Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

CUSSOU402A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Develop and implement sound plans

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency CUSSOU402A - Develop and implement sound plans
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop and implement sound plans for productions. This involves researching the most appropriate sound systems to use, identifying everything needed to meet creative and technical requirements, and supervising the implementation of sound plans.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application Sound technicians and supervisors apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. They are responsible for developing and implementing sound plans to meet production requirements. Industry sectors in which they work include music (live and recorded), television, radio, film, video, stage productions and corporate events. Depending on the type of production, they could be developing a sound plan in response to specifications from a sound designer.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field Media and entertainment production - audio/sound
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Establish brief for sound system
  • Liaise with the relevant personnel to determine the project requirements
  • Undertake research to determine the best options for meeting production requirements
  • Consider available budget and other resources when determining the scope of the production
  • Source additional expertise as required
       
Element: Produce sound plan
  • Develop a draft sound plan to meet production requirements
  • Ensure that microphone plots, sound sources, block diagrams and layout are drawn and notated as required
  • Anticipate problems that might arise and plan accordingly
  • Seek feedback on draft sound plan from relevant personnel and amend plan
       
Element: Implement sound plan
  • Ensure that all parties meet their obligations, adhere to quality standards and work within project requirements
  • Ensure that relevant personnel are involved in negotiating and agreeing on changes to the sound plan
  • Ensure that sound system is tuned to achieve desired result
  • Ensure that equipment technical problems are addressed in ways that cause least disruption to productions
  • Ensure that all work is undertaken with due regard to OHS requirements
  • Prepare and update documentation as required
       
Element: Evaluate operations
  • In consultation with relevant personnel identify aspects of the production that worked well and those that could be improved
  • Evaluate own role in operations and note areas for improvement
  • Provide feedback to team members on their performance as required
  • Document evaluation of operations in line with enterprise procedures
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

prepare sound plans that clearly specify all production requirements

implement sound plans on at least two occasions

supervise the work of others

work collaboratively with team members.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to a range of industry-current equipment as listed in the range statement

access to venues and productions or events

use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are appropriate for this unit:

case studies, and written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required knowledge section of this unit

authenticated copies of sound plans developed by the candidate.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

BSBOHS407A Monitor a safe workplace

CUSSOU401A Record sound

CUSSOU405A Mix recorded music

CUSSOU407A Coordinate location sound recording.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication and teamwork skills sufficient to:

liaise and negotiate with sound-production personnel

supervise the implementation of sound plans

clearly explain/offer options about sound systems for a range of productions

critical-listening and aural-discrimination skills in the context of sound operations

initiative and enterprise skills in the context of:

contingency planning

responding effectively to equipment or system malfunction and other unexpected events during productions

literacy skills sufficient to:

read and interpret recording documentation

document and annotate sound plans

numeracy skills sufficient to calculate the range of recording devices needed to capture sound in various environments

planning and organisational skills sufficient to:

prioritise work tasks

meet deadlines

locate and use relevant sources of information in the context of preparing sound plans

technology skills sufficient to:

work with a variety of audio equipment

identify and rectify equipment faults

Required knowledge

techniques and principles in sound system specification, including:

applying acoustic principles when evaluating sound systems and their components

operational knowledge of a wide range of sound-recording equipment

how sound is incorporated into the artistic, technical and operational requirements of productions

features and operating characteristics of noise reduction systems

fault finding techniques and procedures

testing procedures

drawing and annotating sound systems in sound plans

issues and challenges that typically arise in the context of developing and implementing sound plans

OHS principles of safe listening, including safeguards against hearing loss

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant personnel may include:

artists, musicians and performers

audio personnel:

sound engineers

sound technicians

sound editors

sound designers

sound effects personnel

post-production editors

foldback mixers

front-of-house mixers

recordists

re-recording mixers

audio stagehands

broadcasters

broadcast engineers

directors

producers

photographers

program managers

stage managers

floor managers

film/video crew.

Production requirements may include:

attributions

audience

budget

confidentiality

content

contractual arrangements

copyright

deadlines

direct quotes

duration

intellectual property

interviews

location

purpose

schedule

style.

Productions may include:

live performance or event

commercial

print advertisement

corporate video

feature film and/or video

filmed event and/or performance

interactive media product

internet production

electronic game production

music recording and/or video

promotional trailer

radio broadcast

short film and/or video

television program

training film and/or video

voice-over.

Elements of a sound plan may include:

list of equipment required

features of the sound system

personnel required

block diagrams to indicate positioning of equipment for optimum effect

pre-production testing arrangements

venue considerations

budget

performers' requirements

interaction with other production elements, e.g. lighting

sound sources.

Sound sources may include:

dialogues and voice-overs

additional dialogue recording (ADR)

effects (FX)

music produced acoustically or electronically

foley

atmosphere

sounds from the natural environment.

Equipment may include:

amplifiers

limiters

compressors

effects rack

turntables

analogue to digital converters

cables

compact disc (CD) and digital versatile disc (DVD) players and burners

computer technology and associated software

recording devices:

hard disk recorder, e.g. digital audio workstation (DAW)

digital audiotape recorder, e.g. S-DAT and R-DAT

digital videotape recorder (DVTR)

mini disc recorder (MD)

modular digital multi-track recorder (MDM)

digital audio players, such as:

iPod

MP3

headphones

microphones and accessories

mixing consoles and desks

monitors and speakers

signal processors and plug-ins

sequencers and samplers

musical instruments.

Documentation may include:

microphone plots

sound sources

block diagrams

layout

cue sheets

track sheets

dubbing charts

equipment instructions

OHS requirements

organisational standards

performers' requirements

production schedules and set-up reports

shot lists

sound and audio reports

storyboards

technical manuals.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Liaise with the relevant personnel to determine the project requirements 
Undertake research to determine the best options for meeting production requirements 
Consider available budget and other resources when determining the scope of the production 
Source additional expertise as required 
Develop a draft sound plan to meet production requirements 
Ensure that microphone plots, sound sources, block diagrams and layout are drawn and notated as required 
Anticipate problems that might arise and plan accordingly 
Seek feedback on draft sound plan from relevant personnel and amend plan 
Ensure that all parties meet their obligations, adhere to quality standards and work within project requirements 
Ensure that relevant personnel are involved in negotiating and agreeing on changes to the sound plan 
Ensure that sound system is tuned to achieve desired result 
Ensure that equipment technical problems are addressed in ways that cause least disruption to productions 
Ensure that all work is undertaken with due regard to OHS requirements 
Prepare and update documentation as required 
In consultation with relevant personnel identify aspects of the production that worked well and those that could be improved 
Evaluate own role in operations and note areas for improvement 
Provide feedback to team members on their performance as required 
Document evaluation of operations in line with enterprise procedures 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CUSSOU402A - Develop and implement sound plans
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

CUSSOU402A - Develop and implement sound plans

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: