Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 6:51 AM AWST

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Develop sound designs

Develop sound designs

Unit of competency
National Code
CUSSOU501A
State Code
D2970
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
02/11/2011
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
30/09/2014
Field of Education
031303 - Electronic Engineering
Original Release Date
30/09/2014
Nominal Hours
51
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.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Interpret and confirm sound design briefs
  • 1.1 Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant personnel to discuss creative and technical sound requirements of productions
  • 1.2 Continue liaison with relevant personnel until all sound requirements have been confirmed in the context of overall production requirements
  • 1.3 Identify and confirm additional personnel needed to fulfil the sound design brief
2. Break down components of sound design briefs
  • 2.1 Identify and document the sound sources specified in the design brief to determine the content, quality and duration of the required sound components
  • 2.2 Determine and where necessary document the creative and resource requirements for each sound component
  • 2.3 Confirm and document the role of personnel required for the process of developing sound design projects
3. Experiment with sound components to express ideas
  • 3.1 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
  • 3.2 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
  • 3.3 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
4. Assess creative ideas
  • 4.1 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
  • 4.2 Continuously evaluate and verify creative ideas for the components of the design brief based on the overall sound design concept
5. Design sound elements
  • 5.1 Develop sound design concepts taking into consideration the brief and the ideas generated
  • 5.2 Determine the relevant sound components required to implement the sound design in line with creative and technical requirements
  • 5.3 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
  • 5.4 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
  • 5.5 Present the sound design in a specification that best conveys the concept to relevant personnel, including those responsible for implementing the design
  • 5.6 Confirm final design concept with relevant personnel to ensure that implementation is consistent with the design and that potential difficulties are addressed
6. Evaluate completed sound designs
  • 6.1 Discuss and obtain agreement from relevant personnel on evaluation techniques to evaluate the completed sound design
  • 6.2 Focus the evaluation on whether the sound design meets all aspects of the design brief, and on the viability of the implementation plan
  • 6.3 Obtain detailed information and opinions from legitimate sources and document results for evaluation
  • 6.4 Communicate results of evaluation to relevant personnel and use results to improve future practice
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.
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
CUSSOU504ACreate a final sound balance.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
C4034 CUSSOU16A Develop sound design Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AWG68 CUASOU503 Develop sound designs Unit of competency