Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Productions may include:
music recording
interactive media product, such as:
CD
DVD
podcast
internet production, e.g. website audio
radio broadcast
voice-over.
Documentation may include:
production schedules
set-up reports
cue sheets
track sheets
dubbing charts
equipment instructions
OHS requirements
organisational standards
performers' requirements
sound and audio reports
technical manuals.
Relevant personnel may include:
artists, musicians and performers
audio and sound engineers
audio and sound technicians/mixers
broadcasters
technical producers
broadcast technicians and engineers
directors
producers
conductors
program managers
curators
post-production managers
supervisors
sound designers.
Sound equipment and accessories may include:
amplifiers
analogue to digital converters
cables
compact disc (CD) and digital versatile disc (DVD) players and burners
computer technology and associated software
digital and analogue 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)
open-reel analogue audiotape recorder
digital audio players, such as:
iPod
MP3
headphones
microphones and accessories
mixing consoles and desks
monitors and speakers
signal processors and plug-ins.
Production requirements may include:
attributions
audience
budget
confidentiality
content
contractual arrangements
copyright
deadlines
direct quotes
duration
intellectual property
interviews
location
purpose
schedule
style.
Consumables may include:
audiotape, e.g. digital and open-reel analogue
compact discs, e.g. CD-R and CD-RW
cue sheets and track sheets
digital versatile discs, e.g. DVD-/+R and DVD-/+RW
masking tape, marker pens and labels
mini discs (MDs)
memory cards, e.g. flash memory cards.
Microphones may include:
boundary (PZM)
capacitor/condenser, such as:
electret
lavalier
mini microphone
transistor
tube
contact
digital
directional, such as:
single entry port
multiple entry port
multi/poly-directional
dual-element
dynamic, such as:
moving coil
ribbon
headset
low and/or high impedance
microphone systems, such as:
adaptive array
binaural
high definition
parabolic
surround sound
wireless
cordless
FM
radio transmitter
noise cancelling
shotgun.
Microphone accessories may include:
boom poles, including:
aluminium
carbon fibre
fisher
hand-held
perambulator
remote panner
tripod
cables, including:
balanced
unbalanced
clips
connectors, including:
female
male
XLR
housing
pop filters
shock mounts
stands, including:
desk
floor
gooseneck
windscreens.
Principles of microphone operation may include:
balanced and unbalanced audio transmission
diaphragm diameter and frequency response
diaphragm mass and transient response
differential input and single-ended input
directional characteristics, including:
omnidirectional (non-directional)
unidirectional, e.g. sub-cardioid, wide angle cardioid, cardioid, super-cardioid, hyper-cardioid and ultra-cardioid
bi-directional
ground loops and ground lift
magnetic induction
matching high/low impedance (passive/active DI interface)
phase cancellation and acoustic comb filtering
pickup pattern (polar response pattern)
polarity
sound response, such as:
frequency response
hum
maximum sound pressure level
overload limit
proximity effect
self-noise
sensitivity
signal-to-noise ratio
transduction
variable capacitance.
Signal processing may include:
amplitude (dynamic) signal processing:
compressors, e.g. broadband, split-band, de-esser
limiters
expanders
noise gates
pitch shifters
noise processing, such as:
Dolby
dbx
DSP
spectrum signal processing:
equalisers, e.g. fixed frequency, graphic, parametric and paragraphic
filters, e.g. high/low pass, band pass and notch
psychoacoustic processors
time signal processing:
reverberation, e.g. digital, plate and acoustic chamber
delay, e.g. doubling, chorus, slap back and prereverb
flanging, e.g. positive and negative
phasing
morphing.
Appropriate recording techniques may include:
articulation and voicing
breathing
microphone use
pitch
playing, singing and performing style
timing
tone
tuning
volume.
Production set-up report may include:
console settings
effects settings
microphone choices
patch bay wiring
processor settings
track sheets.
Work environment may include:
dubbing theatre
outside broadcast
recording studio
sound stage.

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:
make sound recordings that meet production requirements and demonstrate a thorough understanding of:
prerecording checks
microphone positioning
testing record line-ups
OHS principles in relation to safe sound levels
use a range of industry-current sound equipment and accessories
work collaboratively with team members.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
access to a range of work environments and productions where sound is recorded
access to industry-current sound equipment and accessories, including recording devices, microphones, signal processors and consumables
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 to assess candidate's ability to apply OHS principles of safe listening to day-to-day work activities
evaluation of a range of live, acoustic and/or sequenced recordingsmade by candidate
observation of candidate making sound recordings
written or oral questioning to test knowledge of principles of psychophysics and psychoacoustics.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
CUSSOU405A Mix recorded music
CUSSOU406A Record sound on location
CUSSOU407A Coordinate location sound recording.