Hugh sells his Music online.

(a) Which one of these is a law that protects his work? (1)

A Computer Misuse Act

B Copyright, Designs and Patents Act

C Human Rights Act

D Data Protection Act

 B Copyright, Designs and Patents Act

(b) List three benefits to Hugh of selling his music online. (3)

1 Hugh can publish live information about latest music online, allowing people to follow his activities.

2 Hugh can sell his music to customers in countries around the world.

3 He can sell his music at any time.

(c) Figure 1 shows an image of Hugh's social media settings.

Explain two ways Hugh has protected his personal information. (4)

1 Hugh's profile is private so that he can control who will see his information and who will not.

2 In his profile picture, he uses and avatar instead of his photograph so that people cannot identify him from his profile.

(d) Hugh is choosing the type of computer he will use to manage the purchase and delivery of audio files to customers.

Explain why an embedded system is a poor choice. (2)

An embedded system is a poor choice because it cannot carry out complex requests. It can only carry out limited operations as it has less processing power.

(e) Hugh is working on a musical project.

(i) List two key features of sound editing software that Hugh could use to create a song. (2)

1 Hugh could alter volume levels for individual tracks.

2 Hugh could add effects like reverberation for prolonging a sound.

(ii) Describe two key features of project management software that Hugh could use to make sure the project is complete before the deadline. (4)

1 Resource management tools outlining all the scheduled and planned resources and calculating the cost of their use. This helps to avoid over-assignments and possible conflicts for lacking resources.

2 Time tracking features allow the project team to track time and costs spent on the project, and can be broken down into task or sub-task time tracking. This ensures that everyone is accountable for their hours and allows project managers to manage the project budget and cost effectively.

(f) Hugh uses a desktop computer to write, create and distribute his music.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to Hugh of selecting a desktop computer rather than a laptop, smartphone or tablet computer.

In your answer you should consider: components, portability, connectivity, cost and maintenance. (8)

Selecting a desktop computer over a laptop, smartphone, or tablet for Music Production can offer various advantages and disadvantages for someone like Hugh.

Desktop computers offer unrivaled processing power, ensuring smooth audio processing, even with demanding software and complex virtual instruments. This performance is essential for producing high-quality music. Some desktop setups include touchscreen monitors, providing a more natural and intuitive interface for tasks like manipulating virtual knobs and sliders, enhancing the creative workflow. Desktops support stable and fast wired connections, making them ideal for transferring large audio files and collaborating seamlessly with others. This reliability ensures consistent data transfer during collaborative work. Desktop boast an extensive array of connectivity options, making them compatible with various specialized audio peripherals like professional-grade audio interfaces, MIDI controllers, and multiple monitors, elevating the music production experience. Desktops can be easily customized to align with Hugh's budget and specific needs, allowing him to optimize his system for maximum music production efficiency.

The robust performance of desktop computers necessitates powerful cooling systems, often including noisy fans. These can pose challenges during recording in quiet environments and may require additional soundproofing solutions. Desktop computers are inherently non-portable, limiting Hugh's ability to move his setup for instant recording or collaborative work. This inflexibility can be a drawback for musicians requiring a versatile work environment. Over time, Hugh may need to invest in high-quality peripherals such as studio monitors, audio interfaces, and MIDI controllers to enhance his desktop setup. These peripherals can contribute to the overall cost of the music production system.

In conclusion, desktop computers excel in performance, connectivity, and customization for audio editing and music production but come with trade-offs related to portability, noise management, and potential additional costs. Hugh's choice should align with his specific music production needs, studio setup, and considerations like portability and noise tolerance. Depending on his circumstances, he may also consider supplementing his desktop setup with a more portable device for mobile recording and idea capture.

(Total for Question 4 = 24 marks)