Photo: Copyright Multisensory Experience Lab, Aalborg University Copenhagen
The master's programme in Sound and Music Computing at Aalborg University consists of four semesters (120 ECTS credits). In the 1st semester, you will learn about sound processing, music perception and –cognition as well as statistical analysis and pattern recognition. In the 2nd semester, you must choose between two subjects; research in sound interaction or music information retrieval. You will have courses in real-time interaction and –performance and analysis of sound and music signals. You also have the option of following courses from other programmes which may add to your profile (e.g. Medialogy, Engineering Psychology, Acoustics or Music). In the 3rd semester, you have even more options – you can study a semester at a foreign university, you can follow research courses at AAU, or you can carry out a project in collaboration with a company. The 4th semester is entirely reserved for working on your master’s thesis, and thus, there are no courses.
For further information, please see the curriculum for Sound and Music Computing.
COMPULSORY FOR ALL NON-AAU BACHELORS
All bachelors enrolled in the programme who have not obtained their bachelor's degree from Aalborg University must take part in a course on problem based learning (PBL) as part of the 1st semester project. In case non-AAU bachelors get credit transfer for the 1st semester, they will be asked to take part in a course ensuring that they are trained in working according to the PBL-model. Read more about PBL here.
1st semester; Foundations of sound and music computing
In the 1st semester, you and your group have three options of focus in your project. You may choose to construct an application within sound processing, new interfaces for music, or you can choose a combination of the two. Through this project work, you will learn to apply a sound machine and to design and implement a system which uses sound as in- or output.
Courses In the 1st semester
- Sound processing
- Machine learning for media technology
- Music perception and cognition
In the 1st semester courses, you will among others be working with digital sound effects and signal processing, and you will learn about the way in which people perceive sound- and music signals. In addition, you are going to work with multivariate data and statistics as well as pattern recognition (e.g. speech recognition).
2nd semester; Music information research / Sonic interaction research
In the 2nd semester, you and your group will choose between two project themes; music information research or sonic interaction.
If you choose the first subject, you will be working with development and analysis of methods for analysis of music signals. This could for instance be automatic classification of music by genre, mood or use, automatic determination of instruments, recording (live or studio), automatic recommendation of music and generation of playlists, etc.
The second subject involves design of sonic interaction with focus on one of three areas; interactive product design for sound, sonic interaction in art or interactive ultra sound.
Courses In the 2nd semester
- Real-time interaction and performance
- Sound and music information research
In the courses, you will work with among others real-time interaction and human-computer interaction, and you will learn about the methodologies within the field of sound and music computing as well as analysis of sound- and music signals. In addition, you will follow an elective course which you choose yourself from one of the following AAU programmes:
- Medialogy
- Music (only in Danish)
- Acoustics and audio technology
3rd semester; Sound and music innovation
The project work in the 3rd semester concerns development and evaluation of a new system focusing on either commercial aspects and / or socio-cultural implications and / application of the system in science generation.
Courses in the 3rd semester
- Research in sound and music computing
This course is about analysis of new research results within sound and music. This could for instance be music retrieval, music perception and –cognition, sonic interaction design, analysis of sound and music signals or new interfaces.
Two of the following are chosen:
- Multimodal perception and cognition
- Prototyping and fabrication techniques
- Elective course from either Music or Acoustics and audio technology
"Multimodal perception and cognition" is about creating digital interactive solutions where you apply knowledge on human perception and cognition as well as the opportunities and limitations which the human cognitive system imposes on a designer. In the course “Prototyping and fabrication techniques”, you will learn how to make a product from idea to finished concept. Lastly, you may choose an elective course from either Music or Acoustics and audio technology.
4th semester; Master’s thesis in Sound and Music Computing
There are no courses in the 4th semester, because it is entirely devoted to working on your master’s thesis. You may carry out your thesis alone or in a group.
All photos: Copyright Multisensory Experience Lab, Aalborg University Copenhagen.
