MUET495 La Sierra University

La Sierra University

Department of Music

MUET495 Computer Music Synthesis (4 Units)

Winter 2012

Instructor: Denny Lin

Office Phone: (951) 785-2551

Office Hours: Mondays – Thursdays: 11:00AM – 1:00PM

E-mail: dlin@lasierra.edu

Purpose of course: This course explores the history and potential of computer music. Concepts of computer music synthesis will be presented using Pure Data. Design and implementation of MIDI systems and applications will be the focus.

Lectures: Hole Memorial Auditorium 100, Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00PM – 1:50PM

Labs: Hole Memorial Auditorium 100, Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM – 2:50PM

Grading criteria:

A-range – 90% - 100%

B-range – 80% - 89.99%

C-range – 65% - 79.99%

D-range – 50% - 64.99%

F-range – Below 50%

Quizzes 10%: Five questions from each day's assigned reading, given at beginning of class

Lab Assignments 20%: Hands on activities to build patches covered during lectures

Midterm Exams 20%: One hour exams, Tuesday 1/31/12 and Thursday 2/23/12

Final Exam (comprehensive) 20%: Two-hour exam, Tuesday 3/20/12 at 11:00AM

Project 30%: Personal project to build a MIDI controlled synthesizer

Required textbooks:

“Designing Sound” by Andy Farnell (DS). Available for free at: http://aspress.co.uk/ds/pdf/pd_intro.pdf

“Floss Manual” by Derek Holzer (FM). Available for free at: http://en.flossmanuals.net/PureData/_booki/pure-data/pure-data.pdf

Lecture Notes:
Introduction
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Simple Synth Part 1
Simple Synth Part 2
Simple Synth Part 3
Simple Synth Part 4

Lab Assignments:
Lab 1
Lab 2
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lab 5
Lab 6
Lab 7
Lab 8
Lab 9
Lab 10
Lab 11
Lab 12
Lab 13
Lab 14
Lab 15
Lab 16
Lab 17

Class Website:

http://www.lasierra.edu/~dlin/classes/muet495

Class Policies:

Attendance

It costs $2,904.00 to attend this class, which meets 21 times. In addition to loss in learning, each meeting you miss is $138.29 wasted. This is a very time-intensive class and your attendance at every meeting is expected. Four (4) or more unexcused absences from class or lab sessions will result in an F grade. To be excused from a class or lab session due to medical reasons, you must show the instructor a doctor's note documenting the reason(s) for your absence. It is entirely your responsibility to catch up on any material you missed. Your performance on quizzes is used to measure your reading comprehension and attendance; missed quizzes cannot be re-taken.

Late assignments

Lab assignments are late if they are not turned in at the conclusion of the lab session. All late assignments are worth half its value for each day the assignment is late.

Academic dishonesty

All students are expected to read and honor the Academic Integrity Policy, as printed in the University Bulletin. As stated in the preamble, “embracing the principles of Academic Integrity...provides a vital foundation for this community of scholars and its larger society.” By attending the University, you have agreed to the following statement: “I will act with integrity and responsibility in my activities as a La Sierra University student. I will not participate in violations of academic integrity, including plagiarism, cheating, or fabricating information. I will not stand by when others do these things. I will follow the academic integrity policy.”

While you are encouraged to seek assistance from teachers or your fellow classmates, it is academically dishonest to turn in quizzes, lab assignments, exams or a project done by someone else. Plagiarism occurs when a writer appropriates another’s ideas without proper acknowledgement of the source or uses another’s words without indicating that fact through the use of quotation marks. You must give proper credit for any help you receive, clearly stating who helped you, and how, whether it is from a classmate, faculty, friend, or the Internet (cite URL). Failure to give proper credit for expertise and guidance received will be treated as an act of academic dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty during exams will result in an automatic failure of the class for all parties involved, and may include further disciplinary action.

Disability

La Sierra University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student with a documented disability (physical, learning, or psychological) needing academic accommodations should contact the Learning Support and Testing Center (LSTC) as early in the quarter as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact LSTC (La Sierra Hall, Suite 100, extension 2452) for additional information.

Class Website: Updates to this class syllabus, and Microsoft PowerPoint lecture notes, are posted at: http://www.lasierra.edu/~dlin/classes/muet495

Tentative Schedule Outline:

Month	Date	Topic	Textbook Reading	Pages
JAN	T 10	Class Introduction	Chapters 1 (DS)	1 – 4
	TH 12	Starting with Pure Data	Chapter 2 (DS)	4 – 19
	T 17	Using Pure Data	Chapter 3 (DS)	21 – 25
	TH 19			25 – 28
	T 24			28 – 32
	TH 26			33 – 38
	T 31	Midterm 1
FEB	TH 2	Pure Data Audio	Chapter 4 (DS)	39 – 42
	T 7	Pure Data Audio	Chapter 4 (DS)	43 – 45
	TH 9	Abstraction	Chapter 5 (DS)	47 – 52
	T 14	Abstraction	Chapter 5 (DS)	52 – 56
	TH 16	Shaping Sound	Chapter 6 (DS)	57 – 63
	T 21	Shaping Sound	Chapter 6 (DS)	64 – 69
	TH 23	Midterm 2
	T 28	Pure Data Essentials	Chapter 7 (DS)	71 – 78
MAR	TH 1	Pure Data Essentials	Chapter 7 (DS)	78 – 86
	T 6	Synthesizer Building Blocks	FM	70 – 97
	TH 8	Synthesizer Building Blocks	FM	98 – 111
	T 13	Filters, Envelope Generator, and Amplifier	FM	112 – 115
	TH 15	Interface, Sequencer, and Synthesizer	FM	116 – 120
	T 20	Project Presentation and Final Exam (11:00AM)

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