SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Mix sound in a monitored environment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114525  Mix sound in a monitored environment 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Music Industry 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 02 - Culture and Arts Music 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The purpose of this unit standard is to enable learners to:
  • Identify sound recording processes and techniques
  • Monitor environments
  • Select production procedures
  • Produce a multitrack sound recording for mixing, foley and mastering purposes.

    The unit standard contributes to the competence of those learners who want to pursue a career in Sound Engineering, and contribute to greater levels of competence, and thus productivity and quality in the Music Industry. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The following competencies are assumed for a learner embarking on the unit standard:
  • Communication and Literacy, NQF Level 4
  • Mathematics, NQF Level 4
  • Problem solving and decision making competencies 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The range of this Unit Standard is reflected in the Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify sound mixing processes for sound preparation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Mixing requirements are identified, accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    External effects are identified, accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Dynamic processors are identified, accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Equipment is selected which is suited to the application. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify and select analogue mixing formats for sound preparation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Analogue recording format is selected which is suited to the application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Analogue tape and speed is selected which is suited to the application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Timecodes and slates are striped onto tape, correctly. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    signal to error ratios are maintained, optimally. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Professional tape machine is aligned, optimally. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Identify and select digital mixing formats for sound preparation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A digital recording format is selected which is suited to the application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Digital headroom is determined, accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Digital resolution are identified, accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Sample rates are identified, accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Signal to error ratios are maintained to ensure optimal compliance to sound requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify and select an environment to monitor the sound. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A monitoring system is utilised which is sonicly neutral. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Reference music is selected accurately to the context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Test tones are utilised to assess the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Adjustments are identified as indicated by reference music and test tones. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Identify and select digital audio workstation for mixing sound. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A digital audio workstation is selected which is suited to the application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Digital adjustments are performed to meet the sound requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    An stereo master level is achieved which is optimal for the application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A digital stereo recording is created in accordance with quality requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Mix multitrack to stereo and monitor post tape from stereo recorder to maintain sound quality. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Signal level is achieved and maintained at an optimal level. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Dynamics is achieved through compression recorded at optimal level. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A post tape monitoring system is set up which is suited to the application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A monitoring environment is set up which is sonicly neutral. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by a relevant ETQA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programs that result in the outcomes specified for this unit standard.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with a relevant ETQA
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with a relevant ETQA.
  • The relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures will oversee moderation of assessment and is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Credited learners understand and can explain:
  • Recording formats/media and procedures
  • Tape alignment and maintenance
  • International standard recording codes
  • Copy management and piracy policies 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems when digital adjustments are performed. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Employ self management when creating a digital stereo recording. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Manage information a digital stereo recording is created. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Demonstrate scientific and technological competence when mixing sound in general. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand Contextual world -systems when selecting a digital audio workstation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48671   National Certificate: Music Industry: Sound Technology  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 
    Elective  58394   National Certificate: Film and Television Production  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. BLC Entertainment 
    2. Epitome Villa (Pty)Ltd 
    3. EYETHU NATIONAL COMPUTER COLLEGE PTY LTD 
    4. Facilitation Development (PTY) LTD 
    5. FILM Mentorship & Training SA 
    6. Frayintermedia Cc 
    7. Jeppe College of Commerce and 
    8. MBOWA COLLEGE PTY LTD 
    9. Media Village Training 
    10. Metanoia Ratings PTY LTD 
    11. OL Afrika Media 
    12. OPELONG BUSINESS INSTITUTE (PT 
    13. Peo Entle HIV Wellness Management and Youth Skills Development NPO 
    14. PRX SCHOOL TEST 
    15. Q-NOTE DIGITAL MUSIC ACADEMY 
    16. Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology Pty Ltd 
    17. SOUTH AFRICAN CORPORATE TRAINING ASSOCIATION (PTY) LTD 
    18. VUTHLARI MARKETING CONSULTING 
    19. ZA WIT (PTY) LTD 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.