Week 2 Summary

4/15-4/19
Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | ALL
(NOTE that the information on this page is not always kept up to date. Check assignments pages for official due dates.)


CURRENT TERM

Monday, 4/15

Work time on Redrum project that will be due on Thursday. Began coverage of the Subtractor. Offered a basic concept of the modular structure of the instrument; connected it to instruments with a vintage in the 1970-1980s period; provided a default "starting point" setup for the subtractor, Introduced controls for octave, semi, and cent, and how to adjust audio balance between two oscillators. Introduced noise and barely mentioned the filter - essentially the most basic "concept" of the filter only, so this is where we go next. (Showed and described the four types of filters by using noise. Still need to do the same using oscillators, get into the harmonic content of waveforms, and so forth.)

Time to work on Garage Band project.  Went over a small "specimen" project in Logic to review the steps to doing assignment #2 - created a simple drum part, very basically adjusted it (manual and extremely simple quantization, added one software instrument keyboard part, then added a couple of Apple loops. Use very basic looping technique to stretch the regions. Went over the importance of selecting the right tempo before recording and then ensuring that the music is rhythmically accurate. Introduced the velocity tool as a way to edit "volume. In the track window we looked at how to loop using the upper right corner of a region - but not by enabling the loop check box for a track.

(Next steps should probably be: more basic quantization, how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. Put up a date for assignment 2 on the web site, but did not mention it in class and did not go over project requirements in class. May need to delay deadline for #2 by one day from the date listed on the web site.

Same as MW

2013 Winter

Monday, 1/14

Work time on Redrum project that will be due on Thursday. Began coverage of the Subtractor. Offered a basic concept of the modular structure of the instrument; connected it to instruments with a vintage in the 1970-1980s period; provided a default "starting point" setup for the subtractor, Introduced controls for octave, semi, and cent, and how to adjust audio balance between two oscillators. Introduced noise and barely mentioned the filter - essentially the most basic "concept" of the filter only, so this is where we go next.

Time to work on Garage Band project.  Went over a small "specimen" project in Logic to review the steps to doing assignment #2 - created a simple drum part, very basically adjusted it (manual and extremely simple quantization, added one software instrument keyboard part, then added a couple of Apple loops. Use very basic looping technique to stretch the regions. Went over the importance of selecting the right tempo before recording and then ensuring that the music is rhythmically accurate. Introduced the velocity tool as a way to edit "volume. In the track window we looked at how to loop using the upper right corner of a region - but not by enabling the loop check box for a track.

(DID NOT:  Looked at stopping a loop with an empty track.) (Next steps should probably be: apple loops, basic quantization, how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. Put up a date for assignment 2 on the web site, but did not mention it in class and did not go over project requirements in class. May need to delay deadline - actually, probably need to delay - for #2 by one day from the date listed on the web site.

Same as MW

2012 Spring

Monday, 4/16

Work time on Redrum project that will be due on Thursday. Began coverage of the Subtractor. Offered a basic concept of the modular structure of the instrument; connected it to instruments with a vintage in the 1970-1980s period; provided a default "starting point" setup for the subtractor, Introduced controls for octave, semi, and cent, and how to adjust audio balance between two oscillators. Introduced noise and barely mentioned the filter - essentially the most basic "concept" of the filter only, so this is where we go next.

Time to work on Garage Band project. Began to hear project #1, but only got to about one third of the class. Went over a small "specimen" project in Logic to review the steps to doing assignment #2 - created a simple drum part, very basically adjusted it (manual and extremely simple quantization, added one software instrument keyboard part, then added a couple of Apple loops. Use very basic looping technique to stretch the regions. Went over the importance of selecting the right tempo before recording and then ensuring that the music is rhythmically accurate. Introduced the velocity tool as a way to edit "volume. In the track window we looked at how to loop using the upper right corner of a region - but not by enabling the loop check box for a track.

(DID NOT:  Looked at stopping a loop with an empty track.) (Next steps should probably be: apple loops, basic quantization, how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. Put up a date for assignment 2 on the web site, but did not mention it in class and did not go over project requirements in class. May need to delay deadline - actually, probably need to delay - for #2 by one day from the date listed on the web site.

No Friday class this quarter.

2012 Winter

Monday, 1/16

Work time on Redrum project that will be due on Thursday. Began coverage of the Subtractor. Offered a basic concept of the modular structure of the instrument; connected it to instruments with a vintage in the 1970-1980s period; provided a default "starting point" setup for the subtractor, Introduced controls for octave, semi, and cent, and how to adjust audio balance between two oscillators. Did not yet do noise..

Time to work on Garage Band project - due next Monday, one class later than usual due to Monday holiday this week. Did an overview/intro of Logic - the "tour" of the screen plus a very basic "how to record a keyboard part" demo.

In Logic we had looked at the piano roll and (briefly) the score views at last class. ) In piano roll, looked at basic note editing.

(NO: Used the velocity tool to edit in the piano roll view. In the track window we looked at how to loop using the upper right corner of a region or by enabling the loop check box for a track. Looked at stopping a loop with an empty track.) (Next steps should probably be: apple loops, basic quantization, how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. Put up a date for assignment 2 on the web site, but did not mention it in class and did not go over project requirements in class. May need to delay deadline - actually, probably need to delay - for #2 by one day from the date listed on the web site.

We are a bit ahead of the MW class since there was Monday holiday this week. Work time sufficient to complete the Garage Band assignment. Heard most of these projects with the exception of about 8 students on the left side of the room and those who asked to be heard the second time around.

Did a basic introduction to Logic - enough to begin work on assignment 2, which is due next week as per the schedule. Basic orientation to the Arrange window. Starting a file. Recording. Basic editing. VERY basic intro to quantizing (no explanation - basically where the controls are), very basic intro to looping, selecting instruments, adding Apple loops, the score and piano roll views, adding a track.

2011 Spring

2011 WinterMonday, 4/11

Introduce ways to alter sound resources in Redrum: multiple Redrum modules, reprogramming individual sounds. Work time on the Redrum assignment that is due on Thursday - will allow at least 30 minutes to finish this on Thursday. Introduced Subtractor: concept of modular synth; and went over waveforms, and the frequency controls on the oscillators, and the noise generator. Explained harmonic and how they apply to waveforms, and related this to how a string behaves.

Did not get beyond that, so we still have to deal with filter basics next time and also the ADSR control of volume and filtering.

Heard Garage Band Projects, but not all. Started on east side of room and made a complete circuit except for the last two students in front on the west row. At next class - a week from today due to holiday next Monday - need to hear those two projects and any remaining from the "first pass" today.

In Logic we looked at the piano roll and (briefly) the score views. Used the pencil tool to create a new region in a track. Used the velocity tool to edit in the piano roll view. In piano roll, looked at basic note editing. In the track window we looked at how to loop using the upper right corner of a region or by enabling the loop check box for a track. Looked at stopping a loop with an empty track.

(Next steps should probably be: apple loops, basic quantization, how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. Put up a date for assignment 2 on the web site, but did not mention it in class and did not go over project requirements in class. May need to delay deadline - actually, probably need to delay - for #2 by one day from the date listed on the web site.

More basic editing on the Subtractor: finished filter basics. Next time go over ADSR concepts, and apply the ADSR to both volume and filter.) frequency. Reviewed harmonics and how to calculate them for different basic waveforms. 

Heard assignment 2 (Redrum) except for those who were not ready on the first pass - need to hear them next time. Need to consider the assignment date for the first take-home quiz on harmonics.)

(Next: LFO 2 and LFO 1, the second filter, announce the due date for the Subtractor assignment during Tuesday class, and move on to more Subtractor stuff. Important to cover the frequency content of waveforms - perhaps at start of Tuesday class and with some interval before trying to do the FM synthesis stuff.)

None this quarter

Introduce ways to alter sound resources in Redrum: multiple Redrum modules, reprogramming individual sounds. Work time on the Redrum assignment that is due on Thursday - will allow at least 30 minutes to finish this on Thursday. Introduced Subtractor: concept of modular synth; and went over waveforms, and the frequency controls on the oscillators, and the noise generator. Explained harmonic and how they apply to waveforms, and related this to how a string behaves.

Did not get beyond that, so we still have to deal with filter basics next time and also the ADSR control of volume and filtering.

Heard Garage Band Projects, but not all. Started on east side of room and made a complete circuit except for the last two students in front on the west row. At next class - a week from today due to holiday next Monday - need to hear those two projects and any remaining from the "first pass" today.

In Logic we looked at the piano roll and (briefly) the score views. Used the pencil tool to create a new region in a track. Used the velocity tool to edit in the piano roll view. In piano roll, looked at basic note editing. In the track window we looked at how to loop using the upper right corner of a region or by enabling the loop check box for a track. Looked at stopping a loop with an empty track.

(Next steps should probably be: apple loops, basic quantization, how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. Put up a date for assignment 2 on the web site, but did not mention it in class and did not go over project requirements in class. May need to delay deadline - actually, probably need to delay - for #2 by one day from the date listed on the web site.

