Sound Synthesis for Digital Media

Code:

MM0065

Acronym:

SSMD

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Music Technology

Instance: 2017/2018 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://sites.google.com/a/gcloud.fe.up.pt/sas/
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics 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	13	Syllabus	1	-	6	45	162
			2

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1) Comprehensive knowledge of various ways of sound synthesis as well as the most relevant languages and software to produce it.

2) Application of sound synthesis in diverse contexts of sound design and music creation.

3) Improvement and creation of new models of sound synthesis.

Learning outcomes and competences

After successfully finishing this class, the student will be able to:
1) Know various ways of sound synthesis, as well as the most relevant languages and software to produce it.
2) Apply digital sound synthesis in diverse contexts of sound design and music composition, with emphasis in interactive media.
3) Improve, fine tune and create new models of sound synthesis for specific practical needs.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1) The various families of sound synthesis (processed recordings, spectral models, physical models and abstract algorithms):
a) introduction and historical background;
b) when feasible, implementation using analog synthesis by voltage control;
c) implementation using digital synthesis.

2) Environments for digital sound synthesis:
a) Max/MSP and Pure Data;
b) Kyma.

3) Interaction with digital sound synthesis:
a) gestural control of sound synthesis parameters;
b) granular and concatenative synthesis;
c) procedural sound design.

4) Practical applications of digital sound synthesis.

Mandatory literature

Curtis Roads; The Computer Music Tutorial, MIT Press, 1996
Andy Farnell; Designing Sound, MIT Press, 2010. ISBN: 9780262014410
Alessandro, Cipriani & Maurizio, Giri; Electronic Music and Sound Design - Theory and Practice with Max and Msp - Volume 1, Contemponet, 2013. ISBN: 978-8890548451
Alessandro, Cipriani & Maurizio, Giri; Electronic Music and Sound Design - Theory and Practice with Max and Msp - Volume 2, Contemponet, 2014. ISBN: 978-88-905484-4-4

Complementary Bibliography

Carla Scaletti; Kyma X Revealed!, Symbolic Sound, 2004 (Book available in the studio)
Curtis Roads; Microsound, MIT Press, 2001

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.
These practical exercises are developed further by the students outside contact hours and contribute with 40% of the final grade.
The final individual assignment, which contributes with 60% of the final grade, is the planning and implementation of a practical application of digital sound synthesis in the context of sound design for interactive media.

Software

Max/MSP
Kyma
Pure Data

keywords

Technological sciences > Technology > Computer technology > Signal processing

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	40,00
Trabalho laboratorial	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	45,00
Trabalho laboratorial	70,00
Total:	165,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation Formula: 0,4 * pt + 0,6 * tf

pt - assignments carried out during the semester;
tf - final assignment.

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.