School: Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Composing for Film, Media and the Gaming Industry
  • Unit Code

    MUS2635
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Stuart JAMES

Description

In this unit, students examine exemplar works of the film and game industries. Students analyse the structural interplay of sound and vision, with attention to the compositional techniques explored in soundtracks and their orchestration with acoustic or electronic instrumentation. The unit also examines relevant concepts such as hit points, leitmotif, the creation and role of foley, the non-linear approaches to scoring for games and the immersive experience. Students will create MIDI-mockups, develop critical listening skills and mixing techniques including EQ, dynamics, sidechaining and panning in stereo and surround sound.

Prerequisite Rule

Must have passed MUS1604 (Home and Studio Recording).

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Discuss and analyse exemplar film and game soundtracks.
  2. Create original film and game soundtracks.
  3. Apply technical skills in studio mixing using digital technologies.
  4. Work cooperatively with musicians to conduct or direct recording sessions.

Unit Content

  1. Composing for film and games.
  2. Exemplar works of the film and game industries.
  3. The structural interplay of sound and vision.
  4. Leadership skills.
  5. Critical skills in relation to sound mixing.
  6. Mixing techniques including approaches to EQ, dynamics and surround sound.
  7. Professional bodies and career opportunities in studio practice.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not Offered11 x 1 hour lectureNot Offered
Semester 1Not Offered44 x 1 hour tutorialNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students will create original compositions for film and games and will be required to provide MIDI mock-ups and conduct/direct musicians during recording sessions.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ProjectSoundtrack project and documentation40%
AssignmentAnalysis Assignment20%
ProjectGame audio project and documentation40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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