Master’s in Sound Design and Acoustic Identity Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sound design and acoustic identity engineering: 12 modules covering acoustics and psychoacoustics, product sound quality, sonic branding, electric vehicle sound, interface sounds, sound production tools, NVH, acoustic measurement, spatial audio and sound project management under UNECE Regulation No. 138, FMVSS 141 and ISO 532-1:2017, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply psychoacoustic metrics to the evaluation of product sounds.
Design acoustic identities consistent with brand values.
Develop AVAS sounds that comply with UNECE 138 and FMVSS 141.
Create families of alerts and interface sounds by urgency.
Produce interactive sound with synthesis and audio middleware.
Measure noise and sound quality in an acoustic laboratory.
Manage sound projects from briefing to specification.
Who it's for
- Product sound designers.
- Sound quality engineers.
- NVH engineers.
- Brand sound identity specialists.
- Embedded audio engineers.
- Psychoacoustics engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- UNECE Regulation No. 138 (quiet road transport vehicles – AVAS)
- FMVSS 141 (minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles)
- ISO 532-1:2017 (loudness – Zwicker method)
- ISO 362-1:2015 (pass-by noise of road vehicles)
- ISO 3744:2010 (sound power levels)
- ISO 7731:2003 (auditory danger signals)
- IEC 60601-1-8 (alarm systems in medical equipment)
- ISO 12913-1:2014 (soundscape)
- HEAD ArtemiS SUITE
- Simcenter Testlab
- Audiokinetic Wwise
- Ableton Live
- MATLAB
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Sound pressure and level in decibels1.2Octave bands and A-weighting1.3Human hearing and thresholds1.4Zwicker loudness according to ISO 532-11.5Sharpness, roughness and fluctuation strength1.6Simultaneous and temporal auditory masking1.7Spatial localisation of sound1.8Perception of sound quality1.9Annoyance and pleasantness of sound1.10Lab: psychoacoustic metrics with an artificial head
2.1Sound as a brand attribute2.2Sound quality of door closing2.3Sound of controls and switches2.4Engine and exhaust sound2.5Sound of household appliances2.6Listening juries and paired comparison2.7Semantic differential scales2.8Correlation between metrics and preference2.9Sound targets during development2.10Practical: listening jury for door-closing sounds
3.1Sonic branding and sound logos3.2Brand sound systems3.3Sound archetypes and values3.4Sound consistency across products3.5Welcome and start-up sounds3.6Sound differentiation from competitors3.7Management of sound assets3.8Music licences and rights3.9Automotive brand cases3.10Workshop: sound identity for an electric brand
4.1Absence of engine masking4.2AVAS according to UNECE 1384.3Exterior sound for pedestrians4.4Interior propulsion sound4.5Granular and order-based synthesis4.6Mapping of driving parameters4.7Sound character by driving mode4.8Exterior speakers and exciters4.9FMVSS 141 requirements in the United States4.10Case study: AVAS for an electric passenger car
5.1Earcons, auditory icons and sonification5.2Alerts with priority and urgency5.3Audible warnings for ADAS systems5.4Control confirmation sounds5.5Synthetic voices and assistants5.6Spatialisation of alerts in the cabin5.7Alert fatigue and annoyance5.8Auditory danger signals according to ISO 77315.9Accessibility for people with hearing loss5.10Practical: family of alerts by urgency
6.1Digital audio workstations6.2Subtractive, FM and granular synthesis6.3Field recording and foley6.4Equalisation, compression and processing6.5Audio middleware Wwise and FMOD6.6Real-time procedural audio6.7Audio formats and encoding6.8Implementation in embedded systems6.9Management of sound libraries6.10Lab: interactive sound in Wwise
7.1Noise sources in vehicles7.2Rolling and wind noise7.3Noise from electric motors and reduction gears7.4Airborne and structure-borne transmission7.5Transfer path analysis (TPA)7.6Absorbing and insulating materials7.7Active noise control7.8Squeaks and rattles7.9Acoustic benchmarking of competitors7.10Case study: reduction-gear whine in an electric vehicle
8.1Measurement microphones and calibration8.2Binaural artificial heads8.3Anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers8.4Microphone arrays and beamforming8.5Pass-by noise according to ISO 362-18.6Sound power according to ISO 37448.7FFT analysis and spectrograms8.8Order analysis in rotating machinery8.9Binaural playback and equalisation8.10Practical: AVAS measurement in a semi-anechoic chamber
9.1Multichannel systems in the vehicle9.23D audio and Dolby Atmos9.3Personal sound zones9.4Road noise cancellation9.5Acoustic tuning of the cabin9.6Headrest speakers9.7Branded high-fidelity systems9.8DSP processing and per-seat equalisation9.9Immersive experience for passengers9.10Workshop: tuning an in-cabin audio system
10.1Sound quality in household appliances10.2Medical alarms according to IEC 60601-1-810.3Sound interfaces of industrial machinery10.4Sound in trains and stations10.5Urban soundscapes ISO 1291310.6Consumer electronics products10.7Toys and acoustic safety10.8Sound in commercial spaces10.9Acoustic accessibility in buildings10.10Case study: alarms for a medical monitor
11.1Sound briefing and requirements11.2Integration into the development cycle11.3Collaboration with NVH and HMI teams11.4Validation through user clinics11.5Management of audio suppliers11.6Acoustic hardware costs11.7Documentation of sound specifications11.8Intellectual property of sound11.9Sound designer portfolio11.10Practical: sound specification for a product
12.1Briefing and brand analysis12.2Reference sound research12.3Acoustic identity concept12.4Production of the sound catalogue12.5Interactive implementation in a prototype12.6Measurements and psychoacoustic metrics12.7Evaluation with a listening jury12.8Final adjustments and specification12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is HEAD ArtemiS SUITE, Simcenter Testlab, Audiokinetic Wwise, Ableton Live and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: listening juries with an artificial head, AVAS measurement in a semi-anechoic chamber and alert evaluation in a driving simulator. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNECE Regulation No. 138, FMVSS 141, ISO 532-1:2017, ISO 362-1:2015, ISO 3744:2010, ISO 7731:2003, IEC 60601-1-8, ISO 12913-1:2014.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with HEAD ArtemiS SUITE, Simcenter Testlab, Audiokinetic Wwise, Ableton Live and MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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