Sound Engineering & Music Production
Our Sound Engineering and Music Production course is focused on providing students with the essential knowledge, industry experience, contacts and opportunities required to succeed in the music industry.
| Award Name | Level 6 Higher Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 6 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 6 Higher Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 6 NFQ |
Duration
2 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
5 O6/H7 to include Maths & English or another language.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Selection of CAO applicants will be made on the basis of points. Your points will be calculated by adding together the points scored in the best of six subjects in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate. The results of two sittings at Leaving Certificate (or equivalent examination) can be combined for the purposes of meeting the subject requirements for minimum entry. DBS currently awards bonus points for Honours maths students. Please note that bonus points will only apply where Mathematics is counted as one of the best six subjects for the applicant.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Points Calculation Grid
Applicants can use their link module for points allocation as one of their six subjects for the purpose of calculating points and it will therefore count as a passing subject.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Minimum entry requirements for graduates of FETAC awards is a full FETAC award at Level 5 on the NFQ and which includes a Distinction grade in at least three modules. A full FETAC award normally consists of eight modules. A record of achievement/component certificate does not meet minimum entry standards. FETAC Level 5 awards will be accepted in any discipline. Further details can be obtained from the Admissions Office.
Careers / Further progression
Career Opportunities
Sound Engineering and Music Production graduates will be able to pursue a career as a sound engineer, editor or music producer in the audio industry.
Our alumni continue to lead the field in the audio industry. You can hear some of their stories here: https://youtu. be/3e1HGx21nWg
Graduates can apply for progression onto advanced years of a degree programme; a number of STC graduates have successfully progressed to further academic qualifications in this manner.
Further information
Students who are applying to programmes as mature applicants will be required to be over the age of 23 as on 1st January in the year of entry. Mature students may apply through the CAO or directly to the college. They are not required to do both. Mature students are assessed on basis of age, educational standard and work experience to date.
All applicants presenting other qualifications should contact the Admissions Office directly to discuss their eligibility criteria.
Please note DBS is an independent college and therefore fees apply.
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Overview
Located at Rory Gallagher Corner and the Temple Bar Music Centre (The Button Factory), the Sound Training College has been setting standards in audio education for over 30 years. A variety of full and part time courses to suit all learners are offered in Music Production, Sound Engineering, Live Sound, Lighting and Festival Management.
Our Sound Engineering and Music Production course is focused on providing students with the essential knowledge, industry experience, contacts and opportunities required to succeed in the music industry. This includes Sound Training Productions, a recording and production company led by graduates and students, which offers unrivalled, unique opportunities and links with key contacts in the music industry. This programme is delivered in collaboration with our partners Sound Training College.
Key themes include:
• Studio and Recording Techniques
• Music Technology and Digital audio workstations
• Electronic Music Production
• Client based Music Production
• Acoustics and Psychoacoustics
• Pre-production, Artist Development and all aspects of Client Work
• Composition
• Music Business
• Project management
• Practical Electronics
Content is complemented by a vast array of seminars from Industry Professionals, all contributing to the creative and technical development of the student.
Aims and Objectives
1. Provide learners with a practical learning environment where theory and knowledge are used in context, and to provide an opportunity for learners to work with equipment and situations commonly found in a music production setting.
2. Develop learners’ understanding of the role of the studio, engineer, producer, and preparatory works
(preproduction), when working with a client and other creatives (of a similar level to their skillset) in a production setting.
3. Develop learners’ practical and technical skills, working with industry standard hardware and software, and their understanding and practical integration of these within the production process.
4. Develop learners’ understanding of the compositional process, and the role of composer, and composition in production, with a focus on electronic music.
5. Develop learners’ soft and transferrable skills, preparing learners to work effectively and collaboratively with others.
6. Develop learners’ understanding and application of business concepts, project management and marketing in music production.
7. Facilitate the development of applied skills by the learner that are directly complimentary and relevant to both the workplace and in a production setting.
8. Provide learners with a comprehensive platform for career development, innovation and further study.
Programme Structure
This is a two year full-time programme.
Students can look forward to abundant access to studio facilities, both in class time and on project work, as well as real world project experience, examples of which can be seen on our Sound Training Productions website. Software used on the course includes Pro Tools, Logic and Ableton. See our facilities for hardware and studio equipment. To find out more about the portfolio requirements or to visit STC for a tour of the facilities head over to their contact page: www.soundtraining.com
Online Access: Enrolled students will receive access to Sound Training Online resources.
Year 1
(Core Modules)
• Learning to Learn
• Music Business
• DAW Based Music Composition
• Intro to Critical Listening
• Intro to Sound and DAW
• Musical Instruments
• Pre-production and Studio Engineering
Year 2
(Core Modules)
• Studio Production and Client Project Management
• Acoustics and Psychoacoustics for Production
• Practical Electronics
• Marketing essentials and Business planning
• Critical Listening & DAW Skills
• Electronic Music Composition & Production
• Studio Techniques
Teaching and Assessment
Course work is broken down into the following components for some of which are used in each module:
• Lectures
• Hands-on small group tutorials
• Group Discussion
• Practical analysis and evaluative exercises
• Case Study
• Practical skills sessions
T: +353 (0) 1 4177500
E: admissions@dbs.ie