Music 325a

Fundamentals of
Music, Multimedia Art,
and Technology

Fall 2008 — Tues. 1:30–3:20 PM

Faculty: Prof. Michael Klingbeil
Teaching Assistants: Mr. Robert Honstein, Mr. Jay Wadley
E-mails: michael.klingbeil@yale.edu, rhonstein@gmail.com, jay.wadley@yale.edu
Class Times: Tues. 1:30–3:20 PM
Class Locations: Phelps Electronic Classroom, Room 207, Phelps Hall; DMCA Studio B and Mac Classroom, 149 York St.
Lab Sections: Tuedays OR Wednesdays, Hours to be announced
Lab Locations: YalMusT, Room B1, Music Department, 143 Elm St.

Music 325a site: http://www.yale.edu/yalemus/325a
Music 325a Weekly Syllabus: http://www.yale.edu/yalemus/325a/syllabus.htm
YalMusT site: http://www.yale.edu/yalemus/yalmust
YalMusT department site: http://www.yale.edu/yalemus/yalmustlab
ViCH site: http://www.yale.edu/yalemus/vich
Yale Classesv2 site: http://classesv2.yale.edu/
Digital Media Center for the Arts: http://www.yale.edu/dmca/

Fundamental principles of electroacoustic music and multimedia technology. Acoustics, psychoacoustics, sound recording and reproduction, digital audio, image processing, and video. Exercises in synthesis and signal processing, MIDI, animation, and digital video. Prerequisite: MUSI 210a or b or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 20.

This year there are multiple offerings in music technology. If you do not meet the prerequisite for 325a, MUSI 295a “Introduction to Electronic Music” might be an option. Please visit the Music 295 / 325 FAQ for more information. Students taking MUSI 325a as part of Film Studies or Computing in the Arts should consult directly with Prof. K if they have concerns regarding prerequisites.

This course entails a study of computer software and hardware techniques in music, multimedia art, and video. The overall focus in weighted equally between theoretical investigations and practical applications. Historical developments in media technology will be discussed but not as the primary focus. Topics include digital audio recording and editing, audio mixing, audio effects and signal processing, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), digital synthesis, digital audio workstations (DAWs), MIDI sequencing, digital image editing, stop animation, video production, and media encoding.

Curtis Roads. The Computer Music Tutorial. MIT Press, 1996
8 x 10, 1254 pp., 504 illus.

Available at Foundry Music Co., 102 Audubon Street
www.FoundryMusicCo.com
Please support local enterprise and purchase at Foundry.

Copies will also be available on reserve in the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library

Although over ten years old, this weighty tome has yet to be matched for comprehensiveness and clarity. It is a worthwhile investment.

Other readings will be made available in PDF format. Additional readings will be selected from hardward and software manuals (yes you do need to read the manual!).

Blank CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-R media, plastic jewel cases. You are responsible for your own media and backups. All assignments must be handed in enclosed in a protected case. No bare CDs or DVDs!

External Firewire drive. This is strongly recommended if you plan to do extensive work in video production.

Available at the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library: a collection of sample CD-ROMs

Class and lab section attendance and participation — 10%

Technical Exercises — 25%

Prescribed Technical Exercises 1 and 2 plus Exercise 3 (extra credit) — (25%)

Midterm Exam — 20%

Music/Video Clip Group Project — 20%

Music/Video Clip Group Project Proposal Submission — (5%)
Music/Video Clip Group Project In-Class Presentation/Submission — (15%)

Final Project — 25%

Final Project Proposal Submission — (5%)
Final Project Work-in-Progress Submission — (5%)
Final Project Submission — (15%)