TECH 201 COURSE OUTLINE + SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
The schedule will be updated with homework and slides after every class.
I: INTRODUCTION, ACOUSTICS, listening
August
8/28 \ Overview of Topics + Syllabus, Introductions
Homework (HW):
Check out the links at https://timara.reclaim.hosting
Read Talbot-Smith Chapter 1 (e-mail me answers to questions 1-3 on page 13, with subject heading “Reading 1”)
Listen to Wire Recorder Piece by Halim El-Dabh and La Vie en Rose performed by Clara Rockmore
September
9/2 \ How Sound Works | SLIDES
HW: Read Talbot-Smith Chapter 2
Listen to Forbidden Planet: Overture by Bebe & Louis Barron (listening guide), and Pines of Rome by Resphigi (the third movement only, score excerpt - note the instrumentation list, the instrument with the asterisk * (!))
Respond to Advice from Class (read and then e-mail me answers to the following questions, with subject heading “Advice Response”):
1) Are there any aspects of the class that concern you (time management, hardware issues, software issues, etc.)?
2) Are there aspects of the class that you are really excited about (composing etudes, listening to repertoire, etc.)?
II: DAW Basics, FIELD RECORDING
9/4 \ Acoustics, Microphones | SLIDES
HW: Read the first chapter of How Music Works by David Byrne, “Creation in Reverse”
Listen to Luc Ferrari’s Presque Rien No. 1b, Annea Lockwood’s Sound Map of the Hudson River No. 5
After class, check out a portable recorder from me (unless you have one). I will note the portable recorder number.
Using that recorder, please record the following sounds over the weekend:
RECORDER SCAVENGER HUNT SOUND LIST
2 periodic sounds (pitched sounds)2 aperiodic sounds (noisy sounds)1 close sound (near to the mics)1 faraway sound (far from the mics)2 moving sounds (source/mics changing location during recording)2 ‘what the…’ AKA ‘guess the source’ sounds
Transfer the recorded files (should be 10 (at least)) to your computer, and upload to a folder with your name to the class Box folder named “Recorder Scavenger Hunt (Due September 9th)”.
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9/9 \ Music and the Environment, Listening to Recorder Scavenger Hunt Sounds, Basic Editing with REAPER | SLIDES
HW: Read “What is Electronic Music?” by Thom Holmes from Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition
Listen to Racing Through, Racing Unseen by Natasha Barrett. Program notes here.
Install REAPER on your laptop and work through the first page of the REAPER help sheet.
9/11 \ What is Electronic Music? DAW Basics | SLIDES
HW: Read “Early Electronic Music in Europe” by Thom Holmes from Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition
Listen to Étude aux Chemins de Fer by Pierre Schaeffer and Gesang Der Juenglinge (Excerpt) by Karlheinz Stockhausen.
Using sounds the class recorded during the Scavenger Hunt, create a 10-15 second (no more, no less) exploration of sound editing and processing using all of the techniques outlined on the first page of the Help Sheet here. Focus on basic sound manipulation (trimming, repeating, fading), and NOT effects. Export your creation as an audio file, take screenshot(s) of the session, and submit the audio file and screenshot(s) to this Box folder in a folder with your name (e.g. “Eli”). Have fun!
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9/16 \ Listening to Audio Play, Musique Concrète from the 1940s, Studio 4 Recording Basics
HW: Read “Elektronische Musik” by Thom Holmes from Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition
Listen to Studie II by Karlheinz Stockhausen and Bye, Bye Butterfly by Pauline Oliveros
Begin Awareness Exercise #2 - Due Tuesday, September 23rd
Reserve a block of time in Studio 4. Using the Studio 4 computer (and specifically the MOTU 8M interface), perform and record some theremin material (play around with different dynamics, articulations, the different timbral knobs) as well as some microphone material (your voice, instrument, anything else, it doesn’t matter) using REAPER or another DAW of your choice on the computer. The recordings need not be lengthy (10 seconds would suffice). Save your session to the Studio 4 computer (Persistent Drive -> TECH 201 Fall 2025 -> “Your name”) and export out an excerpt as an audio file. Upload this excerpt to this Box folder in a folder with your name (e.g. “Eli”). Have fun, normalize the Studio after you are done, and reach out to Gwen for assistance as needed!
