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

CUSSOU501A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Develop sound designs

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency CUSSOU501A - Develop sound designs
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop sound designs from production briefs. Thorough understanding of the physical nature of sound is essential, along with research and creative-thinking skills to develop a range of options in response to design briefs.
Employability Skills Not applicable
Learning Outcomes and Application Sound designers apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. They work in live theatre, film, television and radio and are responsible for collaborating with other creative personnel to develop the overall sound or musical identity of productions.Skills associated with managing the process of sound design are covered in:CUSSOU601A Manage production of sound designs.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable
Competency Field
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: Interpret and confirm sound design briefs
  • Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant personnel to discuss creative and technical sound requirements of productions
  • Continue liaison with relevant personnel until all sound requirements have been confirmed in the context of overall production requirements
  • Identify and confirm additional personnel needed to fulfil the sound design brief
       
Element: Break down components of sound design briefs
  • Identify and document the sound sources specified in the design brief to determine the content, quality and duration of the required sound components
  • Determine and where necessary document the creative and resource requirements for each sound component
  • Confirm and document the role of personnel required for the process of developing sound design projects
       
Element: Experiment with sound components to express ideas
  • Cultivate and create an energy and environment that will promote the generation of ideas among team members and provide the motivation and incentive to bring ideas to fruition
  • Gather information from a variety of sources and generate, explore and record a range of ideas and options as a creative base for developing the required sound design
  • Transform and manipulate the ideas generated and select those ideas that have the most potential for technical and creative development of the required sound design
       
Element: Assess creative ideas
  • Contemplate and consider the ideas selected from the creative base, reflecting on and evaluating their viability, cost, technical feasibility and suitability to meet the requirements of the design brief
  • Continuously evaluate and verify creative ideas for the components of the design brief based on the overall sound design concept
       
Element: Design sound elements
  • Develop sound design concepts taking into consideration the brief and the ideas generated
  • Determine the relevant sound components required to implement the sound design in line with creative and technical requirements
  • Establish a clear relationship between the use and integration of sound components and the function, context and objectives of the work to determine the sound design
  • As required, hold ongoing discussions with relevant personnel to consider, confirm and incorporate additional or changed production requirements and new ideas to achieve best sound design concept
  • Present the sound design in a specification that best conveys the concept to relevant personnel, including those responsible for implementing the design
  • Confirm final design concept with relevant personnel to ensure that implementation is consistent with the design and that potential difficulties are addressed
       
Element: Evaluate completed sound designs
  • Discuss and obtain agreement from relevant personnel on evaluation techniques to evaluate the completed sound design
  • Focus the evaluation on whether the sound design meets all aspects of the design brief, and on the viability of the implementation plan
  • Obtain detailed information and opinions from legitimate sources and document results for evaluation
  • Communicate results of evaluation to relevant personnel and use results to improve future practice
       


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:

develop at least three sound designs that:

fulfil the requirements of design briefs

combine a mix of sound sources

develop specifications that clearly communicate sound design concepts to relevant personnel

work effectively as a member of a sound design team.

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 sound briefs for a range of productions

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:

evaluation of sound designs documented by the candidate and of their quality in terms of meeting creative briefs

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

case studies to assess ability to develop sound designs for different types of productions or events

observation or recordings of team meetings where the candidate is presenting and seeking feedback on sound design concepts.

Guidance information for assessment

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

CUSSOU503A Implement sound designs

CUSSOU504A Create a final sound balance.


