Sequencing and Synthesis
Curriculum guideline
The instructor will devote four hours per week to lecture/demonstration. Students will work alongside the instructor in the Technology Lab. Students will be expected to complete regular assignments and projects outside of class time. These can be done in the lab or at home.
- MIDI protocol, including hexadecimal numbers, MIDI bytes and MIDI messages
- Sequencers: paradigms and design, including analog, digital and hybrid designs.
- Sequencing: input, editing, representation
- Introduction to synthesis theory and practice, including additive, subtractive, FM and wavetable models.
- Sampling techniques, including recording, editing and layering samples.
- Multitracking and mixing, using hardware and software sequencers
- Alternative controllers, including breath, hand and motion-based designs.
- Hardware instruments: analog and digital sample players and synthesizers
- Virtual instruments: computer based hybrids combining sampling and synthesis.
Through lecture/demonstrations and hands-on studio work, students will learn to produce music using sequencers and synthesizers. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the underlying concepts and theory of digital sequencing and synthesis. Using current sequencing software and virtual instruments, students will produce several original works.
On successful completion of the course students will be able to work unassisted with sequencing software, and will understand and be able to apply the following:
- MIDI protocol
- Sequencers
- Sequencing techniques
- Introduction to synthesis theory and practice
- Sampling
- Multitracking and mixing
- Alternative controllers
- Hardware instruments
- Virtual instruments
| Tests/Quizzes (minimum of 2) | 30% |
| Midterm Project | 30% |
| Final Project* | 40% |
| 100% |
*The Final Project constitutes one component of the graduation portfolio requirement
No texts or materials are required. All required hardware and software for the completion of assignments and projects is available in the lab. Students who wish to work outside the lab may want to purchase their own copies of the software used in class. A complete list of recommended software will be available at the first class session.
Music Technology Certificate program entrance or permission of instructor