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: 

Operate Controls and Functions 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114557  Operate Controls and Functions 
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 
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 operate the controls and functions of a studio and stage set up 

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 
The range of this Unit Standard is reflected in the Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Identify and evaluate the functions and controls on the mixing console. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Routing functions are identified and used to enable switching 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Switches are identified and used to switch to the required mode 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Faders are identified and used to enable input control, mixing and monitoring 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Control knobs are identified and used to enable the required effect 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Buttons are identified and used to enable the required mode 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
Computer mouse and alpha keyboard functions are identified and used to enable commands 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Operate the functions and controls on the mixing console. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Gain is applied to ensure required input level 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Phantom power select function is applied to ensure supply is sent to relevant microphones 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Line/mic select and auxiliary sends are applied to ensure required signal flow 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Auxiliary master receive/sends are adjusted to ensure required input/output levels 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Equalisation is adjusted to specified input to obtain required effect 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
Pan functions are adjusted to obtain required left and right signal placement 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
Faders are adjusted to ensure required mixed output 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
Talkback system control is adjusted to ensure required level 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
Headphones, studio and control room levels controls are adjusted to ensure required output level 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Perform sound and line checks necessary for productions. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Console adjustments are evaluated and rectified to ensure signal flow 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
All microphones are operating to ensure signal flow at recording levels 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Line inputs are operating to ensure required signal flow 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Auxiliary functions are receiving the source to ensure signal flow 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Auxiliary master receive/sends are adjusted to ensure required input/output levels 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
Specified outboard equipment is operating to ensure signal flow 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
Head phone/studio monitoring is received in the studio to ensure signal flow 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Perform monitoring and adjustment procedures necessary for productions. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Control room is monitored and adjusted to a safe level to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Control room monitors are selected to ensure a true reproduction 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Control room monitors are correctly positioned to ensure a stereo image 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Head phone/studio monitoring is received in the studio to ensure signal flow 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Head phone/studio monitoring is at a comfortable working level to ensure the users comfort? Feed back is identified and eliminated to assure sound quality 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
Talk back system is at required level to ensure communication 


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:
  • Sound engineering concepts, equipment types and terminology
  • Materials used
  • First Aid and safety 

  • 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 identifying and evaluating functions and controls on the mixing console 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others in a team when assessing talk back system 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Employ self management when performing monitoring and adjustment procedures for productions 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Manage information when performing sound and line checks for productions 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively when assessing talk back system 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate basic technological competence when operating controls and functions in general 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Understand contextual world-systems 

    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 
    Elective  61450   Further Education and Training Certificate: Film and Television Production Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  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. Greater Tzaneen Community Foundation 
    7. HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY 
    8. Information Technology Resource Centre 
    9. K Boneng Consulting Services P 
    10. OL Afrika Media 
    11. Peo Entle HIV Wellness Management and Youth Skills Development NPO 
    12. Posh Multimedia 
    13. Q-NOTE DIGITAL MUSIC ACADEMY 
    14. Together Lifestyle Resort Pty Ltd 
    15. Varsity Institute of Science & Technology (Pty)Ltd 
    16. VUTHLARI MARKETING CONSULTING 



    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.