Introduction to MIDI and Computer Music: Assignments

Exercise 1: Korg sounds [due Wed, 6/18]

Explore sounds on the Korg and ways of playing them, including use of control inputs such as the joystick, real-time control knobs, aftertouch and velocity. Develop sensitivity to envelope types and sound qualities. Write short descriptions of three sounds you like.

Assignment 1: MIDI sequencing [due Mon, 6/30]

Create a multi-track sequence using Digital Performer. This can be your own music or a creative arrangement of someone else's music. Learn how to set up for recording, specify Korg sounds and effects, use the metronome, correct mistakes, quantize notes, edit velocities, create loops, and set initial tempo, volume and panning.

Assignment 2: (Re-)mixing [due Fri, 7/11]

Build on your sequencing skills to create a “remix” of some existing music I provide you with. Learn how to automate volume, panning and effects level; add program changes; use MIDI effects such as echo and invert; work with continuous data; and make tempo changes.

Exercise 2: Getting started with Reason [due Wed, 7/16]

Learn how to set up Reason, a software synthesizer and sampler, so that you can play it from a Digital Performer MIDI track. Patch together your own “rack” of Reason devices, and create a short sequence that uses it.

Assignment 3: Reason programming [due Wed, 7/23]

Program your own sounds for Reason devices, using oscillators, filters, envelopes, etc. Explore the concepts of control voltage and pattern sequencing. Make your own samples and map them to the keyboard.

Assignment 4: Combining MIDI and audio [due Wed, 7/30]

Digital Performer lets you combine MIDI tracks with audio tracks, which use bits of recorded audio. I provide the audio for this assignment; you use it creatively to make some music. Learn how to edit audio tracks, use Digital Performer’s audio effects, and scale the duration and pitch of audio files.

Exercise 3: Mix down and burn [due Mon, 8/4]

Choose some music you made for an earlier assignment, learn how to “mix it down” to a stereo audio file and make an MP3 file to put on your web site. While you're at it, burn an audio CD of your music.

Final Project [due Fri, 8/8]

Use all the knowledge you’ve gained to put together a longer piece of music. We'll listen to everyone's work during the last few days of the course.