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

research skills sufficient to locate and use relevant sources of sound and information to respond to creative requirements of sound design briefs

communication and literacy skills sufficient to:

read and interpret design briefs

write reports documenting the design concept evaluation

develop sound design concept specifications

initiative, enterprise and creative skills sufficient to:

listen critically to and continuously evaluate aspects of sound to fulfil and exceed the requirements of sound briefs

interpret music appropriately to ensure a sympathetic and appropriate approach to sound production

think laterally when developing concepts

shape music and sound imaginatively

communicate the production vision and concept within the constraints of production requirements

problem-solving, planning and organisational skills sufficient to:

prioritise work tasks

meet deadlines

build contingencies into sound designs

provide appropriate and timely documentation

teamwork skills sufficient to work cooperatively with and provide leadership to personnel involved in sound design and implementation

technology skills sufficient to work with a variety of sound recording, production and playback equipment

Required knowledge

well-developed understanding of psychoacoustic principles, including:

spatial hearing

direct sound

early sound

reverberant sound

studio and control room design

ergonomics

techniques for developing concepts and enhancing innovation, such as brainstorming andmind mapping

techniques for conducting evaluations of concept designs

industry knowledge, including:

musical styles, forms, elements, systems, practices and customs

styles of musical interpretation and sound production

relevant musical terminology

varied characteristics of sound in a range of recording and performance environments

physics and physical nature of sound

copyright legislation and permissions

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

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:

clients

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.

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.

Production requirements may include:

technical

creative

artistic

attributions

audience

budget

confidentiality

content

contractual arrangements

copyright

deadlines

direct quotes

duration

intellectual property

interviews

location

purpose

schedule

style.

Sound sources may include:

dialogue and voice-overs

special effects

music

walla

ambient sound

atmospheric sound

foley.

Documentation may include:

pre-mix scripts

mixing sheets

track sheets

de-noising documents

cue sheets

dubbing sheets

queries

notes

manuals.

Specifications may include:

dubbing charts

cue sheets

scripts

storyboards

scores

oral descriptions

recording formats.

Evaluation techniques may include:

interviews

surveys

questionnaires

focus groups

demographic data

feedback

reviews

evaluation may include:

clients

stakeholders

audience

project personnel

specialists.

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
Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant personnel to discuss creative and technical sound requirements of productions 
Continue liaison with relevant personnel until all sound requirements have been confirmed in the context of overall production requirements 
Identify and confirm additional personnel needed to fulfil the sound design brief 
Identify and document the sound sources specified in the design brief to determine the content, quality and duration of the required sound components 
Determine and where necessary document the creative and resource requirements for each sound component 
Confirm and document the role of personnel required for the process of developing sound design projects 
Cultivate and create an energy and environment that will promote the generation of ideas among team members and provide the motivation and incentive to bring ideas to fruition 
Gather information from a variety of sources and generate, explore and record a range of ideas and options as a creative base for developing the required sound design 
Transform and manipulate the ideas generated and select those ideas that have the most potential for technical and creative development of the required sound design 
Contemplate and consider the ideas selected from the creative base, reflecting on and evaluating their viability, cost, technical feasibility and suitability to meet the requirements of the design brief 
Continuously evaluate and verify creative ideas for the components of the design brief based on the overall sound design concept 
Develop sound design concepts taking into consideration the brief and the ideas generated 
Determine the relevant sound components required to implement the sound design in line with creative and technical requirements 
Establish a clear relationship between the use and integration of sound components and the function, context and objectives of the work to determine the sound design 
As required, hold ongoing discussions with relevant personnel to consider, confirm and incorporate additional or changed production requirements and new ideas to achieve best sound design concept 
Present the sound design in a specification that best conveys the concept to relevant personnel, including those responsible for implementing the design 
Confirm final design concept with relevant personnel to ensure that implementation is consistent with the design and that potential difficulties are addressed 
Discuss and obtain agreement from relevant personnel on evaluation techniques to evaluate the completed sound design 
Focus the evaluation on whether the sound design meets all aspects of the design brief, and on the viability of the implementation plan 
Obtain detailed information and opinions from legitimate sources and document results for evaluation 
Communicate results of evaluation to relevant personnel and use results to improve future practice 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CUSSOU501A - Develop sound designs
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

CUSSOU501A - Develop sound designs

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: