MTEC-315, Spring 2009 (091)

Spring 2009 (091) | January | February | March | April | May

Week 1 01/26
Topics: Course Introduction; Intro to Synthesis Concepts; The Synth as Processor; File Types and Backup Strategies.
Assignments: Get all textbooks. Read:
 
Week 2 02/02
Topics: Subtractive Synthesis, part 1; ES-M, ES-P and ES-E Synths in Logic.
Assignments: Project 1: ES-M, ES-P & ES-E Patch Assignment.
Read:
  • LPI: ch. 22, ES-2, part I, pp. 223-283.
 
Week 3 02/09
Topics: Subtractive Synthesis, part 2; ES-1 & ES-2 in Logic.
Assessments: Quiz 1: on Basic Subtractive Synthesizer Signal Flow.
Project Due: Project 1.
Assignments: Project 2: ES-1, ES-2 & Subtractor Patch Assignment.
Read:
  • LPI: ch. 22, ES-2, part II (Tutorials), pp. 283-300.
 
--- 02/16
Topics: NO CLASS!!! (President's Day)
Assignments: Read:
  • DMM: ch. 4, Sampling & Digital Audio, pp. 75-91;
  • ROM: ch. 14, NN-19 Sampler, pp. 136-149;
 
Week 4 02/23
Topics: Subtractive Synthesis, part 3; Reason's Subtractor; Interfacing Reason with Pro Tools and Logic.
Project Due: Project 2.
Assignments: Project 3: Ambient Sound Design.
Read:
 
Week 5 03/02
Topics: Sampling, Part 1; Sample Formats & Libraries; Reason's NN-19.
Assessments: Quiz 2: Advanced Subtractive Synthesis.
Assignments: Project 4: Found Samples Composition.
Read:
  • ROM: ch. 15, NN-XT Sampler, pp. 152-184;
 
Week 6 03/09
Topics: Sampling, Part 2; Multi-Sample playback; Key-mapping Samples; Reason's NN-XT.
Project Due: Project 3, including program notes.
Assignments: Read:
  • LPI: ch. 29, EXS24-mkII, pp. 519-572.
 
Week 7 03/16
Topics: Sampling, Part 3; Multilayer Sampling; Velocity Crossfades; Logic's EXS-24.
Assignments: Review for next week's exam.
 
--- 03/23
NO CLASS!!! (Spring Break)
Week 8 03/30
Topics: Review
Assessments: Midterm Exam
Project Due: Project 4.
Assignments: Project 5: Concert Piece #1 in the genre of your choice.
Read:
  • ROM: ch. 13, Malström Synthesizer, pp. 120-134;
 
Week 9 04/06
Topics: Granular and Wavetable Synthesis; Reason's Malström "Graintable" Synth.
Assignments: Project 6: Malström Patch Assignment.
Read:
  • LPI: ch. 17, EFM-1, pp. 201-206;
 
Week 10 04/13
Topics: Frequency Modulation (FM) Synthesis; Logic's E-FM synth.
Project Due: Project 6.
Assignments: Project 7: Concert Piece #2 in the genre of your choice.
Read:
  • DMM: ch. 7, Programming Theory, pp. 132-178;
  • ROM: ch. 16, Dr. Rex Loop Player, pp. 186-195;
 
--- 04/17
Last Day to Withdraw from A-term Courses
Week 11 04/20
Topics: Live Performance Workshop.
Assessments: Quiz 3: Graintable and Frequency Modulation Synthesis.
Project Due: Project 5 including program notes and bio.
Assignments: Read:
  • LPI: chs. 13-15, Vocoder Basics, EVOC-20, & Vocoder History, pp. 167-193;
  • ROM: ch. 19, BV512 Vocoder, pp. 210-221.
 
Week 12 04/27
Topics: Subtractive Analysis Techniques; Vocoders: Logic's E-VOC20.
Assignments: Read:
  • LPI: ch. 24, Sculpture, pp. 355-452.
 
Week 13 05/04
Topics: Concert Preparation
Assessments: Quiz 4: Vocoder Technology
Project Due: Project 6 including program notes.
 
Week 14 05/11
Topics: Sculpture; TBA.
Assignments: Review for next week's exam.
 
Showcase 05/14
Topics: MTEC Department Showcase.
Assessments: Your projects performed!
Please pre-arrange your schedule—concert attendance is required!
 
Week 15 05/18
Topics: Review
Assessments: Final Exam
 
--- 05/19
A-Term ends. (Submit all work by 5:00 PM).

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