Electronic Music Production

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
MUSC 2271
Descriptive
Electronic Music Production
Department
Music
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
26
Contact Hours
4
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Learning Activities

Lecture/demonstration. Students will work alongside the instructor, either in the large studio or Technology Lab. Students will be expected to complete regular assignments and projects outside of class time. These can be done in the lab, the studio, or at home.

Course Description
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is an increasingly popular style of contemporary music. This course will explore techniques for creating, mixing and exporting EDM tracks, using Ableton Live software and appropriate hardware.
Course Content

Getting Started with Ableton Live:

  • An Overview of Ableton Live
  • Live's User Interface
  • Introduction to the Arrangement View
  • The Aesthetics of Music Production
  • Music Production Analysis

Exploring the Session View:

  • An Introduction to the Session View
  • Launching Individual Clips in the Session View
  • Launching Clips from Tracks and Rows
  • Key and MIDI Map Mode

Song Production: Part 1 (Introduction and A Section)

  • Developing a Song Production (First Steps)
  • Adding Clips (Creating an Intro Scene)
  • Audio Clip Properties
  • Adding and Modifying Clips (Creating a Second Scene)
  • Clip Launch Programming

Song Production: Part 2 (B Section, Variation, and End)

  • New Song Sections
  • Creating the Breakdown Section
  • Variation of A
  • The Ending
  • Clip Envelopes
  • Creative Clip Envelope Editing

Song Production: Part 3 (Adding Effects)

  • Effect Processing in Live
  • Setting Up Effects
  • Determining Where Effects Are Needed
  • Effects as Inserts
  • Effects on Return Tracks
  • Audio Effect Racks
  • Creative Possibilities Using Built-in Effects

Song Production Part 4: (The Arrangement View)

  • Session View Recording to the Arrangement View
  • Using Locators
  • Editing in the Arrangement View

Song Production Part 5: (Creating a Vocal Track and Mixdown)

  • Adding a Vocal Sample
  • Mix Automation
  • Rendering the Live Demo 2 Song Mix
  • MP3 File Format

Creating an Original Live Production: Part 1 (Establishing Style)

  • The Production Process: Establishing Style
  • Designing Parts
  • Working with MIDI
  • Live's Software Instruments
  • Making Beats
  • Drum Racks
  • Slicing
  • REX Files
  • File Management

Creating an Original Live Production: Part 2 (Developing the Groove)

  • Instrument Racks
  • Creating a Groove
  • Developing a Song Section
  • Using the Session View to Develop a Song Section
  • Building a Scratch Vocal
  • Higher Fidelity Audio

Creating an Original Live Production: Part 3 (Expanding the Sound Palette/Perfecting Musical Parts)

  • Expanding the Sound Palette
  • Designing Sounds for the Blue Nova Trip Hop Production
  • Sound Sources
  • Submixes
  • Finalizing Musical Elements

Creating An Original Live Production: Part 4 (Song Arrangement and Mix)

  • Song Form
  • Developing The Arrangement
  • Refining the Arrangement
  • The Aesthetics of Mixing
  • Mixing the Production

Other uses fore Ableton Live

  • Remix Production
  • Video Production
  • Stage Performance
  • The Akai APC40
  • MAX for Live
Learning Outcomes

Successful students should be able to work unassisted with Ableton Live software, and will understand and be able to apply the following:

  1. Getting Started with Ableton Live
  2. Exploring the Session View
  3. Song Production: Part 1 (Introduction and A Section)
  4. Song Production: Part 2 (B Section, Variation, and End)
  5. Song Production: Part 3 (Adding Effects)
  6. Song Production: Part 4 (The Arrangement View)
  7. Song Production: Part 5 (Creating a Vocal Track and Mixdown)
  8. Creating an Original Live Production: Part 1 (Establishing Style)
  9. Creating an Original Live Production: Part 2 (Developing the Groove)
  10. Creating an Original Live Production: Part 3 (Expanding the Sound Palette/Perfecting Musical Parts)
  11. Creating An Original Live Production: Part 4 (Song Arrangement and Mix)
  12. Other uses for Ableton Live
Means of Assessment

Tests or assignments (minimum of 2) - 30%

Midterm Project - 30%

Final Project - 40%

Total - 100%

Textbook Materials

No texts or materials are required. All required hardware and software for the completion of assignments and projects is available in the studio.

Prerequisites
Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Which Prerequisite

None