Robert S. Thompson Ph.D.

1114 Standard Building

Office Phone: 404-651-1731, E-Mail: rst@aucourantrecords.com

SPRING SEMESTER 2001

Office Hours: as posted or by appointment

School of Music - Special Topics

Topics in Csound Computer Music Synthesis

Center for Audio Recording Arts (CARA)

Georgia State University

MUS 4890/6890 ‑ Monday 2:00 PM 1100 Standard

Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor

Texts and materials:

The Csound Book, Richard Boulanger Editor, MIT PRESS

Notebook

Optional Materials:

DAT tapes

CD-R recordable CD’s

Cassette tapes

It is recommended that you begin with one DAT tape, 120 minutes in duration and purchase more materials as needed throughout the quarter. Please purchase your recording materials from Tape Warehouse in Chamblee.

Course aim: This seminar will continue the discussion of concepts and techniques of software synthesis using the worlds most widely utilized acoustic compiler Csound, developed at MIT. The focus of our study will be the generic WINTEL Digital Audio Workstation as the general synthesis system for Csound. Csound will also work on the MAC. Our exploration of Csound will include:

Specific Technical Agenda using Csound:

additive synthesis

subtractive synthesis

non-linear synthesis

control voltage emulation

soundfile manipulation

digital signal processing

score and orchestra design

software synthesis instrument design

The goal of our activity will be to facilitate exploration and experimentation so that each student may develop technical facility in Csound software synthesis which match his or her own artistic sensibility and personal goals.

Assignments and Grading Policy:

There will be a number of guided projects, assigned throughout the quarter, which will address the various uses and applications of Csound. In addition to these tasks there will be two examinations.

Task I: 5%

Task 2: 5%

Task 3: 5%

Task 4: 5%

Task 5: 5%

Task 6: 5%

MIDTERM EXAM: 20% - Online Due: March 19, 2001

Task 7: 15%

Task 8: 15%

FINAL EXAM: 20% - Online Due: May 1, 2001

Attendance, Laboratory Time and Security Issues:

Attendance: After 4 unexcused absences the professor reserves the right to drop a student from the course. Attendance and class participation is highly encouraged. We will meet once per week.

Laboratory Time: Lab time will be available to students in this course working both in pairs or small groups and individually. Some of the projects will be group projects and some will be individual projects. Lab times will be assigned and scheduled throughout the quarter. Studio M

and the CAI lab will provide the primary sites for Csound course work. However, because the software if free, you may work with Csound on your own computer systems.

Security Issues: Only those individuals enrolled for credit in a course taught in the Center for Audio Recording Arts (CARA) will have access to the facility. Furthermore, depending on the course and the level of the students technical skills, as designated by the various courses, various aspects of the studio will be available for use. No keys for the facility will ever be issued to students.

It is crucial that no guests be invited into the CARA facility without prior clearance and that you do not allow any persons without identification into the facility under any circumstance. Failure to comply with this rule will result in your being dropped from the course and the loss of studio access.

Laboratory Fee: In keeping with policies in place elsewhere in the School of Music and in other academic departments there will be a Laboratory Fee in effect for each of the studio courses offered in the Center for Audio Recording Arts. This fee is necessary for studio maintenance costs and upgrades. The fee is $50.00.

To pay your fee go to the University Bookstore and purchase 2 $25.00 Cash Cards. Bring these cash cards to Ms. Judith Vaughn in the 5th Floor of the Hass Howell Building for payment. She will give you a receipt for the transaction. Bring this receipt to me for the issue of an official CARA ID Badge. Studio access will be denied until you have been issued a CARA ID.

CARA ID BADGES: All persons working in the studio complex must carry with them their Student ID card and also a valid CARA ID BADGE. Please wear the CARA ID BADGE at all times while working in the studios. This is extremely helpful to the administration as an aid to identifying authorized persons quickly. Lost or destroyed badges will be replaced free of charge, but replacement will take at least one day. Keep the receipt for your fee payment.

Studio access will not be granted without a CARA ID BADGE. Please protect your badges and do not forget them when coming to the studio. GUEST CARA ID BADGES are available for loan from Dr. Thompson, if you want to bring a guest with you. Please get these badges in advance and return them promptly.

Studio Issues: Studio guidelines will be published shortly. A few points in the meantime:

1. No food or drink in the studio complex.

2. Do not bring backpacks, coats, umbrellas or the like to the studio - store these in a

School of Music Locker. For locker assignment see Demorah in the School of

Music office.

3. Do not make excessive noise or behave disruptively in the studios. This is a

professional working environment and other people are working.

4. Do not use excessive volume in any of the studios

5. Do not bring unauthorized guests into the studio complex.

Academic Policies Relating to this Course:

This is a lecture and laboratory course and these policies apply to both the lecture and laboratory components.

1. Attendance Policies and Consequences of Non-Attendance and Tardiness:

Prompt, consistent attendance is required and will be considered in determination of grades. Record of attendance begins on the first day of class. Requests for excused absences should be submitted to the instructor in advance of the absence. Failure to attend class regularly may result in your withdrawal by the instructor and a grade of W or WF for the course. After four unexcused absences the instructor may withdraw the student.

Being late to class is disruptive to the instructor and the rest of the students attending. Please make every effort to be in class on time. A student will be considered tardy 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of class. Three tardys will equal one absence.

2. Excused Absences:

Excused absences for illness or other urgent reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Except in cases of emergency, your absences should be cleared in advance of class time. If, in the judgment of the instructor, the number of excused absences compromises your ability to meet the objectives of the course, you will be advised to withdraw or take an Incomplete.

3. Incomplete (I) grades:

The grade of I will be given only to students who have completed the majority of the course work and for a non-academic reason beyond their control have been unable to complete the semester (e.g. take the final exam, submit final paper, perform jury, etc.).

4. Withdrawal (W/WF):

Prior to the mid-point of a grading period a student may withdraw (or be withdrawn by the instructor) and receive a grade of W. Withdrawal without penalty is not permitted following the midpoint of the grading period when the grade WF will be assigned.

5. Grading Determination:

In addition to numerical and letter grades for project, tests and the like, factors such as attitude, professionalism and consistency of quality in assignments will be considered in awarding the final grade. Students are invited to discuss these aspects of their grade with the professor at any time.

6. Late and Incomplete Work:

In general, late and incomplete work is not acceptable for a university level course. Assignments, tests, projects and the like will be discounted one grade point for each day they are late. After three days of lateness a grade of F will be assigned.

Please refer to the GSU General Catalog for college and university policies on grading, academic honesty and related issues.