1. How do you get a Max4Live patch to open up in presentation mode / how do you add objects to presentation mode?
2. What is AAA, AAB and Verse-Chorus forms? Give an example of differences.
3. What are some ways to organize and edit the form of your Ableton set?
4. What is an Max4Live envelope follower for? (It is part of the Max4Live Essentials pack)
5. How do you group multiple tracks into track groups, or multiple effects with an instrument into an instrument rack?
6. In a rack, what does chain select do?
7. What are some techniques/effects you can do with operator?
8. How is FM synthesis algorithm specified in operator?
9. Describe a method for key matching. Why and when it is used?
10. What additional special type of objects exist in Max4Live that are not present in Max and what is their purpose?
Submission deadline: Thursday March 12 at 11:59
Code of honor: this is an open book / open material exam. You can consult any written or video materials but you may NOT consult other people or your classmates.
Format: please keep your answers short and concise.
Submission: by email to Mike and Prof. Dubnov
Good Luck!
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Resources for Mashups and stuff..
Free / Open sound resources:
Beatport <http://www.beatport.com/>,
Bleep <https://bleep.com/>,
FreeSound <http://freesound.org/>,
Acapellas4U <http://www.acapellas4u.co.uk/>,
ccMixter <http://ccmixter.org/>
DJServicePack <http://djservicepack.com/>
PromoDJ <http://Promodj.com >
Other places to check out:
http://www.reddit.com/r/SongStems/
Unfortunately, I'm not sure about the legal status of most of these stems...
Echo Nest sandbox with stems of Jethro Tull <http://developer.echonest.com/sandbox/emi/jethro_tull.html>
Bands like Nine Inch Nails, MuteMath, Zorch, Trifonic and others releasing freely their albums as stems, to allow people do their own mix, mashup, etc.
Ableton has sets that are open for reuse <https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/tags/able10/>
You may also want to have a look at Indaba Music, in particular their remix opportunities (small fee to enter for one year). They organize remix contests on a regular basis, and for the majority of these, you can obtain stems for the full songs.
Beatport <http://www.beatport.com/>,
Bleep <https://bleep.com/>,
FreeSound <http://freesound.org/>,
Acapellas4U <http://www.acapellas4u.co.uk/>,
ccMixter <http://ccmixter.org/>
DJServicePack <http://djservicepack.com/>
PromoDJ <http://Promodj.com >
Other places to check out:
http://www.reddit.com/r/SongStems/
Unfortunately, I'm not sure about the legal status of most of these stems...
Echo Nest sandbox with stems of Jethro Tull <http://developer.echonest.com/sandbox/emi/jethro_tull.html>
Bands like Nine Inch Nails, MuteMath, Zorch, Trifonic and others releasing freely their albums as stems, to allow people do their own mix, mashup, etc.
Ableton has sets that are open for reuse <https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/tags/able10/>
You may also want to have a look at Indaba Music, in particular their remix opportunities (small fee to enter for one year). They organize remix contests on a regular basis, and for the majority of these, you can obtain stems for the full songs.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Assignment 5
There is a link for the Carsten Nicolai / Ryoji Ikeda piece is in the text. Here is the URL just in case
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c3y3tjytf75r4ib/09_id_08.flac?dl=0
1. Download and install oscilloscope (drop into appropriate max4live folder in devices)
http://www.maxforlive.com/library/device/1124/oscilloscope
Create a midi track with simpler and load a sample of your choice (samples can be found in Ableton's Browser under Library). Route the output of the midi track to the audio track containing the oscilloscope. Play some notes on a midi track and observe the oscilloscope display. What is the relation between the scope display and the waveform you loaded?
Hint: You can double-click on one of the clips in the midi track and draw a midi note, instead of playing it on a controller / keyboard.
Do not forget to select "In" on the Monitor of the audio channel to receive the signal.
2. Edit the oscilloscope in Max4Live. Uncheck the patching mode view to see its contents. Open the scope~ help (control-click the scope grid) and read the explanation about X-Y mode. Modify the oscilloscope patch so that it would receive a stereo input in X-Y mode manner. Save the patch with a different name (YourNameOscilloscope).
3. Load the Ikeda and Nicolai 09_id_08 recording into a clip on the audio track. Play the piece and observe the scope. Take few snapshots during playback. Explain what you see.
Submission: Submit the modified oscilloscope patch (.amxd), written answers to questions 1 and 3 and the screen shots.
Extra: Try adding an additional spectroscope~ instead of scope~ and hook it up the same way. Right click on it and change Display Mode to Sonogram. This will give you a sonogram where the time moves on the X axis, frequency is
on the Y axis, and color represents the amplitude.
Hint: you can find the patch by control-clicking on the effect in Ableton browser and selecting "Show in Finder".
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c3y3tjytf75r4ib/09_id_08.flac?dl=0
1. Download and install oscilloscope (drop into appropriate max4live folder in devices)
http://www.maxforlive.com/library/device/1124/oscilloscope
Create a midi track with simpler and load a sample of your choice (samples can be found in Ableton's Browser under Library). Route the output of the midi track to the audio track containing the oscilloscope. Play some notes on a midi track and observe the oscilloscope display. What is the relation between the scope display and the waveform you loaded?
Hint: You can double-click on one of the clips in the midi track and draw a midi note, instead of playing it on a controller / keyboard.
