Audio Production Skills

Know how audio is used in media products.

Purposes of audio in media products:

• Soundtracks
• Voiceovers
• Special effects
• Dialog
• Use of silence
• Jingles
• News reports
• Using audio to create meaning
• Using audio to alert users

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Outline different purposes of audio in media products.

Be able to generate ideas for and produce a plan for audio in a media product.

How to generate ideas:

• Genre of product
• Target audience
• Purpose of audio
• Design brief
• Mind maps
• Flowcharts
• Technical notes

Plan the production of audio for a media product:

• Mind maps
• Flowcharts
• Storyboards
• Scripts
• Recording schedule
• Booking facilities
• Locations
• Human resources
• Equipment
• Prototypes
• Rehearsals
• Time management
• Budget

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Use appropriate techniques to generate ideas for audio suitable for the genre, purpose and target audience for a specific media product.

• 2.2

  Plan the production of audio for a media product.

Be able to produce audio for a media product.

Create audio files:

• Recording audio
• Audio libraries
• Editing audio
• Sound levels
• Filters / effects
• Testing
• Compression
• Saving audio in correct file types
• Exporting audio
• Keeping a production log

Import audio into a media product:

• Accessing correct audio file types
• Importing audio into a product (e.g. timeline, sound channel)
• Testing audio files in a media product
• Revisions to audio files

Safe working practices:

• Importance of health and safety
• Working safely with equipment
• Working safely with computers
• Maintaining a safe working environment

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Create audio files.

• 3.2

  Import audio into a media product.

Be able to review audio work for a media product.

Review audio work for a media product.

Include reflections on:

• how well you worked to produce the audio (strengths and areas for development in your way of working)
• the effectiveness of the audio (how well it met its purpose/the brief)

Draw on:

• User feedback
• Own self-assessment
• Feedback from those who worked with you

Suggest improvements to own work:

• More efficient or effective ways of working
• Ways to improve the audio

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Outline the strengths and areas for development of the audio product.

• 4.2

  Suggest improvements to own work.