Dr. Jack Jenny
Office:  134, BFAC

This course will explore the artistic applications of Electronic Music devices including Synthesizers, Drum Machine, Sampler, Signal Processor and various Triggering devices; and, with a Computer, integrate and control the above devices using Max?MSP, Notational, Sequencer and Universal Librarian software.  Music 285 will also introduce techniques in Digital Audio Recording.

Supplies:

1       3.5" high density computer disk
1       blank CD-R

Grading:

Class Participation                        10%
Lab Projects                                 20%
       D-50
       Cubase
       DX7s/Emax
       musique concrète
Soundscape                                  15%
Max/MSP Assignments                 10%
Final Max/MSP Project                 40%
Archival CD                                    5%

Homework is due in class as assigned. In the event of absence, work should be saved on the hard drive of the Electronic Music Studio computer for examination by the instructor. Late assignments will be accepted only with documented excuses and are then due upon return to class.

Assignments and Grades may be accessed at http://ocmoodle.otterbein.edu.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  Please refer to the Campus Life Handbook for Otterbein's governing policy.

Otterbein College is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities have access to an education. In order to receive appropriate accommodations in my class, you must first be registered with the Office for Disability Services (x1618 or Lmonaghan@otterbein.edu). I strongly encourage you to schedule an individual meeting with me as early in the quarter as possible to discuss your needs and accommodation requests. If necessary, we can work cooperatively with the Disability Services Coordinator to determine optimal accommodations in this course.

Reading Assignments (Please see I & II below for access instructions)
Week 2  MSP 46 Tutorials and Topics, How Digital Audio Works
          Sound ............................................................................. pp. 13-21

Week 3  Digital representation................................................... pp. 21-23
          Limitations of digital audio ............................................... pp. 23-28
          Advantages of digital audio .............................................. pp. 28-29

Week 4  MSP 46 Tutorials and Topics, How MSP Works: Max Patches and the MSP Signal Network
           Introduction ........................................................................... p. 30
          Audio rate and control rate .............................................. pp. 31-32
          The link between Max and MSP....................................... pp. 32-33
          Limitations of MSP .......................................................... pp. 33-34
          Advantages of MSP............................................................... pp. 35

Week 5  Max Tutorials 1-6

Week 6  Max Tutorials 7-11

Week 7  Max Tutorial 26
          Fourier's Theorem (MSP46Tutorials and Topics, p. 195)

I. MSP 453 Tutorials and Topics reading assignments can be found (A) online (but then must be downloaded to your computer; you will need Adobe Reader) or (B) in the EMS computer.
          A. Online: Logon to www.cycling74.com
                      1. Select: Support/Documentation
                      2. Select: Max/MSP 4.6
                      3. Select: Max/MSP Complete Documentation
                                   a. Save the file
                                   b. Open this file in your computer
                      4. Select: MSP46TutorialsAndTopics.pdf
          B. EMS Computer
                      1. C:\Program Files\Cycling '74\MaxMSP4.5\Documentation\MaxMSP 46 Documentation
                      2. Select: MSP46TutorialsAndTopics.pdf
II. Max Tutorial assignments must be completed on the EMS computer
          A. Open Tutorial text
                      1. C:\Program Files\Cycling '74\MaxMSP4.5\Documentation
                      2. Select: Max453TutorialsAndTopics.pdf
          B. Open Tutorial Patch to coincide with test
                      1. Launch MaxMSP (This will take one minute)
                      2. File/Open
                      3. Navigate to tutorial file
                                   a. C:\Program Files\Cycling '74\MaxMSP4.5\Documentation\Tutorial Patches\Max Tutorials
                      4. Select: appropriate file
         C. DO NOT SAVE ANY CHANGES MADE TO TUTORIAL PATCHES.
         D. Save any personal work to your folder in the J: drive.

Projects & Assignments - (subject to change)

1. D-50 Project                                                                     Due: Monday, 2nd Week

In MIDI Quest manipulate two factory presets on the Roland D-50.  Create one preset from scratch in Dual Mode, using all four Partials.  Save the original presets, your alterations and your "scratch" preset in a MIDI Quest D-50 Patch Bank (for reloading into the D-50) which should then be saved to disk.

2. Cubase                                                                             Due:  Monday, 3rd Week

Compose an original 1/2 - 1 minute "Pop" style piece and sequence it using Cubase. Play back at least 2 tracks, one triggering the Roland D-50 and the other triggering the Yamaha DX7s, forcing at least one patch change on each synthesizer.  Record drum tracks using the Kat dk10/Roland TD-8.  Save the Cakewalk sequence to disk. (To prepare for Archival CD, record all MIDI as Audio.)

3. DX7s/Emax Project                                                          Due:  Monday, 4th Week

Alter three voices on the Yamaha DX7s.  Create, from scratch, two voices:  one from the book 100 Patches for the DX7 (your choice), the other, your sole creation.  Save all patches in a MIDI Quest Patch Bank.  On the Emax perform one ARM Sample using a microphone and one FORCE Sample of a previously recorded signal (tape, CD, etc.).  Truncate your samples as needed.  Save your work to disk.

4. Soundscape Project                                                          Due:  Monday, 6th Week

Sequence with Cubase a 1-2 minute multitrack/multi-channel original composition of art music.  Create tracks which control the E-mu Proteus2, Yamaha TX81Z, DX7s (use an original patch), Kurzweil PC88, K2000 and Roland D-50 (use an original patch); force patch changes on all six instruments.  Write tracks for at least one Virtual Instrument (your choice). Force one track segment to “loop” (paste multiple copies of a selected segment); copy a region (not an entire track), paste it to a new track(s) and slide it out of phase with the corresponding region.  Record one percussion track.  Over time, change tempo (accel./rit.), volume (cresc./dim.) and panning. Save the Cubase sequence to disk. (To prepare for Archival CD, record all MIDI as Audio.)

5. Digital musique concrète Project                                        Due:  Monday, 7th Week

Using Cubase and working entirely in the digital domain compose a piece of musique concrète using all of the traditional techniques: cutting and splicing, looping, speed change, direction change, delay as well as any other digital techniques as desired. The project should be at least 1-2 minutes in length and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of contrète technique and compositional development.

6. Max/MSP Assignments                                                     Due:  Monday, 8th Week

Final Max/MSP Project

Live Performance using Max/MSP                                         Due:  At Final Exam

First Quarter: Compose a 5-10 minute piece for live acoustic and/or MIDI instruments in conjunction with a Max timeline which contains at least the following elements: multi-port sequencer playback (originally recorded in Cubase with each port exported to its own MIDI 0 file), audio playback (of a WAVE file), vamp, pitch table, MIDI trigger, amplitude trigger, random note generator, audio frequency shifter.

Second Quarter: Same as first quarter Final Project but to also include MIDI pitch shift delay, audio delay line, audio delay pitch shift and audio pitch select trigger.

Perform your piece "live" along with Max/MSP for the class, demonstrating a sophoisticated understanding of the capabilities of the Electronic Music Studio as well as the standard compositional parameters of unity and variety.

Archival CD

Record the MIDI from Projects 2 (Cubase), 4 (Soundscape) as Audio. Export ans Mixdown the Audio of Projects 2, 4 & 5 to Wave file format. Burn a CD containing all of these class projects.