, communicate with artists and establish your creative practice. You’ll be encouraged to experiment with emerging tools and technologies while developing the judgement to use them effectively.
With access to professional facilities, masterclasses, industry opportunities and a community of creative collaborators, ACM connects your learning to contemporary production practice. Whether you want to produce records, develop artists, create electronic music or compose and design sound, you’ll graduate equipped to deliver ambitious work and help shape the sound of what comes next.
Sound Recording & Engineering (SRE) Metropolis
Built from the ground up by Metropolis Studios and their world-class, award-winning engineers the course takes their decades of experience in sound recording and audio engineering and marries it with ACM’s 25 years of teaching excellence.
The result is a Sound Recording and Engineering course that encompasses the science of sound, the technology to capture and record it, as well as how to manipulate and enhance it.
You will study in both ACM’s world leading facilities and the incredible, inspiring real world environment of Metropolis Studios in London.
Live Production & Technical Arts
The Live Production and Technical Arts pathway will give you a comprehensive understanding of the technical, creative and professional skills required to succeed in a fast-moving and exciting industry. The live events sector has become one of the largest, most dynamic and culturally influential areas of the entertainment industry, extending far beyond music concerts and festivals into broadcast, theatre, corporate events, esports, immersive experiences, touring productions and large-scale public events. The era of “the roadie” has long passed, replaced by a new generation of highly skilled technical and production professionals who design, manage and deliver complex live experiences for audiences around the world.
From live music and touring to television, streaming, conferences and corporate production, there has never been a greater demand for adaptable and highly trained live production specialists, and our graduates are increasingly sought after across a wide range of sectors.
As you progress through the course, through concert projects, live events and specialised skills units, you will develop expertise in areas such as Live Sound Engineering, Lighting Design, Broadcast and Streaming Production, Backline Technology, Stage Management and Production Management, alongside a broad understanding of the technical and operational roles that underpin professional production teams. Through the collaborative nature of the course, you will also develop the communication, leadership, problem-solving and teamwork skills required to thrive in professional live production environments.
Modules
Modules
ACM’s core validated learning provision. These are the building blocks of your degree, through which you will be assessed, accrue credits, and progress towards your final qualification. ACM’s module design blends the rigour of a high-quality academic framework and up-to-date industry knowledge. Students also develop critical professional competencies as they progress through their programme.
Advanced Music Production Skills Labs
Alongside your postgraduate studies, you’ll have access to advanced Music Production Skills Labs each term, giving you the opportunity to further develop your specialist technical expertise. These practical sessions allow you to explore emerging production techniques, refine your creative practice and encourage you to experiment with new technologies, ensuring your skills remain aligned with the latest developments in the music industry.
Modules
MIF-407 Music Industry Futures
Studying alongside students from every music pathway, you’ll explore the people, organisations and processes that shape today’s music business, from recording and publishing to live events and emerging technologies. You’ll gain an understanding of how recording engineers collaborate with artists and industry professionals, whilst developing a broad awareness of the opportunities, challenges and career paths that define the modern music industry.
MIF-411 Specialist Creative Practice 1
Build the practical skills that form the foundation of your future career as a sound engineer. This module is taught through hands-on Skills Labs where you will develop confidence using industry-standard studios, software and equipment whilst exploring the creative and technical techniques used by professional producers and engineers. From getting to grips with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) to developing recording techniques and building digital audio using professional microphones, mixing consoles and studio workflows, you’ll gain the essential skills needed to begin developing your professional practice.
CIF-405 Preparing for Collaborative Projects
During this module, you’ll develop the skills needed to prepare you for working with peers across the music degree to apply your production skills to an interdisciplinary creative project.
MIF-412 Specialist Creative Practice 2
As you build on the foundations established in Specialist Creative Practice 1, you’ll refine your technical approach, strengthen your creative decision-making and explore acoustics, alongside the core principles of professional audio mixing, including signal flow, routing and gain staging. Through your practical Skills Labs, you’ll develop more advanced technical techniques that support your ongoing growth as a recording engineer.
MIF-413 Music Culture & Communities
Music shapes cultures, communities and influences the world around us. In this module, you’ll study alongside other pathways across music and explore how the music industry connects with society, identity and creative communities. Through discussion, research and shared perspectives, you’ll gain a broader understanding of the cultural impact of music whilst developing valuable research skills that will inform your own practice as a recording engineer and help you create work that connects with your clients and audiences.
CIF-406 Engaging in Collaborative Projects
Following on from CIF-405, you’ll work collaboratively on a shared project brief with students from other disciplines. You’ll build upon your skills to support larger projects with the creative industry and contribute your production skills to fulfilling a creative brief.
Modules
CIF-501 Specialist Collaborative Work
This module allows you to apply your production skills within ambitious, cross-disciplinary creative projects. Working alongside students from across the music degree, you’ll respond to industry-inspired briefs, taking on the role of the recording engineer to shape recordings and contribute your technical expertise to collaborative outcomes. Along the way, you’ll be strengthening your project management, communication and creative problem-solving skills.
CIF-503 Specialist Route Skills
Refine the skills needed to produce professional recordingS in collaborative studio environments. Through specialist skills labs, you’ll develop your ability to direct artists and musicians in the studio and strengthen your studio techniques to achieve the best recording results. Combining advanced technical practice with critical reflection, you’ll build the confidence, creativity and professional understanding required to deliver industry-ready productions.
