Sound Engineering and Production (Sound Production)

Special Features

As well as learning about in-studio recording, students will get the opportunity to gain invaluable experience organising gigs, setting up sound facilities for live performances and doing on location recording.

This course is supported by FIT, which offers students the opportunity to acquire essential skills to gain employment. Students are given training in job interview techniques and CV preparation.

Specialist resources include:

• Industry-Standard Sound Production Studio with Audient ASP8024HE Heritage Edition console, full set of instruments and assorted hardware effects.
• iMac Digital Sound Studio.  Our new iMac Lab replicates real-life industry experience
• DJ Room with full Pioneer set-up including XDjs, vinyl turntables and club-standard mixers.
• Digital Radio Studio with Adobe Audition
• Internal live venue with stage and sound booth
• Free Full Suite of Adobe Creative Cloud Software for all students on this course for one year to facilitate assessment work.

All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, outlook and OneDrive.

Work Experience

Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

Additional Information

Assessment

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Portfolio/Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination – Written or Practical
• Project
• Skills Demonstration

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details

Progression Opportunities

DFEi: Graduates may progress to the Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Television and Digital Film or the Sound Engineering/Sound Production Level 6 at DFEi.

Elsewhere: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.

Career Paths

Career prospects would include: Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer, Music Producer, DJ, Sound Designer, Artist Manager, A&R, Label Owner, Promotor, Music Publicist, Studio Manager, Radio Producer, Podcast Producer, Mastering Engineer, Singer/Songwriter, Session Musician.