This syllabus shows topics, reading assignments, quiz dates and due dates for assignments, exercises and the final project. Click on links to get instructions for them.

It's not essential to do the Pellman reading assignments, as long as you understand the lecture PowerPoint slides. We don't assign readings from software manuals, but we do have manuals available in the Open Reserve section of the Music Library, on the first floor. We have the Korg manuals in PDF format.

The dates given in the Dates column are for the Monday class.


Dates Topics Assignments Reading
Week 1
(Friday, 6/13 — 6/20)
Getting acquainted with the Korg & Introduction to MIDI

MIDI sequencing with Digital Performer & Quantization & Making drum tracks & Looping

DUE Wed (6/18): Exercise 1

DUE Mon (6/30): Assignment 1

Pellman: Chapter 5
Week 2
(6/23)
MIDI hardware setups & Local control & Intro to mixing

Remixing a song & MIDI messages and transmission

continue Assignment 1 Pellman: Chapter 6
Week 3
(6/30)
No class Fri 7/4
Rearranging a song & Mix automation DUE Fri (7/11): Assignment 2
Pellman: Chapter 1, pp. 1-14
Week 4
(7/7)
Creating and editing MIDI controller messages & Real-time MIDI effects & Synthesizer polyphony, Tempo changes   Pellman, Ch. 3, pp. 61-80
Week 5
(7/14)
Introduction to Reason & Basic acoustics: Synthesis with Reason & Filters

LFOs & CV and pattern sequencing & Sampling & Sample preparation in DSP-Quattro

DUE Wed (7/16): Exercise 2

Mon (7/14): Quiz 1
Quiz Review

DUE Wed (7/23): Assignment 3

An Acoustics Primer
Digital Audio Concepts

Pellman, Ch. 9, pp. 267-289
Week 6
(7/21)
Introduction to audio in Digital Performer

Resonance & Formants and DP Spectral Effects & Soundbite tempo conformance & Fades

Digital audio concepts & Mixing strategies

DUE Wed (7/30): Assignment 4

Begin Final Project

Pellman, Ch. 4, pp. 81-92; Ch. 7, pp. 209-223
Week 7
(7/28)
Audio effects: EQ, Delay, Reverberation & Making MP3s and audio CDs

Dynamics processing & Mastering

DUE Mon (8/4): Exercise 3

Fri (8/1): Quiz 2
Quiz Review

 
Week 8
(8/4)
Final project workshop DUE Fri (8/8): Final Project  

©2008, John Gibson, Christopher Cook, Alicyn Warren