Music Programmer (1 years course)

Music Programmer click here

Brief Job Description: The role of the Music programmer is to operate Digital
Audio Workstations (DAW), music synthesizers, samplers and sound modules to
program and sequence music according to the creative and musical requirements
set by the music producer.

Personal Attributes: A Music Programmer must be able to work independently
with very little supervision, and must have the ability to plan and execute his/her
work efficiently. The person must be reliable and must demonstrate commitment
to improve work output based on feedback from various sources. The role

requires excellent collaborative abilities, and also some supervisory skills to guide
and mentor assistant programmers while working on large music projects. The
individual should also have the drive to constantly improve his/her domain
expertise to stay relevant to the rapidly changing trends in the music industry

Description
Sector Sector is a conglomeration of different business operations having similar
businesses and interests. It may also be defined as a distinct subset of the
economy whose components share similar characteristics and interests.
Sub-sector Sub-sector is derived from a further breakdown based on the
characteristics and interests of its components.
Occupation Occupation is a set of job roles, which perform similar / related set of
functions in an industry.
Job role Job role defines a unique set of functions that together form a unique
employment opportunity in an organisation.

Occupational
Standards(OS)
OS specify the standards of performance an individual must achieve when
carrying out a function in the workplace, together with the knowledge and
understanding they need to meet that standard consistently. Occupational
Standards are applicable both in the Indian and global contexts.
Performance Criteria Performance criteria are statements that together specify the standard of
performance required when carrying out a task.
National Occupational

Standards (NOS)
NOS are occupational standards which apply uniquely in the Indian context.
Qualifications Pack
(QP)
QP comprises the set of OSs, together with the educational, training and
other criteria required to perform a job role. A QP is assigned a unique
qualifications pack code.

Description Description gives a short summary of the unit content. This would be
helpful to anyone searching on a database to verify that this is the
appropriate OS they are looking for.
Scope Scope is a set of statements specifying the range of variables that an
individual may have to deal within carrying out the function which have a
critical impact on quality of performance required.
Knowledge and
Understanding

Knowledge and understanding are statements which together specify the
technical, generic, professional and organizational specific knowledge that
an individual need to perform to the required standard.
Organizational Context Organizational context includes the way the organization is structured and
how it operates, including the extent of operative knowledge managers

have of their relevant areas of responsibility.
Technical Knowledge Technical knowledge is the specific knowledge needed to accomplish
specific designated responsibilities.
Core Skills/Generic
Skills

Core skills or generic skills area group of skills that are the key to learning
and working in today’s world. These skills are typically needed in any work
environment in today’s world. In the context of the OS, these include
communication related skills that are applicable to most job roles.
Budget Budget is an estimate of the total cost of production that may include a
break-up of cost components.

Copyright Laws A legal framework linked to intellectual property and the rights given to
creators of original products/ concepts.

Qualifications Pack for Music Programmer

Keywords/Terms Description
NOS National Occupational Standard(s)
QP Qualifications Pack
NSQF National Skill Qualifications Framework
NVEQF National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework
NVQF National Vocational Qualifications Framework

Creative Brief Creative brief is a document that captures the key questions that serve as
a guide for the music arrangement including the vision, objective of the
project, target audience, timelines, budgets, milestones, stakeholders etc.
Music concept Music concept is a description of the overall musical experience for the
production / composition

Script Script is a structured narrative of a story and or the spoken word/
narrative that accompanies a programmer.
Arranging The process of structuring music harmonies and rhythmic elements for an
existing composition (melody, theme, etc.) using various instrumentation
and adhering to the stylistic characteristics of a music genre.

Acoustics Acoustics is the science that studies the properties of sound, transmission
of sound in different medium, and the properties or qualities of a room or
building that determine how sound is transmitted in it.
Music Score Is a document that contains written music notation of compositions,
lyrics, and performance parameters that musicians use.

DAW Digital Audio Workstation is a computer based system used for
composing, arranging, sequencing and producing music and audio.
Target Audience Group of people at whom content/ adverting is aimed. A target audience
is typically defined by age, gender, economic classification, geography and
any other relevant parameters.

Timelines Timelines is a listing of dates by which the production milestones/stages
need to be completed.
Vertical Vertical may exist within a sub-sector representing different domain areas
or the client industries served by the industry.

Description
NOS National Occupational Standard(s)
QP Qualifications Pack
NSQF National Skill Qualifications Framework
NVEQF National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework
NVQF National Vocational Qualifications Framework

Operate Digital Audio Workstations (DAW)
Description This OS unit covers the skills required to setup and operate Digital Audio
Workstations (DAW) to program music.
Scope This unit/task covers the following:
 Prepare the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for music
programming.

