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: 

Use dynamics processors 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114541  Use dynamics processors 
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 4  NQF Level 04  7 
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
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 correct and control signal levels with specific types of equipment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners should have attained the outcomes of NQF Level 3 outcomes regarding mathematics, literacy, computers and music in the Further Education and Training (FET) Band, before embarking on learning towards this Unit Standard (since this Unit Standard builds on these competencies). Life Skills level 2 is recommended. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
COMPRESSOR:
  • THRESHOLD -54 to 0 Db
  • RATIO (ANYTHING FROM 4-16 points) 1.0 - 20.0
  • ATTACK 0 to 120 msOUT GAIN 0 to +18
  • KNEE HARD - SOFT
  • RELEASE 6 ms to 46,0 sec @ 44.1 kHz SAMPLING FREQUENCY

    EXPANDER:
  • THRESHOLD -54 to 0 Db
  • RATIO (ANYTHING FROM 4-16 points) 1.0 - 20.0
  • ATTACK 0 to 120 ms
  • OUT GAIN 0 to +18
  • KNEE HARD - SOFT
  • RELEASE 6 ms to 46,0 sec @ 44.1 kHz SAMPLING FREQUENCY

    COMPANDER:
  • THRESHOLD -54 to 0 Db
  • RATIO (ANYTHING FROM 4-16 points) 1.0 - 20.0
  • ATTACK 0 to 120 ms
  • OUT GAIN -18 to 0
  • RELEASE 6 ms to 46,0 sec @ 44.1 kHz SAMPLING FREQUENCY

    GATE:
  • THRESHOLD -54 to 0Db
  • ATTACK 0 to 120 ms; RANGE -70 to 0 Db
  • HOLD 0.02 ms to 2.13 sec @ 44.1 kHz SAMPLING FREQUENCY
  • DECAY 1.6 ms to 2.13 sec @ 44.1 kHz SAMPLING FREQUENCY 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Use compressors to create desired sound. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Specified threshold is applied to determine the input signal required to trigger compressor 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ratio amount is set relative to control the amount of compression applied 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Attack time is adjusted to enable appropriate signal compression 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Output level is set correctly 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Knee is set to allow the transition of the signal at the threshold to be compressed 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Release is set to determine when the compressor returns to its normal gain 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Use an expander to aid in the creation of desired sound. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Specified threshold is applied to input signal to enable triggering of the expander 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ratio amount is set relative to control the amount of expansion 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Attack time is adjusted to enable appropriate signal expansion 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Output level on the expander was set correctly 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Knee is set to allow the transition of the signal at the threshold 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Release on the expander is set correctly 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Use a compander to aid in the creation of desired sound. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Specified threshold is applied to input signal required to trigger compander 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ratio amount is set relative to change the output signal level 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Attack time is adjusted to enable signal to be appropriately companded 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Output level was set correctly 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Distance (in decibels) between the expander and compressor is set at correct width 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Release on the compander was set correctly 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Use a gate and ducking effect to aid in the creation of desired sound. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Specified threshold is applied to level at which the gate closes 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Attack time is set to determine how fast the gate opens once the signal exceeds the threshold level 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Range control is set at level at which the gate closes 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The hold setting was set to enable determination of how long the gate stays open 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The decay setting for gating is set to close after the hold time expires to allow a natural decay 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The decay setting for ducking was set according to the hold time 


    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 
  • Basic sound engineering concepts, acoustics, psychoacoustic simulation, equipment types, specifications and terminology
  • Basic editing and fault finding techniques
  • First aid level 3
  • Fire safety regulations 
    		•

    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 using dynamic processors to create sound 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Employ self management when creating sound in general 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Manage information when setting and adjusting attack time to threshold level 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate basic technological competence when creating sound in general 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Understand contextual world-systems using dynamic processors to create sound 

    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  67462   Further Education and Training Certificate: Music Industry: Sound Technology  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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. Facilitation Development (PTY) LTD 
    2. Greater Tzaneen Community Foundation 
    3. HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY 
    4. Q-NOTE DIGITAL MUSIC ACADEMY 
    5. Together Lifestyle Resort 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.