Do not forget to select "In" on the Monitor of the audio channel to receive the signal.
2. Edit the oscilloscope in Max4Live. Uncheck the patching mode view to see its contents. Open the scope~ help (control-click the scope grid) and read the explanation about X-Y mode. Modify the oscilloscope patch so that it would receive a stereo input in X-Y mode manner. Save the patch with a different name (YourNameOscilloscope).
3. Load the Ikeda and Nicolai 09_id_08 recording into a clip on the audio track. Play the piece and observe the scope. Take few snapshots during playback. Explain what you see.
Submission: Submit the modified oscilloscope patch (.amxd), written answers to questions 1 and 3 and the screen shots.
Extra: Try adding an additional spectroscope~ instead of scope~ and hook it up the same way. Right click on it and change Display Mode to Sonogram. This will give you a sonogram where the time moves on the X axis, frequency is
on the Y axis, and color represents the amplitude.
Hint: you can find the patch by control-clicking on the effect in Ableton browser and selecting "Show in Finder".
Final Project
This is a "free choice" project, so you get to choose your
genre, the type of musical language and so on. In terms of genre, it could be abstract, experimental, interactive, beat based / dance, instrumental or more traditional, and so on. In terms of the composition technique, this could be a remix, mashup or a completely original song. You may reuse parts of the previous assignments and show a fluent use of techniques taught in
class. For sources you can use pre-recorded materials, such as sounds from freesound.org or ccmixter.
Project Proposal Writeup
Submit a project description that defines the following (choose whatever is applicable)
- Choice of genre, style, function
- A list of music materials: types of sounds, instrumentation
- Technical notes: any special effect or sound design considerations
- Compositional plan: the choice musical form (if you have one already), instrumentation, use of effects, automation
- Artistic statement: description of the musical idea or motivation. .... also provide some motivation or inspirational blurb
Final Project Judgement Criteria
Criteria for evaluation of the musical composition will be:
1. Complexity of the project (technical execution)
2. Originality (musical idea)
3. Production Quality: avoid gross technical errors
4. Sizzle - reactions you will get from peers in class.
1. Complexity of the project (technical execution)
2. Originality (musical idea)
3. Production Quality: avoid gross technical errors
4. Sizzle - reactions you will get from peers in class.
5. Documentation - to be detailed later
6. Peer reviews - we will use soundcloud to comment on each other's work
Final grade will take into consideration both the composition and documentation.
Final grade will take into consideration both the composition and documentation.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Deconstruction presentations
The presentation of the deconstruction projects will take place in class Tu / Th. next week (Feb. 17/19). For the presentation prepare a one page document that contains the following:
Print a sheet with this information and bring it to class, and also email it to Mike before class.
During the class presentation you will explain the project according to the writeup and demonstrate it with your Ableton set. Have it open on your computer or bring it on a memory stick to load on the instructor machine. Remember to collect all and save.
Some example ideas or focal points for the presentation could be one or more of the following: overview of composition technique (choice of sound materials, form, variations, climax, transitions, resolution), elements of sound design, any special use or processing of sampled sounds, choice of instruments or effects, rhythmic, harmonic or melodic aspects, and so on. Also mention what you learned from this project, what difficulties you had and your accomplishments.
- Name of the project / Title of the song
- Names of participants in the group project
- Historical background: the artist, when it was composed, artistic highlights
- Genre of the song
- Explanation of the song form: list of sections with names / functions
- Instrumentation and Effects: types of tracks, instruments and effects used
- Provide a list of specific aspects of the project you are going to demonstrate.
Print a sheet with this information and bring it to class, and also email it to Mike before class.
During the class presentation you will explain the project according to the writeup and demonstrate it with your Ableton set. Have it open on your computer or bring it on a memory stick to load on the instructor machine. Remember to collect all and save.
Some example ideas or focal points for the presentation could be one or more of the following: overview of composition technique (choice of sound materials, form, variations, climax, transitions, resolution), elements of sound design, any special use or processing of sampled sounds, choice of instruments or effects, rhythmic, harmonic or melodic aspects, and so on. Also mention what you learned from this project, what difficulties you had and your accomplishments.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Topics for Review / Quiz 1:
- Two views
- Clips - Midi versus Audio
- Signal Chain
- Effects and Instruments
- Compressor
- EQ
- Vocoder
- Midi Effects: Arpeggio, Tonality
- Impulse
- Simpler
- Routing
- Master Track
- Return Tracks
- I/O selectors
- Delay
- Side Chaining
- Clip controls
- Warping types
- Follow action
- Warping markers and correction
- Recording into clip, into session view
- Automation / Envelopes
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Using Sampled (Parallel) Chords
In the last Lab part H2 we were showing the use of a single sampled chord in order to create a harmonic progression from MIDI single notes. Here are some musical examples for this style:
Here are some musical examples for this style:
Lucid - Future Sound Collabs
Mount Kimbie - Carbonated
Lone - Sungrazer Cascade
Mr Fingers - Can You Feel It?
Q. As we noted in class, the use of parallel chords does not follow the chord structure that would normally exist on a scale. Can you explain how melody and harmony are related in such case? Find in these videos some examples of harmonizing a melody that you like and see how it works.
Slides shown in class are here
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