TECH 101 COURSE OUTLINE + SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
The schedule will be updated with homework and slides after every class.
I: INTRODUCTION, ACOUSTICS, AND RECORDING
August
8/27 \ Overview of Topics + Syllabus, Discussion of Electronic Music + Listening | SLIDES
Homework (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.
As you listen to this work, consider the following questions (not being graded, just for yourself):
What sounds do you hear in this work? What techniques does it seem were used to create these sounds (microphones, computer, instruments, etc.)? Do these sounds evoke (a) location(s) or place(s)? How is the work organized; how does it change over time?
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September
9/1 \ Sound Terminology, Acoustics | SLIDES
HW: Read Introduction to Acoustics: Waves and Sound (disregard the mathematics!)
Watch this short video on how the ear works (disregard technical names, just understand the system as a whole)
Listen to “Dripsody” by Hugh LeCaine and “One Minute” by Ryoji Ikeda
How do these pieces activate the ears? What techniques does it seem were used to create these sounds (microphones, computer, instruments, etc.)? How is the work organized; how does it change over time (or how is it structured)?
9/3 Sound Terminology Review, Acoustics, cont., Microphones | SLIDES
HW: After class, in pairs check out a portable recorder from me. I will note the portable recorder number.
Using that recorder and a partner, in groups of two 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 you and your partner’s name to the class Box folder named “Recorder Scavenger Hunt (Due September 8th)”.
Read “Some Sound Observations” by Pauline Oliveros, from Audio Culture: Readings in Modern Music
II: SINGLE-TRACK EDITING, DIGITAL AUDIO THEORY, AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC HISTORY I
9/8 \ Microphones + Listening to Scavenger Hunt Recordings | SLIDES
Download the ocenaudio Help Sheet here. No specific work with ocenaudio, but please have it downloaded and functioning on your personal machine! You should feel comfortable with BASICS.1 and BASICS.2.
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.
9/10 \ ocenaudio I: Basic Editing, Importing, Exporting, Tape Music, History of Electronic Music I: Musique Concrète from 1940s to the Present | SLIDES
HW: Read “How Digital Audio Works” from the Max v7.3.5 Documentation. Some of this should be review (“Complex tones” is interesting!), important bit is from “Digital representation of sound” up until “Advantages of digital audio”.
Also check out the How Digital Audio Works Help Sheet
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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9/15 \ Listen to Single Track Editor Play
HW: Study for Quiz #1 - >> STUDY GUIDE HERE <<
Read The Art of Noise by Luigi Russolo
Listen to “Plåtmås” by Hanna Hartman and watch some Intonarumoris in action!
9/17 \ Quiz #1, The Art of Noise, Introduce Composition 1
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9/21 \ Composition 1 Due @ 9PM - SUBMIT HERE
III: MULTI-TRACK EDITING, DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING, AND Soundscape COMPOSITION
9/22 \ Reviewing Project 1, History of Other Electronic Music Studios, Digital Audio
9/24 \ Reviewing Digital Audio, REAPER I + II: Basic Editing, Importing, Exporting + Automation, Effects
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9/29 \ The Phasing Technique (a la Reich), DSP Effects I: Time Domain Effects (Delay/Echo, Stereo Imaging, Reverb, Modulation Effects)
October
10/1 \ Ambient Music, DSP Effects II: Dynamics, Equalization/Filtering, Introduce Composition 2: Timbre Clouds
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10/6 \ Equalization/Filtering, Automation of FX (Drawn + Recorded)
10/8 \ Equalization/Filtering, Automation of FX (Drawn + Recorded), cont.
HW: Finish Composition 2
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10/13 \ Composition 2 Due @ 9PM - SUBMIT HERE
[REMOTE] 10/14 \ Review Composition 2, Review FX + Automation, Spectral Effects with SPEAR
[REMOTE] 10/16 \ Quiz 2 (Digital Audio, Ambient Music, Process Music, FX), SPEAR, Introduction to Soundscape Composition
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🍂 FALL break (10/18 - 10/26) 🍂
IV: SYNTHESIS, MIDI AND VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS, MIXING, AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC HISTORY II
10/28 \ Soundscape Composition, cont.
10/30 🎃 \ Theremin, Introduction to Synthesis and VCV Rack
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November
11/4 \ Introduction to Synthesis, cont., Introduce Composition 3: Process + Pulse
11/6 \ Sequencers, MIDI, and Virtual Instruments (w/ Dexed)
HW: Finish Composition 3 (due on Monday)
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11/10 \ Composition 3 Due @ 9PM - SUBMIT HERE
11/11 \ Review Composition 3
11/13 \ Review Composition 3, cont., In-Class Demonstration of Mixers, Audio Interfaces, and Live Sound
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11/18 \ Introduce Final Project, Mixing for Mini-Mix Assignment
HW: Start Mini-Mix Assignment (due December 2nd)
11/19 \ Final Project Proposal Due @ 9PM
11/20 \ Individual 3-minute Meetings for Final Project During Class-time
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(No Class 11/25)
🍂 THanksgiving break (11/26 - 11/30) 🍂
December
V: ADVANCED TOPICS, SOUND DESIGN, AND FINAL PROJECT
12/2 \ Review Mini-Mix Assignment
12/4 \ In-class Work on Final Project
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12/9 \ Final Project Presentations I
12/11 \ Final Project Presentations II
12/12 \ Final Project Supplementary Text Due @ 9PM