H79.2284 Lecture 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Palkowski
Probably the most significant trend so far in digital audio has been the gradual shift away from the dedicated hardware synthesizer to the 'soft' synthesizer, that is, a synthesizer that is simply a programming environment on a general-purpose computer. With the increase in CPU speed and disk capacity, such soft synths are becoming more powerful and flexible. This course serves as an introduction to tools, which allow you to repurpose the computer to be a soft synth. The main focus is on Cycling 74's Max/MSP software, as well as its video component Jitter. You learn to use the tool to manipulate synthesizers (both hard and soft), generate and manipulate audio signals and alter live audio and video, and much more. The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) specification is explored as a control system both generally and from within the Max environment. Exploration of synth methods in a typical MIDI device leads in turn to DSP techniques including FM, Additive Synthesis, Granular Synthesis, Waveshaping, and Physical Modeling. Video is treated as an extension to the sonic palette, and integration is sought between visual and aural creations. Portability is stressed, and students are encouraged to work with their own tools as appropriate.