IMPORTANT:  There were perhaps 3-4 students who were not ready to play back assignment 2 (redrum) today - they may play it back next Tuesday.

More basic editing on the Subtractor: finished the filter, went over ADSR concepts, and applied the ADSR to both volume and filter frequency.

Next: LFO 2 and LFO 1, the second filter, announce the due date for the Subtractor assignment during Tuesday class, and move on to more Subtractor stuff. Important to cover the frequency content of waveforms - perhaps at start of Tuesday class and with some interval before trying to do the FM synthesis stuff.

Essentially the same as MW class, though we took a brief look at very basic quantizing - not enough to say that the subject has been covered.. Friday class was introduced to Logic as the MW class - the arrange window, selecting instruments, recording, some basic editing in the arrange window and the piano roll, adding tracks, importance of click track. Mentioned that assignment 2 will be near the end of the period week. Next week: need to give sufficient time to do the project since there was NO time to work on it today..WHAT WE DID NOT DO - did not introduce use of audio loops - e.g. Apple loops. (DETAILS TBA)

(Finished GB intro and made assignment 1 at previous class.) Work time on the Garage Band assignment which is due on Wednesday.  Did very basic introduction to Logic - the Arrange and Transport windows. How to assign a plugin to an INST track. Very basic look at selecting a sound from one plugin, repeating a region by looping, very basic software instrument editing in the piano roll. (Did not point out where to find the "garage band loops.")

After about 1:25, some more work time on the Redrum assignment that is due on Thursday - will allow a small amount of time to finish this on Thursday, but those needed substantial time were directed to use open lab. Introduced Subtractor: concept of modular synth; basic settings to get sound (envelopes and filters); changing octave, semi, and cent; basic waveforms; filter basics; adding a second oscillator and noise generator. (Next time need to move to ADSR control of the filter.)

Heard Garage Band Projects - but not all. At start of period need to hear some in first two rows by door and then hear those who "took a pass" the first time. (Moved briefly back to Logic and looked at some basic quantizing issues. Next steps should probably be: how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. MUST ASSIGN #2!) WHAT WE DID NOT DO - did not introduce use of audio loops - e.g. Apple loops

More basic editing on the Subtractor: finished the filter, went over ADSR concepts, and applied the ADSR to both volume and filter frequency. Went over LFO 2 quite thoroughly. Barely began LFO 1 - mainly took a quick look at the different waveform options.

Need to announce the due date for the next assignment during Tuesday class, and move on to more Subtractor stuff. Important to cover the frequency content of waveforms - perhaps at start of Tuesday class and with some interval before trying to do the FM synthesis stuff.

Essentially the same as MW class. Friday class was introduced to Logic as the MW class - the arrange window, selecting instruments, recording, some basic editing in the arrange window and the piano roll, adding tracks, importance of click track. Mentioned that assignment 2 will be after the "rolling break" next week. WHAT WE DID NOT DO - did not introduce use of audio loops - e.g. Apple loops. (DETAILS TBA)

(Finished GB intro and made assignment 1 at previous class.) Work time on the Garage Band assignment which is due on Wednesday.  Did very basic introduction to Logic - the Arrange and Transport windows. How to assign a plugin to an INST track. Very basic look at selecting a sound from one plugin, repeating a region by looping, very basic software instrument editing in the piano roll. (Did not point out where to find the "garage band loops.")

After about 1:25, some more work time on the Redrum assignment that is due on Thursday - will allow a small amount of time to finish this on Thursday, but those needed substantial time were directed to use open lab. Introduced Subtractor: concept of modular synth; basic settings to get sound (envelopes and filters); changing octave, semi, and cent; basic waveforms; filter basics; adding a second oscillator and noise generator. (Next time need to move to ADSR control of the filter.)

Heard Garage Band Projects - but not all. At start of period need to hear some in first two rows by door and then hear those who "took a pass" the first time. (Moved briefly back to Logic and looked at some basic quantizing issues. Next steps should probably be: how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. MUST ASSIGN #2!) WHAT WE DID NOT DO - did not introduce use of audio loops - e.g. Apple loops

More basic editing on the Subtractor: finished the filter, went over ADSR concepts, and applied the ADSR to both volume and filter frequency. Went over LFO 2 quite thoroughly. Barely began LFO 1 - mainly took a quick look at the different waveform options.

Need to announce the due date for the next assignment during Tuesday class, and move on to more Subtractor stuff. Important to cover the frequency content of waveforms - perhaps at start of Tuesday class and with some interval before trying to do the FM synthesis stuff.

