Participation All students are expected to participate and contribute to all activities in this class. If you refuse to participate, you will fail.

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1 Course Overview is an introduction to the current technologies in the music recording industry. The course will be based around the use of Digital Performer, an industry standard software package for MIDI sequencing and digital audio recording. Through hands-on projects, you will learn some basic history and evolution of technology in music, basics of the MIDI specification, and digital audio recording, mastering, and mixing techniques. A direct link to current trends and practice in the music industry will be established. Grade Your grade in this class is based mostly on the effort put forth in completing assignments, drills, and projects. Assessment will be in the form of written evaluation (tests and worksheets) as well as from projects produced both individually and in small studio groups. Input in class discussions is encouraged and everyone is expected to participate at all times. All activities are weighted through point values. The final grade is determined by dividing the total earned points by the total possible points for a percentage. Grading Scale % = % = % = % = % = 0 Absence Absence will have an effect on your grade, as projects can only be completed in the lab. Project work time missed to chronic absence or suspension will not be able to be made up and will therefore be reflected in your grade. Participation All students are expected to participate and contribute to all activities in this class. If you refuse to participate, you will fail. Students will be expected to demonstrate a certain level of comfort and competence with regard to general use of computers and the equipment in the lab, not just the software. Binder Notebook Each student will be issued a course packet with study guides, notes, worksheets, drills, and projects. Each student must have a dedicated 3-ring binder for this course. You course packet will only be distributed when you have your binder. Additional copies of class handouts will not be dispensed. Lost course packets or handouts must be replaced at the student s expense either by printing from the web page or copying from a fellow student. Binders will be graded on a regular basis. Students must have binder in class each day. A hard-cover binder is recommended, as it will make notetaking in class easier. 1

2 Class Rules & Procedures 1. You must be in the class when the late bell rings and seated immediately. Late arrivals will require a signed passbook or green slip. 2. Sign-out to go to the bathroom, only after receiving permission. Present your passbook completely filled out. 3. Sit in the chairs in center of the lab when we are not using the stations. 4. You must have a small 3-ring binder to keep class information, notes, projects, and handouts. They will only be given to you once! Lab Rules 1. Do not touch or use any equipment that is not part of the current activity. 2. Do not change any settings on the computer, system, or software that are not a part of the current activity. 3. Do not use the Internet with the lab computers unless Mr. Martini gives you permission, and then the computers are only to be used for Music Tech purposes. 4. Do not change any settings on the line mixer, headphone amp, or keyboards unless it is needed for the current activity. 5. DO NOT alter any of the wiring for the MIDI station. 6. The Teacher Station is off limits to all students. 7. Headphones are not to be removed from the station to which they are assigned. 8. Keep headphone wires untangled and off of the floor. 9. Place headphones and wires neatly on top of the desk at the end of class. 10. NO FOOD OR DRINK OF ANY KIND IN LAB. 2

3 Accessing the Music Tech Web page Follow these steps to set your browser up to go to the class web page. OR 1. Go to this web address: 2. Under the Our Schools menu, select. 3. From the menu on the left, select Teacher Websites. 4. Select Music 5. Choose either Curry, Mr. Nicholas or Martini, Mr. James (you can access the page from either site.) 6. From the menu on the left of the Teacher Page, click on the link for 7. Bookmark this address in your browser so you can go right to it in the future. Type in the following URL exactly as printed: then bookmark the address. 3

4 MIDI SPECIFICATION 1 MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface 2 History 60 s & 70 s saw development Monophonic - one note Programmed with patches Groups like Emerson, Lake & Palmer had elaborate set-ups Provided new, fresh sounds 3 History Mid 70 s, Oberheim introduced a polyphonic synthesizer Play 4 notes at a time Next came programmable memory Not requiring elaborate set up 4 History Late 70 s - digital connection of like synths developed Control Voltage (CV) Custom built systems to connect all keyboards Play one keyboard and it would also cause the other to be played. 5 History As synths, sequencers, drum machines developed, more artists desired ways to connect Herbie Hancock meeting held at NAMM to discuss a universal standard for transmitting between electronic music instruments 6 MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface Standardized in 1983 Announced first by Sequential Circuits and Roland Within 3 years, practically every electronic instrument manufactured followed standard 7 MIDI MIDI is NOT audio! MIDI was NEVER audio! MIDI will NEVER BE audio! MIDI is a program language. 4

5 8 A Little Humor There are 10 types of people in the world Those that understand binary and those that don t. 9 MIDI - digital language Binary language (1 s & 0 s) Each number is called a bit 8 bits = byte MIDI word is 10 bits (1 byte plus a start bit and stop bit) 10 MIDI - digital language Two types of MIDI words: o Status byte: Starts with 1 o Data byte: Starts with 0 Most MIDI Messages are 1-3 bytes. o Status byte followed by one or more data bytes. 11 MIDI - digital language Transfer is serial Cheaper than parallel Fast enough to get the job done 31,250 bits per second, or 3,125 MIDI Words per second 5-pin bi-directional DIN cable 12 MIDI - digital language Serial Interface vs. Parallel Interface 13 MIDI - digital language 14 MIDI - digital language A byte has only two possible values (1 or 0) in eight positions. The first bit indicates if it is a status byte or data byte, leaving 7 remaining bits. 2 7 = 128 combinations Therefore, everything is built around 128 levels 15 Controllers 128 of everything (0-127) 128 possible controllers 128 levels of dynamics 128 levels of velocity 128 notes 128 degrees of stereo separation 128 sounds per bank 16 Controllers 5

6 #1 = patch (sound) #7 = velocity #10 = pan (left or right) channels 16 MIDI channels One sound (color) at a time per channel Each instrument capable of Patches / Voices Synthesized - Made with an oscillator Sampled - Recorded from another source 19 General MIDI Abbreviated GM Added to MIDI spec. in 1991 Used to get consistent sounds for video games. Further defined patches, controllers, etc. 20 General MIDI Requirements for GM: Minimum 24 voice polyphony Responds on all 16 channels Each channel can play all patches Percussion on channel 10 All Percussion sounds are mapped Middle C is always Note #60 And More! 21 MIDI Timing Concepts Relative time vs. Absolute time SMPTE, MIDI Time Clock Musical tempo and beat MIDI Sync = Status Byte 24 times per quarter note (clocks) Divided 20 times = 480 ticks As tempo increases, sync is sent faster. 22 MIDI Timing Concepts Reading the MIDI Time Code 1:1:000 o Measure 1, Beat 1, Tick 000 o Earliest possible moment in Measure One. 10:4:479 o Last possible moment in Measure Ten. 23 MIDI Timing Concepts 6

7 24 MIDI Timing Concepts 480 = Quarter Note 240 = 8th Note 120 = 16th Note 60 = 32nd Note 25 MIDI s Success Simple Fast and Efficient Universal Upgradeable Updated 2003 (GM2) More room to expand 26 TERMS Voice Patch Monophonic Polyphonic Multi-timbral Sample Synthesized MIDI Channel Controller 7

8 NOTES: 8

9 Date Due: Name: STUDY GUIDE MIDI Specification You are responsible for knowing and understanding the following concepts and information concerning the MIDI Specification and basic MIDI functions. 1. What does the acronym MIDI stand for? 2. What year was the MIDI Specification standardized and published? 3. What is the function of MIDI? 4. What kind of transfer (cable) does MIDI use? 5. What cable is used as a typical MIDI cable? 6. MIDI is a binary language and each MIDI word is a byte (8 bits) long, with the first bit used to define it as a status byte or data byte. Using the remaining 7 bits, how many possible combinations of 1 s and 0 s are there for each MIDI word (2 7 )? 7. What is a controller? 8. What is controller #1?, #7?, #10? 9. How many MIDI channels are there? 10. What is multi-timbral? 11. What are two types of sounds that MIDI instruments produce AND how are they created? - - 9

10 12. What is General MIDI (GM)? List the basic specifications of GM. 13. What is General MIDI 2 (GM2)? List the basic specifications of GM How does the MIDI Time Clock work? ADDITIONAL NOTES: 10

11 Date Due: WORKSHEET Name: MIDI Me Electronic Musician, July 2003 Answer the following questions from the article. 1. What does the acronym MIDI stand for? 2. How did MIDI begin? 3. What are some things a software sequencer can do using MIDI? 4. What is the difference between MIDI and audio? 5. MIDI cables cannot be connected directly to your computer, so how do we connect MIDI keyboards and computers? 6. How many MIDI Channels are there? 7. What is multitimbral? 8. How many notes are available in MIDI? 9. What is velocity? 11

12 10. What is the range of numbers assigned to velocity? 11. What is controller data used for? 12. What are the three basic types of controller data and their uses? 13. What is a program change? 12

13 STARTING UP THE MIDI WORKSTATION I. Turn components on in the following order: a. Korg X5D switch from COMBI to MULTI after keyboard boots b. Yamaha MU80 keyboard or Roland XV-2020 or Roland Fantom-XR ( Only) c. MOTU Fastlane MIDI interface be sure Thru is off (out) or M-AUDIO MIDISport 2x2 MIDI Interface be sure Thru is off (in) d. emac on right side behind ports or imac behind monitor on bottom right e. Mixer and Headphone Amp II. III. IV. Login a. Select username for your class period b. No password is needed Computer maintenance a. Save all files to your Documents folder b. Do not store files anywhere else c. Do save things to the desktop d. Use Column view for windows to navigate easily e. Home will always take you to your User files Launch Applications a. Open DP4.61 from Dock ( Only) b. Open Practica Musica or Finale (Advanced Music Theory Only) Shut down in reverse order NOTE: Do not turn computer off using the On button. To shut down the computer, select Shut Down from the Apple menu in the upper left hand corner. The system will clean itself up and then turn the computer off. Do not turn off the power strip at any time. 13

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25 Date Due: Name: STUDY GUIDE Sound Processes You are responsible for knowing and understanding the following concepts and information concerning sound processes and wave form attributes. 1. List and define the three (3) elements of sound necessary in order for sound to occur: a. - b. - c When sound waves travel, how is this accomplished? How does a sound wave travel from its generating source to the receptor? 3. Define compression and rarefaction and how they are related. 4. What is a cycle? 5. Define Hertz. 25

26 6. In the following graph of a sine wave, label the x and y axes relative to what they measure. Y X X Axis = Y Axis = 7. What are the three (3) characteristics of waveforms and what music properties do they define? Characteristic Musical Property defines defines defines 8. What is phase relationship? 9. If two waveforms are in phase what is the result? 10. What is phase cancellation? 11. What is a complex wave? 12. Describe and define harmonics? 26