Master of Design Science (Audio & Acoustics)

What is this course about?
Sound is a constant throughout our lives – involving, informing and profoundly shaping our experience of communication, entertainment and architectural spaces. This degree is unique and challenging, giving students a solid foundation in the design, measurement and theory of audio and acoustics. From this foundation students can choose to specialise in their area of interest including acoustics, audio systems and audio production.

The degree is interdisciplinary, bringing together creative, technical and scientific approaches to sound. It draws on psychology, aesthetic sound design, new media, sound recording, systems design, acoustic engineering, computer modelling and simulation. It gives a solid grounding in these fields, and encourages senior students to develop advanced understanding and skills through specialised projects.

The program is supported by one of Australia’s best acoustics facilities and two audio studios. The Acoustics Research Laboratory houses an anechoic room and reverberant room and has extensive state-of-the-art equipment for measurement and analysis. The audio studios consist of a recording studio and a 5.1 channel production studio. Teaching in the program also makes use of the Faculty’s computer laboratories for modelling of room acoustics and audio systems, and for some audio production work.

The University of Sydney is one of the world’s leading research institutions in spatial audio. The Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning has Australia’s leading research group in architectural and audio acoustics, who work beyond the Faculty in the University’s Spatial Audio Research Laboratories (encompassing three faculties). The University’s Conservatorium of Music offers coursework in creative sound production, some of which can be taken by students in the Audio and Acoustics program as elective units.

Who should take this course?
The program is ideal for people with an academic and/or professional track record in audio, acoustics or related areas, wishing to extend the breadth and level of expertise.

Program Coordinator: Dr Densil Cabrera

Admission Requirements

Masters and Graduate Diploma applicants should hold a bachelors degree. Graduate Certificate applicants should hold a bachelors degree or possess experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the course.

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Core Units of Study

Total credit points required

Graduate Certificate: 24
Core: 18, Options: 6, Electives: 0
Graduate Diploma: 48
Core: 24, Options: 18, Electives: 6
Master: 72
Core: 24, Options: 18, Electives: 30

Semester 1 core units

The following table lists the recommended units for a student commencing full-time in the graduate diploma or master's in Semester One. Students studying part-time are advised to take the core units first. The suggested units for Semester Two are suitable for a student commencing in Semester Two. It is not possible to complete a graduate certificate full-time if you commence in Semester Two.

Unit Code	Unit of Study	Credit points
Semester 1
DESC9011	Audio Production	6
DESC9115	Digital Audio Systems	6
DESC9138	Architectural and Audio Acoustics	6
	Option or elective	6
Semester 2
DESC9117	Sound Design for New Media	6
	Option or elective	6
	Option or elective	6
	Option or elective	6

Architectural and Audio Acoustics
DESC 9138, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: weekly
This unit will introduce the fundamental concepts and issues of audio and architectural acoustics such as: Principles of sound propagation, sound absorption and room acoustics, physiological and psychological acoustics, microphones and loudspeakers, spatial audio, noise measurement and specification and principles and specification of sound insulation.

Audio Production
DESC 9011, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: weekly
This unit will look at the current tools and techniques, as well as the underlying strategies, processes and inherent philosophies involved in the various audio production modes. It will compare and contrast broadcast and other media production methods and ideologies including music recording, radio production, sound for picture, and new media, with reference to live sound reinforcement and location recording practices.

Digital Audio Systems
DESC 9115, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: weekly
This unit offers a systematic approach to understanding digital audio systems. Beginning with basic principles the course provides a knowledge base for understanding advanced digital audio components, systems and techniques. Examples of everyday audio signals are used and characterised in terms of their temporal and spectral properties. Practical application is emphasised and is supported through laboratory exercises that include programming as well as the use of current hardware and software packages.

