MU 311 Foundations of Audio Technology

Foundations of Audio Technology is a lecture/lab course designed to build upon a student's knowledge of the concepts and current trends of audio technology with a primary focus on combining various processes and tools to create new music compositions while speculating on the cultural, performance, and philosophical implications of music technology. An investigation into the history, culture, and aesthetics of music and technology as deployed in experimental and popular music from the 19th century to the present. Through original research, creative hands-on projects, readings, and lectures, the following topics will be explored: the history of radio, audio recording, and the recording studio, as well as the development of musique concrete and early electronic instruments; the creation and extension of musical interfaces, both physical and virtual; the exploration of electromagnetic technologies in pickups, and the development of dub, hip-hop, and turtablism; the history and application of the analog synthesizer, from the Moog modular to the Roland TR-808; the history of computer music, including music synthesis and representation languages; historical and contemporary practices in live electronics, circuit bending, and electro-acoustic music; contemporary issues in copyright and intellectual property.

Credits

3