 Recording sounds in a DAW.
 Use software and external devices with a DAW to program music.
Performance Criteria (PC) w.r.t. the Scope
Element Performance Criteria
Prepare the Digital
Audio Workstation
(DAW) for music
programming

To be competent, the user/individual on the job must be able to:
PC1. interpret music and stylistic requirements of the production from the
music brief.
PC2. prepare music programming templates and supervise the setup of
sessions in the DAW according to music programming requirements.
PC3. supervise the setup and configuration of audio interfaces, Musical
Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controllers, sound modules and
processors to program music.

PC4. use correct technical, musical and production terminologies (e.g.
samples rate, buffer size, I/O devices, form, etc.) to communicate
music programming requirements to the team.
Recording sounds in a
DAW

PC5. supervise the recording of instruments and vocals while monitoring
input and output levels within the DAW.
PC6. demonstrate familiarity with the basic principles of acoustics, and
competency in microphone placement to record sounds.
Use software and
external devices with
a DAW to program
music

PC7. load, configure and use suitable virtual instruments in a DAW in
accordance to the music programming requirements.
PC8. use external sound libraries and plug-ins while working within a DAW
to program music.

PC9. supervise the linking of external MIDI controllers to the DAW and to
specific virtual instrument controls for programming music.
PC10. work using MIDI protocol (MIDI channels, velocity, programming
tools) within a DAW to program music

Operate Digital Audio Workstations (DAW)

Knowledge and Understanding (K)
A. Organizational
Context
(Knowledge of
the company /
organization and
its processes)

The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand:
KA1. how to prepare for and contribute to pre-production processes and
meetings with music producers and composers.
KA2. the DAW resources available, and how these may be used to meet
the expectations laid out in the production brief.
KA3. the role and function of each member of the music programming
team.

KA4. how to prepare reasonably accurate man-hour estimates based on
music programming tasks planned for each job.
B. Technical
Knowledge
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand:
KB1. the technical parameters and settings of the DAW required for
various music programming scenarios and templates.
KB2. digital audio and MIDI signal flow between DAW, computer and
external devices.

KB3. how to set-up and connect all the devices needed for programming
music (different types of cables, external MIDI controllers, phantom
power, input/output circuit, etc.)

KB4. the operational and technical limitations of music programming
systems being used (e.g. latency, Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
resources, Random Access Memory (RAM)/Central Processing Unit
(CPU) usage, buffer size)

KB5. how to work with the different formats of virtual instruments and
software plugins
KB6. the various DAW and music notation file formats and their
compatibility structure.

KB7. the physical properties of sound and the digital tools and parameters
used to manipulate the behaviour of sound.
Skills (S)

A. Core Skills Writing Skills
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SA1. take notes (including basic music notation) during discussions with
the music producer to aid the preparation and setup of the DAW.
SA2. label DAW sessions, tracks, busses, takes, and bounces accurately.

Reading Skills
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SA3. read and translate music programming requirements and guidelines
to practical work setup within the DAW.

SA4. read basic music notation and input that information into a music
sequencer.
SA5. read and interpret user guides and manuals of DAW, software
instruments, MIDI equipment, etc.

Oral Communication (Listening and Speaking skills)
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SA6. communicate ideas, suggestions and issues clearly using appropriate
terminologies within a collaborative environment.
SA7. present/solicit feedback on work and identify modifications required.

B. Professional Skills Plan and Organize
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB1. plan music programming templates, file organization structure, and
work timelines in order to meet agreed deliverables.

Analytical Thinking
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB2. break down complex music programming tasks into manageable
components within the DAW workflow.

Problem Solving
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB3. guide the team using methodical approaches to identify and resolve
technical and creative challenges in programming music.

Critical Thinking
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB4. evaluate the quality of programmed music material using established
criteria and make improvements where required.

Decision Making
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB5. make appropriate choices of DAW workflow, virtual instruments,
sounds, etc. to meet music programming requirements.

Customer Centricity
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB6. review work of self and team at every stage to ensure that they fully
meet the requirements laid out by the music producer.

Sample and synthesise sounds
Description This unit covers the skills required to program music using music samplers and
sampling techniques, and manipulate different parameters of synthesisers to
create and/or recreate original sounds.
Scope This unit/task covers the following:

 Use of music samplers and sampling techniques.
 Use of music synthesisers and application of synthesis techniques.
 Application of sound design techniques in a DAW.
Performance Criteria (PC) w.r.t. the Scope
Element Performance Criteria
Use of music samplers
and sampling
techniques

To be competent, the user/individual on the job must be able to:
PC1. operate music samplers to program music.
PC2. create original music samples (recording sounds or re-sampling
existing audio material) according to music programming
requirements.

PC3. control and manipulate envelope parameters (Attack, Decay, Sustain,
Release) and filters to shape sounds creatively.
PC4. execute pitch and time stretching of sampled sounds to meet music
programming requirements.
Use of music
synthesisers and
application of
synthesis
techniques

PC5. operate synthesizers efficiently to create different types of musical
sounds (pads, lead, bass, pluck, etc.) to program music.
PC6. supervise the shaping of original sounds using various synthesis
techniques.
Application of
sound design
techniques in a
DAW

PC7. use techniques such as automation, panning, glitching, reversal, etc.
to design sounds using a DAW.
PC8. apply equalization, reverb, delay and compression techniques to
shape sounds according to music programming requirements.
PC9. supervise the manipulation of MIDI and audio files within samplers
and synthesisers.
PC10. supervise the layering of different types of sounds to create new
textures and timbres.