Sound Design for New Media
DESC 9117, 6 credit points, semester 1 & 2, classes: weekly
This unit is intended to give an understanding of the theory and practice of digital audio production for various visual media including digital video, web-based and interactive media. Using the industry standard ProTools software the unit will look at current computer-based tools and techniques available to the sound designer, as well as examine the various underlying strategies, processes, and sound design philosophies. The unit will offer a grounding in the history, theory and criticism of sound design and its applicability to current digital visual media. It will introduce conventional and non-conventional production models across a range of media production modes in broadcasting and multimedia.

Option units

Electrics, Electronics and Electroacoustics
DESC 9042, 6 credit points, semester 1 weekly

Audio Systems and Measurement
DESC 9090, 6 credit points, semester 2 weekly

Loudspeaker Design
DESC 9116, 6 credit points, semester 2 weekly

Architectural Acoustics Practice
DESC 9133, 6 credit points, semester 2 weekly

Audio Seminar
DESC 9134, 6 credit points, semester 1 & 2 weekly

Digital Audio Production with ProTools
DESC 9135, 6 credit points, semester 1 intensive

Music Technologies
DESC 9136, 6 credit points, semester 2 weekly

Spatial Audio
DESC 9137, 6 credit points, semester 1 weekly

Graduate Internship
DESC 9153, 6 credit points, semester 1 & 2 weekly

Building Acoustics and Noise Control
DESC 9191, 6 credit points, semester 1 Late Intensive

Electives
Students are encouraged to choose electives from any graduate program. Students must refer to the web for timetables.

Just want to study one unit of study as professional development?

For Professional Development courses click here

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Career Profiles

Sandy Marshall
Audio and Acoustics Graduate

Were you always interested in studying in the audio field?
I’ve always had a passion for playing music and I wanted to be a musician. Without the right circumstances, I decided audio was the next best thing. I got side tracked along the way by acoustics.

What attracted you to this degree?
I started out by studying audio engineering and found acoustics to be a broad and interesting field, with more opportunities. I was most intrigued by the field of room acoustics. The main attraction of going into acoustics was the opportunity of working in this field; to be part of the design and construction of an esteemed music venue would be a great accomplishment.

What did you enjoy most about the degree?
I enjoyed the practical aspects of the degree the most. Each subject has a theory component of course, but there is also a lot of hands on work that gives you the opportunity to research and be creative. I also liked the variation in the coursework, giving you an understanding of a broad range of fields in the industry.

Was there anything that you found particularly challenging?
The most challenging aspect of the course was the research component. As a student, you are supervised throughout the project, but you have total control of what it is you want to do, and how you’re going to do it. While it was challenging, it was also very rewarding in that you’re required to conduct the work by yourself, or with a partner, and it is a great learning experience.

You now work for Marshall Day Acoustics. What is your role?
I work as a consultant for Marshall Day Acoustics. The great thing about my job is that I’m not restricted to working in one field of acoustics. I have gained experience across a number of areas including environmental acoustics, architectural acoustics and vibration. It keeps things interesting.

Do you use the knowledge you gained from this degree in your current position?
The Audio and Acoustics degree has given me the background for acoustic consulting by teaching me the principles used in my everyday work.

Dr Chris Field, Acoustics expert
Architecture alumnus Dr Chris Field (PhD ’98) won the ABC’s Inventor of the Year Award on the “New Inventors” program with his Silenceair, an invention which allows fresh air into a building while leaving 85 per cent of the noise outside, Dr Field originally developed the idea while studying for his PhD in Acoustics seven years ago with his PhD supervisor, Honorary Associate Professor Fergus Fricke.

Student Work

The following gives you an insight into the applications of audio and acoustics research, from architectural acoustics to sonification. These posters were created by students studying Audio & Acoustics, and cross vast fields.
Auditory perception of room size	Acoustics of historic cinemas	Auditory alerts for air traffic control consoles
Acoustic quality of a stadium audio system	Acoustical measurements of the Sydney Opera House	Opera singer vocal directivity
Anechoic lining design	Acoustic shattering of fractal diffusers	Vertical localisation