Advanced Sound Synthesis

Code:

MM0028

Acronym:

SAS

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Music Technology

Instance: 2009/2010 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Multimedia

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MM	7	Syllabus	1	-	7,5	67	203

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

- Comprehensive knowledge of various ways of sound synthesis as well as the most relevant languages and software to produce it;
- Application of sound synthesis in diverse contexts of sound design and music creation;
- Improvement and creation of new models of sound synthesis.

Program

- The various families of sound synthesis – process recording, spectral models, physical and abstract models;
- Synthesis by voltage control;
- Digital synthesis;
- Various application of sound synthesis: CSound, SuperCollider, Max/MSP, Pd and Reaktor;
- Gestural control of sound synthesis parameters;
- Execution of practical assignment based on the implementation of synthesis in the mentioned applications.

Mandatory literature

Curtis Roads; The Computer Music Tutorial, MIT Press, 1996
Curtis Roads; Microsound, MIT Press, 2001
Charles Dodge, Thomas Jerse; Computer Music Synthesis, Composition, and Performance, Schirmer Books, 1985
RIchard Boulanger (ed.); The CSound book, MIT Press, 2000
James Beauchamp ; Analysis, Synthesis, and Perception of Musical Sounds: Sound of Music, Springer, 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course unit is composed by comprehensive seminars and sessions where practical exercises related to the mentioned technologies are carried out. Theoretical classes will be based on presentation of examples of sounds and sessions to carry out practical exercises.

Software

CSound
Max/MSP
SuperCollider

keywords

Technological sciences > Technology > Computer technology > Signal processing

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	45,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Calculation formula of final grade

40% - assignments carried out during the semester
60% - final assignment

Examinations or Special Assignments

The final assignment must be based on the practical application of the themes taught or on the development of new technologies of sound synthesis.

Classification improvement

Substantial improvement of the final assignment or presentation of another assignment previously approved by the professor.

Observations

Classes will be taught in English if there is foreign students or if it is deemed necessary (e.g. presentations given by foreign professors). Students can either present their assignments in Portuguese or in English.