Electronic Production & Design Courses

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the electronic music studio. Emphasis is placed on understanding analog and digital audio concepts, analog and digital signal flow, audio connections and gain-staging, console vs. control surface paradigms, DAW set-up and usage, studio signal flow, the recording process, microphone usage, and signal processors used in recording and mixing.

Study of principles and use of modules (oscillators, filters, amplifiers, envelope generators) found in software and hardware modular sound production systems. Focus is on observing signal characteristics at outputs, and defining signal functions (audio, control, timing) solely via connections to inputs. Sonic deconstruction and other electronic ear training techniques are presented, and correlative original sound designs are produced by students. In addition to class participation, students are supervised in weekly hands-on practice in EP/D labs, where an array of software and hardware systems are available.

In this course, students will engage with key concepts and considerations in electronic music composition. Composing in the DAW presents a unique set of challenges and possibilities, and the goal of the course is to become comfortable with making music in this environment. The course materials will aid students in developing compositional techniques applicable to a wide array of genres and career paths involving electronic music. Focused on four primary units (form, rhythm, tone, and space), the course will expose the students to leading practitioners in contemporary electronic music through various guided creative exercises, projects, and analytic assignments. Throughout the semester, we will work towards demystifying the fine line between production and composition, understanding the difference between working with electronic instruments as opposed to acoustic ones, and developing fluency in compositional discourse.

In this course we will approach music composition and sound design from a spatial perspective. Students will develop strategies for using various configurations of multichannel speakers to create original music compositions and site-specific sound art installations. Starting with mono and stereo, and moving towards larger systems such as quad, 8-channel, and 10-channel configurations as the semester progresses, students will explore audio spatialization techniques that can be applied to a variety of concert and installation opportunities. 

Students will use original sound sources to explore different approaches to audio spatialization and digital signal processing using point source mixing of discrete audio sources as well as ambisonic recording and playback. Special emphasis will be given to critical listening that will help students gain a better understanding of the way sound and common effects such as reverb, delay, chorusing, and filtering work within a multichannel system. Additionally, students will learn how to set up and engineer various multichannel systems in analog, digital and networked settings. Skills developed in this course will prepare students for a wide variety of career paths that include audio engineering for live performance and sound design for theater.

This course is a practical look at sound effects design for visual media. Students will design SFX for creatures, vehicles, weapons, magical sounds, and background environments for video games and film. Special attention will be paid to recording and sourcing materials, such as Foley and field recording. Advanced design strategies, such as editing, layering, time stretching, timbral shaping, and more will be covered. Students will also walk away with an understanding of mix techniques, sound library development, and delivery specs for a wide variety of media. Students will present their work weekly and engage in critical listening and feedback. Grading will be project-based, culminating in a portfolio-worthy demo reel.

Based on the concepts and skills learned in EP-220 Studio Technologies, this course places a primary emphasis on the improvement of student productions through effective mixing techniques. Mix balance, equalization, dynamics, and other signal processing techniques will be explored and applied to a series of projects. Genre-specific techniques will be discussed, in addition to electronic music styles and sound design scenarios.

Building on concepts and skills developed in EP-225, this advanced, project-oriented course focuses on mastering an electronic music production environment using a wide variety of hardware and software. Emphasis is placed on integrating advanced MIDI sequencing techniques with audio production. These techniques are applied in a series of projects that include, music and sound design for animation, remixing and developing original electronic music. Topics include advanced real-time control of synthesis parameters, spotting to picture, manipulation of musical time and tempo, and effectively working with various rhythmic feels. Special attention will be paid to integrating hardware instruments and controllers in a software-based DAW production environment.

Building on the concepts learned in EP-223, this course further develops a student’s understanding and application of core synthesis skills to include additive, FM, sampling, and other advanced synthesis techniques. Additional work with sonic ear training and patch dictation helps students identify and create unusual and dynamic instrumental sounds and sound effects. Classroom activities and assignments provide the opportunity to use advanced hardware and software synthesis systems to develop unique electronic sounds that can be used in live performance, electronic music production, media post-production, and video game audio applications.

A creative study of the musical aesthetics involved with composing and arranging in a wide range of popular Indian musical genres, including pop songs, remix hits, and classical forms. Utilizing a variety of electronic programming and production techniques, students will complete a series of guided projects that effectively demonstrate the contemporary application of Indian ragas, musical instrumentation, and popular stylistic repertoire.

In this class students will learn how to use Csound, a powerful and versatile sound synthesis and processing software environment, for electronic composition, production, and innovative sound design. Students will design sounds and compose pieces using classic synthesis techniques such as additive, subtractive, waveshaping, wavetable, granular, and physical modeling. Students will learn how to use Csound as a plug-in for Ableton Live and the iPad to produce innovative sound design for TV, film, multimedia installations, and games. Students will also use Csound as the basis for graduate-level research in computer music and music perception.

This course explores working in situations which typify the demands of commercial music production. This includes composing in a wide variety of idioms, to specific stylistic direction, and under common constraints that effect commercial music composition. These projects require the student to draw upon their skills in composition, electronic music production, and sound design. This course will confront the student with issues and problems common to the working composer, music producer, and sound designer.