Computer Music I

Spring 2004

MUSIC 180 –MIDI/COMPUTER MUSIC

Prof. Madelyn Byrne

Spring 2004

Office: D-3L, Ext. 2809

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to give students very practical, applicable, and “hands-on” experience with computer music technology and applications. This is done in conjunction with a solid education in the science behind the technology and with considerable attention given to the quality of the music that is created in this class. This course is conducted in a Macintosh based lab and will include sections in acoustics/sound design, sequencing, and music notation software.

TEXT: Making Music With Your Computer, Second Edition, by Brent Edstrom. EM Books, 2001, (artistpro.com) LLC). ISBN 0-87288-744-8.

You will also need floppy disks, a zip disk, and a three ring binder.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Acquire facility and understanding of computer music technology and applications, allowing students to perform a variety of tasks in a modern computer music studio. This will include learning the fundamentals of sound design, sequencing and basic computer operations. Students will also learn how to desktop publish a variety of scores and lead sheets, and to realize MIDI renditions of these pieces using notation software. At the end of the semester, the students will have learned how to create and maintain their own studios.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: This course requires a minimum of three lab hours per week. These lab hours should be considered your “practice” time in developing skills with this technology, in much the same way that you put considerable time into practicing your instrument. You will also have six lab assignments, and four large-scale semester projects. There will be reading assignments as well.

Attendance is required. If you have two unexcused absences, you may be dropped from the class or receive a failing grade. Please contact me by phone or email if you must be absent from class.

Project I: Four originally designed sounds.

Project II: A three-minute composition. This composition will utilize your original sounds and will be assembled in the sequencer.

Project III: A CD recording of your piece. This piece will be mixed in Pro Tools.

Project IV: A sixteen-measure, multi instrument (at least three instruments) piece created with Finale.

GRADES:

Attendance, class participation -----------10%

Lab Assignments ---------------------------30%

Projects --------------------------------------60%

THE STUDIO

Computers: Macintosh G4(Apple).

Synthesizers: Kurzweil K2500, Kurzweil K2600, and Roland XP-30.

Other Hardware: Digi 001 and ProTools Audio Media III Sound cards.

Software: Digidesign(ProTools), Digital Performer, and Finale.

Week 1 Introduction: How it all works together

Overview of Computer Music

Group composition

Assignment: Bring in your favorite tunes, especially the ones that led you to

want to be an electronic musician.

Assignment: Read pp.250-262

Week 2 Introduction to Sound Design

Introduction to the K2500 and the K2600

Fun with the Program Mode, Layer, Keymap and Pitch pages

Assignment: Read 262-285

Week 3 LAB ASSIGNMENT ONE DUE

Week 4 Even more fun with Effects and Amplitude Envelopes

Creating Vibrato and Tremelo

Assignment: Read pp. 164 – 188

Week 5 LAB ASSIGNMENT TWO DUE

Advanced sound design: Understanding Filters

Assignment: Read pp. 190 – 223

Week 6 FIRST SEMESTER PROJECT DUE TODAY

Introduction to Sequencing

Navigating the Control Panel

Real time recording

Assignment: read pp. 224 – 245

Week 7 LAB ASSIGNMENT THREE DUE

Understanding tracks and patches

Tempo and Meter Maps

Week 8 Step recording, editing techniques, and quantization

Assignment: read pp. 245 – 249

Week 9 LAB ASSIGNMENT FOUR DUE

Looping sequences and independent tracks

Creating drum tracks

Week 10 SECOND SEMESTER PROJECT DUE TODAY

Assignment: read pp. 142 – 161

Week 11 Introduction to Pro Tools

Combining MIDI with Digital Audio

Week 12 LAB ASSIGNMENT FIVE DUE TODAY

Mixing basics and work on third semester project

Week 13 THIRD SEMESTER PROJECT DUE TODAY

CD Burning

Week 14 Intro to Finale

Speedy entry

Week 15 LAB ASSIGNMENT SIX DUE

Finale Continued

Work on third semester project

Week 16 THIRD SEMESTER PROJECT DUE TODAY