Organizational
Context
(Knowledge of the
company /
organization and its
processes)
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand:
KA1. timelines and budgets available for sampling and synthesising original
sounds for music programming.

KA2. Intellectual Property Rights, copyright, and fair use policies applicable
to the organisation’s business.
KA3. how to organize, label, structure and save music material (samples,
recordings, synthesized sounds), original sound pre-sets and sound
libraries in an easily retrievable manner according to standard
operating procedures.

B. Technical
Knowledge
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand:
KB1. principles of musical instrument acoustics to aid efficient sampling
and creation/recreation of instrument sounds.
KB2. the technical parameters and operational settings of digital music
samplers and their functions in sampling original sounds.

KB3. the technical parameters and operational settings of synthesisers
(oscillators, envelope and filters) and their functions in the creation
of original sounds.
KB4. the technical parameters and settings of basic sound processors
(Reverb, delay, compression and EQ).
KB5. terminologies associated with digital sampling and synthesis
(threshold, ADSR, high/low pass filter, transients, etc.).

KB6. the principles of time and pitch stretching of sound.
KB7. the operational and technical limitations of sampling and music
synthesis systems being used (e.g. latency, DSP resources, RAM/CPU
usage, buffer size).
Skills (S)
A. Core Skills/
Generic Skills
Writing Skills

The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SA1. make accurate notes during discussions with the music producer to
aid efficient sampling and synthesis of music.
SA2. label and catalogue samples, pre-sets and sound libraries accurately
and in an easily retrievable (standardized) manner.
SA3. log sampling and synthesis sessions accurately for billing.
Reading Skills

The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SA4. read and translate music briefs and guidelines to practical work setup
for sampling and synthesis of music.
SA1. interpret user guides and manuals of samplers and synthesisers.

Oral Communication (Listening and Speaking skills)
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SA2. identify sampling and synthesis requirements in music programming
during discussions with the music producer.
SA3. communicate ideas, suggestions and issues clearly using correct
terminologies associated with sampling and synthesis of music.

SA4. present/solicit feedback on work and identify modifications required.
B. Professional Skills Plan and Organize
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB1. plan sampling and synthesis timelines to meet agreed work
deliverables.
SB2. plan file organisation structure to manage sounds created through
sampling and synthesis efficiently.

Analytical Thinking
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB3. segregate the sampling and synthesis tasks required for the project
into a manageable work breakdown structure for the team.
Problem Solving
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB4. guide the team with methodical approaches to identify and resolve
any technical issues that arise during sampling and synthesis.

Critical Thinking
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB5. evaluate the quality of sampled and synthesised sounds using
established criteria to ensure that they meet expectations.
SB6. provide constructive feedback to the team for improvement when
necessary.

Decision Making
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB7. make well informed and appropriate choices of sampling and
synthesis techniques based on available resources.

Customer Centricity
The user/individual on the job needs to know and understand how to:
SB8. ensure that sampling and synthesis of new sounds adhere fully to the
creative and technical direction provided by the music producer.

Program, sequence and edit Music
Description This OS unit covers the skills required to program and sequence music in
various styles in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and edit them to suit
the production requirements.

Scope This unit/task covers the following:
 Inputting music information into the DAW.
 Programming music.
 Sequencing and editing music.

Performance Criteria (PC) w.r.t. the Scope
Element Performance Criteria
Inputting music
information into the
DAW
To be competent, the user/individual on the job must be able to:
PC1. input music material (melodies, chord progressions and rhythms)
accurately into the DAW by inserting notes and events using the
piano roll or by playing on a midi controller.

PC2. transpose, move, quantize, transform, control the speed and
humanize MIDI events.
PC3. assign proper virtual instruments for specific music material to be
performed according to production requirements.
PC4. switch and assign different MIDI channels for different notes in the
same music track.

Programming music To be competent, the user/individual on the job must be able to:
PC5. use sounds, textures and timbre that emulate the stylistic
characteristics of the music being programmed.
PC6. program appropriate playing/performance techniques for the
required instruments and music genre.

PC7. adjust humanization, velocity, modulation, expression and tempo
mapping of music in order to achieve realism.
PC8. use key switches or different MIDI channels to program different
articulations for the same instrument within the same track.
Sequencing and
editing music

PC9. automate sequencer, sampler and synthesizer parameters for
efficient sequencing of music material.
PC10. edit audio and/or MIDI tracks according to the specified “cuts” or
lengths of music material.
PC11. control and manage Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access
Memory (RAM) and storage use of computers to avoid crashes or
delays during programming