Essentially the same as MW class. Friday class was introduced to Logic as the MW class - the arrange window, selecting instruments, recording, some basic editing in the arrange window and the piano roll, adding tracks, importance of click track. Mentioned that assignment 2 will be after the "rolling break" next week. WHAT WE DID NOT DO - did not introduce use of audio loops - e.g. Apple loops. (DETAILS TBA)

Finished GB intro. Make assignment 1. Work time on the Garage Band assignment which is due on Monday at start of period . (Very basic introduction to Logic - the Arrange and Transport windows. How to assign a plugin to an INST track. Very basic look at selecting a sound from one plugin. Pointed out where to find the "garage band loops.")

Some more work time on the Redrum assignment that is due on Thursday - will allow a small amount of time to finish this on Thursday, but those needed substantial time were directed to use open lab. Introduced Subtractor: concept of modular synth; basic settings to get sound (envelopes and filters); changing octave, semi, and cent; basic waveforms; harmonic structure; adding a second oscillator and noise generator. (Next time need to move to filters.)

Heard Garage Band Projects - which took longer than usual due to larger class. A few who did not play theirs because they were not finished were told that they must tell me when they are done if they want me to hear it. Moved briefly back to Logic and looked at some basic quantizing issues. Assigned #2 and gave due date at end of next Wednesday's class - no class on Monday due to holiday. Next steps should probably be: how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff. (Given the Monday holiday there will be a time issue next week. On one hand we need to try to stay on track to hear the Logic assignment, but on the other hand we don't want to get too far behind the schedule due to the holiday.)

More basic editing on the Subtractor: finished the filter, went over ADSR concepts, and applied the ADSR to both volume and filter frequency.

Announced the assignment #1 business - previous music 51 students say "I was in music 51" and new students show me a project in week 6.

Tuesday: need perhaps 30 minutes work time on #2?

Essentially the same as MW class. Friday class was introduced to Logic as the MW class - the arrange window, selecting instruments, recording, some basic editing in the arrange window and the piano roll, adding tracks, importance of click track. Mentioned that assignment 2 will be due at start of the period week after next.

Finished GB intro. Make assignment 1. Work time on the Garage Band assignment which is due on Monday at start of period . (Very basic introduction to Logic - the Arrange and Transport windows. How to assign a plugin to an INST track. Very basic look at selecting a sound from one plugin.)

COURSE CORRECTION! I started with Subtractor last time (just looked at oscillators and noise generator) when I should have started with Redrum. So... Today I suspended coverage of the Subtractor and instead introduced the Redrum. Pretty much finished it and made the first Redrum assignment due one week from today on Tuesday, October 6.

(OLD: Work time on the ReDrum assignment that is due on Thursday. Some students appear to have finished, but more seem like they'll need at least a half hour to complete projects on Thursday. (Also a very basic intro to Subtractor module: reviewed Oscillator and Noise generator and controls of waveform and frequency. Next time continue on to filters, ADSRs, etc.))

Moved on into Logic, looking at basic plugin synths and then loops - essentially a quick tour of how to access all of them, but without details of each synthesis method. Learned how to change the inst assigned to the inst tracks. (DID NOT: Went over a model set of steps for recording: first drums, check for timing, ) add another track, add loops, etc. Hear Garage Band assignments next week since we were delayed on the first day of class by technical issues. (For next time - how to spread an instrument across multiple tracks, etc. and much more Logic stuff.

More basic editing on the Subtractor: finished the filter, went over ADSR concepts, and applied the ADSR to both volume and filter frequency. (Due to confusion about the need to enter Redrum patterns in the a pattern lane in the sequencer - half the class didn't do this - the deadline for this assignment was delayed until NEXT TUESDAY AT START OF PERIOD.)

Announced the assignment #1 business - previous music 51 students say "I was in music 51" and new students show me a project in week 6.

Tuesday: need perhaps 30 minutes work time on #2?

(Almost the s)ame as MW class. Actually both classes are a bit behind the planned schedule, though  this is a more significant issue with the Friday class. Friday class was introduced to Logic as the MW class - the arrange window, selecting instruments, recording, some basic editing in the arrange window and the piano roll, adding tracks, importance of click track. Mentioned that assignment 2 will be due at end of the period next week, though this may be a bit aggressive. (But may have to do it due to later friday holidays.) Elements of the project that I did  NOT cover include a) spreading a percussion part across multiple tracks and b) adding audio loops. Must do these at start of period.