9/18 \ Listen to Theremin + Mic Recordings, Musique Concrète and Elektronische Musik from the 1940s, Using the ARP2600 | SLIDES
HW: Study for Quiz #1 - which will include pieces and composer listening identification (“drop the needle” IDing), a brief written reflection on Byrne, and questions about Acoustics, Psychoacoustics, and Microphones
Reserve a block of time in Studio 4. Using the Studio 4 computer (and specifically the MOTU 8M interface), as well as the synthesizer mixer, record yourself experimenting with the ARP 2600 (play around with different modules (VCOs, VCF, VCA, etc.) using REAPER or another DAW of your choice on the computer. You may be as technical or as exploratory as you’d like to be (we will focus on the technical next week). The recording(s) need not be lengthy (30 seconds would suffice, but you’re very welcome to go longer (or much longer, if you’d like!)). Save your session to the Studio 4 computer (Persistent Drive -> TECH 201 Fall 2025 -> “Your Name”) and export out an excerpt as an audio file. Upload this excerpt to this Box folder in a folder with your name (e.g. “Eli”). Have fun, normalize the Studio (including TURNING OFF THE ARP) after you are done, and reach out to Gwen for assistance as needed!
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III: ANALOG SYNTHESIS, AUTOMATION
9/23 \ Quiz #1, Introduction to Synthesizers + Block Diagrams for ARP 2600
HW: Read Foreword and Chapter 13: Close Encounters with the ARP from Analog Days by Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco (note Thadeus Cahill, an Obie :) )
Listen to Silver Apples of the Moon (excerpt, here’s the full version of Part A) by Morton Subotnick and Cetus by Olly Wilson
Using REAPER or another DAW of your choice record four audio files from the ARP using these prescribed block diagrams. You may use this library of block diagram symbols for assistance (hint: only two types of blocks are used, and were mentioned in class). Save your session to the Studio 4 computer (Persistent Drive -> TECH 201 Fall 2025 -> “Your Name”) and export out an excerpt of sound 4 as an audio file. Upload this excerpt to this Box folder in a folder with your name (e.g. “Eli”). Have fun, normalize the Studio (including TURNING OFF THE ARP) after you are done, and reach out to Gwen for assistance as needed!
Begin Awareness #3 - Due Tuesday, September 30th
Optional: read Principles of Analog Synthesis and Voltage Control by Thom Holmes from Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition. The important bits are around pages 236 and 250.
9/25 \ Vinyl Records, Other Electronic Music Studios, Automation Curves with REAPER
HW: Go through the Advanced portion of the REAPER Help Sheet and make sure that you understand the concepts and can apply them within REAPER and/or another DAW of your choice.
Using REAPER or another DAW of your choice, and any sounds you’d like (from what we’ve recorded thus far, any projects done for the class), create volume and panning control data with the mouse. Use a “pencil” tool to draw volume and panning data on at least one audio track. The duration is up to you, but no more than 30 seconds. You are welcome to work with more advanced features, but at least figure out how to do these basic functions: Can you create detailed volume changes for audio tracks? Can you create detailed panning changes for audio tracks?
When you are finished, export out the audio you created, take a screenshot of your session, and upload them to this Box folder in a folder with your name (e.g. “Eli”). Have fun and reach out to Gwen for assistance as needed!
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9/30
(No Class 10/2)
October
10/7 10/9
10/14 \ Midterm
10/16
🍂 FALL break (10/18 - 10/26) 🍂
10/28
(No Class 10/30, Eli Traveling)
IV: digital synthesis, plug-ins
November
11/4 11/6
11/11 11/13
11/18 11/20
V: ADVANCED TOPICS
(No Class 11/25)
🍂 THanksgiving break (11/26 - 11/30) 🍂
December
12/2 12/4
12/9 12/11