HND Sound Production
Electronic Music Production
2 Year HND with direct access to Year 3 BSc Audio Engineering
- Choose Your Own Path:
- Build your Electronic Music career in our World Class Production Facilities
- Master the art of creative mixing
- Learn studio skills in a real working environment
- Join our creative network
- Check out your other Sound Production option - Audio Engineering
Why Study Electronic Music Production at RMC?
Our Sound Production courses with articulation to years 3 and 4 of BSc Audio Engineering are designed to help you realise your potential in your chosen industry pathway.
The Electronic Music Production option focuses on primary areas such as audio fundamentals and music production, audio post and multimedia applications, immersive audio for computer game environments, specialist production techniques for electronic music, software and programming skills, synthesis and sampling for digital audio applications and approaches to answering professional briefs.
During your studies you will undertake hands-on learning in our high-tech facilities with direct access to cutting-edge equipment and software. Our lecturers are top-class industry professionals and will provide direction and support to help you understand the nature of the creative process. You will also benefit from insight into their experiences and work ethic, helping you to contextualise your learning activities.
You will build the necessary skills and understanding you need to become a successful professional with a sustainable career in the music industry.
At Riverside Music College, you Choose Your Own Path! The course option you choose will help you to focus your studies and create the career pathway that’s right for you.
Our HND Sound Production course is delivered over 2 years and on successful completion our students leave not only with a HND Certificate, but also a professional industry ready portfolio and a unique insight into modern sound production industries.
Join us at our next open day!
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Our next open day takes place on Friday 13th November 2026! Come along and see our creative campus for yourself, meet our expert team and let us answer any questions you may have.
HND Year 1 - Course Content
Designed to develop practical skills and knowledge and understanding of Sound Production theory and practice preparing students for future use of technology and techniques.
Taught in a hybrid analogue/digital environment, across both Studio 1 and Studio 2, students will develop an understanding of how sound behaves in a range of environments and will be able to connect and test audio systems before recording and reproducing a range of sources.
GET INDUSTRY READY – This unit is intended for students who are interested in pursuing a career in sound production where the use of technology is a key component of the job, such as; recording, sound reinforcement, television, radio, audio visual and multi-media.
Designed to give students an understanding of recording and manipulating audio and MIDI signals for Sound Production using digital audio workstations. Taught using Ableton Live, this unit provides students with the underpinning knowledge and skills required to use the main functions of a digital audio workstation, and to take a sound production project to a conclusion by creating an edited pre-production master, incorporating critical listening.
The purpose of this unit is to develop skills and knowledge relating to the use of sound reinforcement equipment used at live events (music, vocal, audio visual events etc.)
The purpose of this unit is to familiarise students with the principles and practice of multi-track recording and mixing, allowing the learner to develop skills in a typical studio environment in response to a client brief.
GET INDUSTRY READY – Working in tandem with our Music Performance students in studio 2, using Pro Tools to record and produce high quality multi-track recordings and mix downs, students will develop an understanding of the processes involved in recording and mixing multi-track sessions, whilst effectively working with clients. The unit is designed for students who wish to develop the skills and knowledge required to work in a recording studio environment within the Sound Production field.
Giving students a broad understanding of copyright, collection societies and contract agreements related to the field of Sound Production, this unit also enables students to become familiar with a spreadsheet application to manage the administration of basic financial information, and develop resources in preparation for employment and an interview. Students will have the opportunity to create a budget for a small production project.
GET INDUSTRY READY – This unit fosters the entrepreneurial skills that a freelance professional requires in the modern industry to secure employment, or set up self employment.
The graded unit is designed to provide evidence that the student has achieved the following principal aims of HND Sound Production (Year 1):
- An ability to analyse and synthesise knowledge and skills acquired through study.
- An ability to develop study, organisational and research skills.
- An ability to integrate sound production skills in practical and/or employability contexts.
- To enable progression to further study in sound production or a related discipline.
- An ability to develop personal skills and follow evolving industry practices
Both Graded Unit and Creative project work in tandem to enable candidates to work on a project that will see them specialise in a discipline of their choosing, both these units revolve around the culmination of a years learning and are delivered as a large project for which they will receive an end of year grade.
This unit is designed to give the learner an understanding of the creation and use of sounds using synthesisers and samplers. The unit provides the opportunity for learners to gain the basic skills required to program a range of synthesisers and samplers, either software or hardware based, to emulate the sound of a range of natural instruments and sounds and to create entirely original sounds. The learner will then integrate the developed sounds into a creative work such as a piece of music or sound design.
This unit is intended for learners interested in programming synthesisers and samplers to emulate existing sounds or to create entirely new sounds.
