Music 446 - Electronic Music Synthesis
Cr. 3. F.
Dr. Christopher Hopkins
Prerequisite
246 or permission of instructor. (students completing
Music 248B 2005/2007, or Music 348x, will have the equivalent prerequisite).
Note: for Fall 2007 the prerequisite of 246 will not strictly be applied,
and prior knowledge of a digital audio workstation and MIDI will not be presumed.
Beginning with Fall 2008, however, the syllabus will presume experience equivalent
to 246.
Description
Techniques of digital sound synthesis, software synthesizer design, and electronic
music composition.
This is a course in computer-based generation and processing of sound (sound
synthesis). It includes a real-time structured programming approach to software
synthesis, synthesis theory, historical models, user interface design, and analysis
of synthesis structures. Students design simple synthesizers in software and
compose samples of electronic music. Final projects take one of two forms, according
to the emphasis of the student’s major: computer science and engineering
majors design a modular interactive synthesizer and include a critical evaluation
of issues of structural efficiency, user interface design, and creative extension
of synthesis structures. Students in creative and media arts create an extensive
electronic music composition using provided synthesis structures and include
an analysis of their composition in relation to the creative extension of these
structures into an aesthetic form. Students may work in collaborative teams
for the final project, pairing a synthesis designer with a composer.
Nonmajor graduate credit.
Example 1:
a structure for frequency modulation <click the picture for a larger image>
Example 2:
a simple panel design for the frequency modulation structure in Ex. 1 <click
the picture for a larger image>
Platform and Software
- Macintosh (system 10.4 or later)
- Reaktor
- Pro Tools (prerequisite from 246/248B)
- Peak or equivalent audio editor
- please note: no substitutes accepted for class assignments/discussions/presentations)
Links
