A collaboration in computer music
Abstract:
The proposal will strengthen our course offering in computer music by developing course modules, laboratory resources, and a web site to teach a variety of approaches to direct synthesis of sound using C-Sound. All resources will be developed to work equally well in Windows and Mac environments.
The goal of this collaboration is to develop course modules, laboratory resources and a web site to help students learn about direct synthesis of sound using C-Sound. (C-Sound is a freeware program that is available for Windows, MAC, LINUX, and Unix environments.) Units will be developed for each of the following topics: Additive Synthesis, Envelope Shaping, FM Synthesis, AM Synthesis, Multiple Wavetable Synthesis, Granular Synthesis and Wave Shaping. The units will be used in Denison's MUS 217 Computer Music and MUS 224 Advanced Computer Music and Kenyon's new Computer Music facility that has just been completed. All materials will be available on the web.
This project will design resources that enhance a student's ability to work at their own pace, use their own personal computer, and experience the creation of music in non-linear ways. The web site will allow students and faculty of both schools to share ideas, problems, and solutions. A discussion board and/or listserver will also be considered.The web site will also be used to showcase student projects.
A major part of the collaboration will be to develop resources than will run equally will on Mac or Windows based machines. This will be very beneficial to both campuses since the Denison music labs are MAC based, the Kenyon music labs are Windows based, and the students own a variety of machines.
In addition to the immediate benefit of course enhancement, this project will create a technology link between to the two campuses and an infrastructure for future collaboration with students and faculty in computer science, math, physics and the other arts. Since synthesis schemes, wave functions, and algorithms are all common connections between Music and Math/Physics, there is great potential for interdisciplinary exploration.