This unit is designed to give learners an understanding of the technical processes andcreative methods involved in the editing, manipulation and re-mixing of audio for music production.
The development of re-mixing from the mid 20th century until the present day will also be studied to enable a clear understanding of its role in audio production.
This unit is designed to develop learners’ understanding and skills in the use of audio within multimedia artefacts. The learner will investigate the use of audio within a variety of multimedia contexts before planning, creating and applying audio within a multimedia context.
HND Year 2 - Course Content
This unit is designed to give learners a complex level of understanding of digital audio workstation operation. It will allow learners to develop skills in complex audio and MIDI editing and processing. The unit will enable the learners to develop the knowledge and skills to take complex projects to conclusion by creating automated mix-downs and output those to a variety of formats in accordance with recommended industry standards. Learners will then evaluate the finished products, demonstrating an ability to critically listen to their completed mix-downs. This unit is suitable for learners who possess a broad knowledge of digital audio workstation operations.
This unit will give learners an opportunity to plan, develop and implement a market facing sound production project based upon a genuine or simulated opportunity. Learners will conduct market analysis before developing a brief and seeing it through to completion. There will be opportunities for learners to draw on practical sound production experience as well as relevant business and industry skills in the development of the project.
This unit will give learners the opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of mastering and final format production across a range of consumer formats and destinations. The learner will acquire and apply skills and knowledge of processes required for mastering new and archive audio programme material. Learners will demonstrate practical ability in this field by responding to a brief to produce and evaluate multiple programme audio masters for a range of consumer formats and destinations.
This unit is designed to give learners a clear knowledge and advanced understanding of spatial recording and reproduction techniques. It will prepare them to undertake complex recording tasks, from a brief. It will provide them with the practical skills involved in spatial microphone techniques, recording and accurate replay of audio sources.
This unit is intended primarily for learners who are interested in pursuing a career in sound production where the use of spatial recording and reproduction is a key component of the job, eg recording engineer, preparing audio for broadcast, audio-visual and multi media production.
This Unit is designed to provide evidence through portfolio and presentation that the candidate has achieved the following principal aims of the HND Sound Production:
- an ability to analyse and synthesise knowledge and skills acquired through study
- an ability to develop study, organisational and research skills
- an ability to develop proficiency in the creative and use of sound production technology and applications
- an ability to integrate these skills in practical or business application and reflect on this integration
- an ability to develop competencies in a range of specialised areas in line with their preferred career aims
- an ability to develop critical analysis; to reflect on own work and continually strive for best practice
- to enable progression to further study in sound or a related discipline
- to enable the adoption of innovative practices and creativity in work and ability to respond quickly to the challenges posed by changes in the sound production and audio industries
- an ability to develop personal skills and follow audio industry protocol
This unit will provide learners the opportunity to plan for and mix a recorded session in response to a client’s needs whilst demonstrating good professional practice when working with the client.
The purpose of this unit is to allow learners to operate within the role and function of the producer within the recording process. One aim is to develop awareness of the differences between the role of engineer and producer in the recording studio.
This unit is designed to provide learners with an understanding of the skills required to perform a live set utilising software and associated controller hardware.
This unit will give learners an opportunity to work with a client to coordinate and engineer a studio recording session in response to a brief. Learners will have the opportunity to develop their skills in client interaction, resource management and session management. Learners will also develop their understanding and application of basic contractual agreements as they apply to the studio recording engineer.
Riverside offers flexible payment options for students wishing to pay fees via our SAAS and non-SAAS funded instalment plans. Eligible students can also apply for living cost support via SAAS, who have a combination of loans, grants and bursaries available. Student loans of up to £6,750.00 and bursaries of £2,000.00 are available depending on individual circumstances. For further details please check the SAAS website. Read More
Full funding available for Year 3 BSc Audio Engineering if eligible.
Entry Requirements
Minimum of one Higher (band C or above), PLUS passes in two other subjects at NAT 5 or equivalent.
Don’t meet the entry requirements? No problem, check out our Access to HND courses!
Duration
2 Years (HNC can be obtained after one academic year) August – June (full time) + Direct access to Year 3 BSc Audio engineering, delivered at RMC in Partnership with Perth UHI.
Your Music Industry Career Starts Now
Riverside’s HND framework prepares our candidates for a career across many modern disciplines with the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of interest, enabling them to have a focussed and relevant set of skills befitting of an industry professional.
Some examples of career paths our students can focus on include:
Electronic Artist
Sound Designer (multimedia, TV, Film, Games)
Programmer (In the context of music production)
Audio Technician (broadcast, studio, conference and events)
RMC’s students and staff are held in high regard by Universities and employers alike and we always aim to deliver the best possible and most relevant learning experience, utilising our state of the art equipment and facilities.
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