This syllabus includes lecture topics, tutorial assignments, reading
assignments, and exam dates. Click on a tutorial assignment link to get a
description of the assignment.
Reading assignments are listed together with the relevant lectures. It is
highly recommended that readings be done in advance of the lectures to
facilitate maximum comprehension.
| Dates |
Lecture Topics |
Reading |
Tutorial |
|---|
Week 1
(9/1) |
Course overview — Administrivia — Introduction to
electroacoustic music and the modern computer music studio
|
|
[no tutorial this week] |
Week 2
(9/8) |
Basic acoustic principles, part I — Microphones and
recording techniques
|
Basic Acoustic Principles 1-5
Cables and Connectors
Microphones
Optional: Huber/Runstein: Ch. 1-6 (skim)
|
First tutorial meeting (Wed. or Thurs.): Introduction to the MAC304
studio
Start Assignment 1: Recording
|
Week 3
(9/15) |
Acoustics, part II — Audio signal flow — Mixing
consoles — Introduction to audio in Digital Performer (DP)
|
Basic Acoustic Principles 6-9
Mixing Console Basics
DP5 manual: Ch. 6, 17 (Audio only), 30, 37 —
one copy in MAC304 (don’t remove!) and copies also on Library
reserve
|
DUE: Assignment 1
Start Assignment 2: Audio Editing
|
Week 4
(9/22) |
Acoustics, part III — Digital signal processing: time
scaling, pitch and formant shifting — Virtual mixing
consoles — Automation
|
Basic Acoustic Principles 10-17
|
DUE: Assignment 2
Start Assignment 3: Short Piece
|
Week 5
(9/29) |
Audio effects: equalization (EQ), delay, reverberation
|
Digital Effects Primer
|
Continue Assignment 3
(Be prepared to play your source material in original, edited,
and processed versions; discuss plans for the piece.)
|
Week 6
(10/6) |
Final mixdown (Bounce to Disk) — Digital audio theory
|
Digital Audio Primer 3-7
Optional: Ballora: Ch. 9, pp. 100-122
Optional: Dodge: Ch. 3
|
Continue Assignment 3
(Be prepared to play passages, show how you’re using
effects and automation.)
|
Week 7
(10/13) |
Introduction to MIDI sequencing: MIDI hardware connections,
MIDI recording and editing — Virtual instruments
|
DP5 manual: pp. 7-12, Ch. 2-5, 14, 16, 17 (MIDI only)
Optional: Ballora: Ch. 6 (skim)
|
DUE: Assignment 3
Accessing the CECM Server
Start Assignment 4: MIDI Sequencing
|
Week 8
(10/20) |
MIDTERM EXAM |
Exam review sheet
Powerpoint slides
|
Continue Assignment 4
(Be prepared to play some passages.)
|
Week 9
(10/27) |
The MIDI language — Using MIDI controllers —
MIDI effects and automation
|
How MIDI Works
DP5 manual: Ch. 24 (MIDI only), 25-27
Optional: Ballora: Ch. 7-8 (skim)
|
DUE: Assignment 4
Start Final Project
|
Week 10
(11/3) |
More virtual instruments — Digital samplers: sample
preparation, mapping samples to keyboard
|
DP nanosampler
MachFive QuickStart
Mach V Manual: Ch. 3, 4, 5 (MAS only), pp. 45-68
|
Continue Final Project
(Be prepared to play some sequenced ideas or show some sketches.)
|
Week 11
(11/10) |
Spatialization — Multichannel mixing — Introduction to
synthesis, part I: the voltage-controlled analog synthesis model,
oscillator waveforms, spectra
|
DP Quad Mixing
Analog Synthesis Facts
Analog Synthesis Patches
Analog Sythesis Terms
|
Continue Final Project
(Be prepared to show more than you had last time.)
|
Week 12
(11/17) |
Introduction to synthesis, part II: filters, envelopes,
sub-audio rate modulation
|
Analog Filter Basics
|
Continue Final Project
(Be prepared to show more. See, you’re supposed to be making
steady progress! By now, you should have either the whole piece
roughed out or a substantial portion nearly completed.)
|
Week 13
(11/24) |
Introduction to synthesis, part III: more complex patches and
control schemes
|
|
Thanksgiving Break
[no tutorial]
|
Week 14
(12/1) |
Dynamics processing — Busing — Mastering
|
|
Continue Final Project
(Time for finishing touches and final mixdown.)
|
Week 15
(12/8) |
PERFORMANCE OF FINAL PROJECTS |
|
Exam Review |
| Thursday, 12/17: 5-7 pm |
FINAL EXAM |
|
|