CIF-502 Professional Collaboration Work
You’ll take your collaborative experience into a professional context by delivering a major project that reflects the realities of the music industry. Working with students across the course, you’ll apply your production expertise to help realise ambitious creative work, managing technical and creative challenges and developing the confidence, adaptability and professional mindset needed to succeed as a producer in today’s collaborative creative industries.
CIF-504 Professional Route Skills
Building on your Specialist Route Skills, you’ll expand your production expertise by applying your skills to a range of professional recording and live sound environments. Through advanced skills labs, you’ll further develop your knowledge of acoustics, whilst developing advanced ensemble recording skills across a variety of musical settings. Through building a portfolio of professional work, you’ll demonstrate the technical ability, adaptability and critical thinking needed to succeed across the modern music production industry.
Modules
CIF-601 Critical Review Preparation
Prepare for your dissertation by developing the research, analysis and critical thinking skills needed to investigate contemporary issues in music production and recording engineering. You’ll explore current debates, technologies and professional practice whilst learning how to evaluate sources, develop research questions and construct evidence-based arguments. This module will provide the foundation for independent research, helping you identify a topic that reflects your interests and future career ambitions.
CIF-601 Critical Review
Undertake an independent research project exploring an area of music production that matters to you. Whether investigating emerging production technologies, creative practice, industry trends, studio workflows, or the wider social and cultural impact of music, you’ll critically evaluate contemporary issues using academic research and professional evidence. You’ll produce a substantial piece of work that demonstrates your ability to think critically, conduct independent research and contribute to conversations shaping the future of music production.
CIF-603 Leadership & CPD
Prepare for life beyond your studies by developing the advanced technical skills and professional mindset expected of today’s contemporary music producers. Through specialist Skills Labs, you’ll explore audio techniques to expand your productions, alongside advanced mastering skills that prepare music for release across today’s distribution platforms. As you refine your technical expertise, you’ll reflect on your strengths and develop your leadership skills.
CIF-602 Leading Professional Collaborative Project
Bring together everything you’ve learned throughout your degree in your final major collaborative project that showcases your skills as a recording engineer. Taking a leading role within an interdisciplinary team, you’ll manage the creative and technical demands of delivering a professional standard body of work. Supported by specialised Skills Labs in immersive audio and audio mixing, you’ll explore cutting-edge production formats and the professional knowledge to support the launch of your career in the music industry.
CIF-604 Independent Portfolio
You’ll prepare to launch your career by creating a professional portfolio that showcases your skills, creativity and technical expertise as a recording engineer. In this module, you’ll curate your best work to develop a strong digital presence that reflects your creative identity.
Modules
CIF-701 Professional Practice Frameworks
Develop the professional expertise expected of senior practitioners in the music production industry. You’ll critically evaluate your own creative practice, reflect on your professional experiences and benchmark your skills against recognised industry standards. This module helps you strengthen your credentials and prepare for leadership roles within the evolving music industry.
CIF-702 Applied Research
Undertake an in-depth research project centred on an area of music production that aligns with your professional ambitions. Whether developing an advanced creative portfolio, investigating emerging production technologies or exploring innovative studio practice, you’ll combine rigorous academic research with specialist practice to produce a substantial body of work that reflects your expertise and individual interests.
CIF-703 Ideas Into Action
Transform ambitious ideas into professionally realised projects. From initial concept through to delivery, you’ll refine your practice whilst building the organisational and entrepreneurial skills required to deliver projects in professional environments.
CIF-704 Making Connections
Success in the music industry is built on relationships as much as talent. This module helps you expand your professional network by connecting with industry practitioners, creative organisations, community partners and potential collaborators. You’ll develop the confidence to build meaningful professional relationships, identify new opportunities and position yourself within the wider music industry.
Advanced Music Production Skills Labs
Alongside your postgraduate studies, you’ll have access to advanced Music Production Skills Labs each term, giving you the opportunity to further develop your specialist technical expertise. These practical sessions allow you to explore emerging production techniques, refine your creative practice and encourage you to experiment with new technologies, ensuring your skills remain aligned with the latest developments in the music industry.
Fees & Entry requirements
- Minimum age 17+ for Foundation Learners and 18+ for our Accelerated Degree Courses.
- You will be expected to hold A Levels or Equivalent Level 3 Qualification(s) worth 104 UCAS Points or more **
- You will be expected to hold a GCSE in English Language / Literature at C grade/ 4 (or higher)
- Suitability for the programme will also be assessed through an audition. View audition guides
- Fees & financing information can be found on our Fees page
- Term dates can be found on the Term Dates page
If you do not have A-Levels and require moderation, please speak to our admissions team to explore the options available to you.
UCAS code: A48
UCAS points: 104 UCAS Points
Awarding body: Middlesex University
This course is presented in conjunction with our partners Middlesex university and is subject to the regulations and policies detailed here.
Progression
Contact our Admissions team to discuss the possibility of switching to an Integrated Masters program or explore a range of our Postgraduate programs here.
Tutors
Paul Ressel
Specialist in Music Production
Dr. Gary Bromham
Senior Lecturer in Production
Matt Russell
Pathway Lead in Live Production
Andy Wardle
Senior Lecturer in Live Production
