TECHNO SURROUND CONCERT: A PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING MODEL FOR THE APPLICATION OF SURROUND 5.1 SOUND TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Music education at the higher education level requires not only theoretical instruction but also integration with practical experiences to prepare students for professional careers. This article presents the outcomes of the “Techno Surround Concert”, a performance-based project created by second-year students of the Bachelor of Technology in Music Production Technology and Innovation Program, College of Music, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University. The project aimed to integrate knowledge from various courses, such as Introduction to Fundamental of Music Business, Sound Reinforcement, and Recording Technology, into a real concert setting. The highlight of the project was the innovative adaptation of limited resources to create a Surround 5.1 sound system for live performance.

         The implementation was divided into three stages: planning and task assignment, rehearsals and system testing, and the live concert performance. The technical setup involved utilizing a Behringer X32 mixer in conjunction with Logic Pro software to process and distribute multichannel surround audio. Despite the lack of professional-grade equipment, students overcame challenges by reconfiguring the mixer’s routing system and constructing a temporary mixing room to test and refine surround sound design. The concert attracted more than 200 attendees, exceeding expectations, and received highly positive feedback. Observations revealed
strong audience engagement and immersive listening experiences, while students demonstrated teamwork, problem-solving skills, and professional-level performance.

This project highlights the effectiveness of Experiential Learning (Kolb, 1984) and Project-Based Learning (Thomas, 2000) as pedagogical approaches in music education. It illustrates how practical, hands-on experiences can enhance academic knowledge, foster professional readiness, and promote creativity and innovation, thereby serving as a model for future curriculum development in music and audio technology.