MUS 329J -- Unique Number 21230
Introduction to Computer Music

Meets: TU-TH 2-3:30 in MRH 4.170 or 4.178
Fall Semester, 2005

I. INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Russell Pinkston, Professor.

Office Hour: TTh 3:30-4, MRH 4.156. (471-0865) r.pinkston@mail.utexas.edu

Assistant Instructor: John Lato.. Office Hours: TBA, MRH 4.178. (471-0855) jlato@mail.utexas.edu

II. MATERIALS:

At least one 100MB ZIP disk or CD/RW, or multiple CDRs.

III. REQUIRED TEXTS: (available at University COOP East)

1. Dodge and Jerse, Computer Music: Synthesis, Composition, and Performance (2^nd Edition) (New York: Schirmer Books, 1997)
2. Boulanger, Richard: The CSound Book (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2000)

III. ON PERMANENT RESERVE AT THE FINE ARTS LIBRARY:

1. Roads and Strawn, Foundations of Computer Music (Cambridge, Massachussetts: MIT Press, 1985)
2. Roads, Curtis: The Computer Music Tutorial (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1996)

IV. COURSE TOPICS:

• Digital Audio Overiew - Basic Principles and Standard Formats
• The CSound Software Synthesis Language from MIT
• Digital Sound Synthesis and Signal Processing Methods:
  • Basic Techniques (Additive Synthesis, Envelopes, LFOs, Panning, Mixing, Mapping, etc.)
  • Subtractive Synthesis (Basic Waveforms, Random Signals, and Common Digital Filters)
  • Sample-based Synthesis (Transposition, Loops, Multisamples, etc.)
  • Distortion Synthesis (AM, FM, PM, Ring Modulation, and Waveshaping)
  • Digital Delays and Delay-based Effects (Comb Filters, Reverbs, Flanging, Chorus, Pitch Shifting)
  • Granular Synthesis and Formant Wave Synthesis (FOF)
  • Analysis/Resynthesis Methods, Phase Vocoding, Time Stretching, Spectral Filtering, LPC Synthesis
  • Convolution, Physical Modeling
  • Random Processing and Random Music Generation

VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:

35% -- Programming (lab) assignments

40% -- Semester Project

25% -- Midterm Exam

In addition to the lectures, there will be a required weekly lab session. The lab schedule will be arranged during the first class.

Note: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.