Computer Applications In Music Class 5-10 Frank Markovich Fall 2005 Revision A August 27, 2005.

Computer Applications In Music Class 5-10 Frank Markovich Fall 2005 Revision A August 27, 2005

Organization There are a few items that I should be noted: –Organization and process on the computer can help and will often be required. –Really decide on how you will save your data and where you will save it. –Hierarchical structure best for most people. –Do constant backups – To CD or DVD To a hard drive To tape To a large storage site (Gmail is a good one to use 2Gig). –Next assignment covers file management (refer to page 29-35 in text).

Operating Systems This corresponds to module 5 in your text. Please read by the next class. Currently there are 2 main operating systems in use by musicians – MS Windows and Mac. There are other operating systems such as Lynx and Unix that are used in other areas. Both of the main operating systems use GUI (Graphical User Interface). Apple actually was the first of the 2 to use that type.

Organization is important Best to store information in a Hierarchical file structure. Make names something that makes sense. Dont code your file names! Back up often – I sent most of you a link to join GMAIL – Google mail. Now has 2.5 Gig of storage – Send yourself file updates often. Do revision control be it numerical or alpha such as xxx revA or xxx rev1.1 etc.

Computer S/W Maintenance Keep up to date virus, anti-spyware etc. Run regularly. –Microsoft has an anti-spyware that is fair –Also run Ad-aware and spybot. Both free and downloadable. Run the operating system updates. Run defrag programs regularly. Spam filters help somewhat – I use rules in Outlook. Have a firewall – either S/W or H/W

Web Great and not so great – Mozilla is an alternative to MS Explorer. Less problems for many. Google has an anti-spyware and pop-up blocker built in. Be careful where you go. Dont give out personal information!! Watch out for Phishing.

Web Positive Great source for research. Lots of MIDI files on web that can be downloade. Lots of music in both print etc. Dont always trust the information. Make sure that you have another source. We will not do a web page in this class. If you want to work on one I can help in lab time but that is best left for a web development class. Embedding music though is very easy.

Many other uses Google is just one of many search engines. Try various ones for finding data. Forums and News – I dont use much but do belong to 3 user groups: –Protools –Hard Disk Recording –Westside lumber (Hobby is model RR).

Basic Computer and Networking Concepts in book Chapter 6 We already talked about the difference between digital and analog but as a review analog is more the real world – a continuous changing sound, waveform etc. While digital is 1s and 0s or yes and nos grouped in bytes, etc. Modern computers are digital but many of the inputs are analog. Converting from Analog to Digital is required for modern computers to process the data. Then the data must be converted from Digital to Analog to be used again.

Internet Protocols So that all computers can talk to each other a protocol was set up. TCP/IP or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This is a data structure.

Internet Addressing Domain Name – fmarkovich.music.edu as an example IP address – physical address = 195.55.200.2 Most people never have to deal with it as a S/W program called Domain Name Server (DNS) handles the translation. Web internet address use a URL or Uniform Resource Locators. Such as https:// or ftp:// This is what browers will use.

Files Files have an extension that tells the computer what program to use to open the file. For example for finale files it is.mus – that will tell the computer that when a file is.mus to use finale to open it. Never delete the extensions. Macs are a bit different but the idea is the same.

Audio Files For windows the file format is.wav for Mac it is Aif. Most programs in music can read either one but you may have to do a file conversion. Protools as an example will import either file type but you have to specify. When saving a file make sure that you use the right format for the computer. MIDI files – these are very small but there is really no music data in them. Just data that tells a MIDI device what not to play, for how long, volume, bends etc. Most MIDI files are 2K or less.

Compression Compression is used to save space. For example a.wav file will use 5Meg of space per minute per stereo track. So a 3 minute piece will be about 30 Meg. While a similar MP3 will be about 5 to 6 Meg. Huge difference. MP3 is the main compression format for audio but others do exist. There is a big change taking place though in that ACC and WMA are replacing MP3 as more processing can take place and the ACC is what your I=Pod uses.

Video compression MPEG-1 is the main one used now for DVD format but there are issues particularly with sound. The sound is not synced with the video fully, but rather only at the start of each scene. MPEG-4 addresses this a little but doesnt fully sync yet.

Future In the future there will be yet newer schemes for compression and distribution of both audio and video. Current compression means are not loss – less. Some data is lost and some artifacts do creep in. I have trouble at times listening to MP3s but only when things are quiet. In your car with the engine running and driving you are going to not hear anything above about 5K Hz, while most music has frequencies up to about 20K Hz so for me MP3s in cars are fine but not in my living room.

Short Quiz For next Tuesday read pages 25-73 in the textbook. Bring in any questions that you have next Tuesday.

A to D and D to A These will be critical for you to understand with digital audio. Will only cover the basics. The world in Analog not digital but we do mainly digital recording now. We take an analog signal and convert it to a digital signal. This is called A to D conversion.

The 2 important numbers Number of bits, early recordings were only 8 bits, then the industry went to 16, now 24 bits is standard and 96 is even getting to be common with others inbetween. Sampling rate – how many conversions per second. The higher the sampling rate the higher the accuracy of the conversion. Typically in music it is 44KHz, 48KHz, or 96KHz. Less than 44KHz (32KHz is reserved for mainly voice – lecture etc.). Nyquest says that the frequency must be at least 2 times the highest frequency of interest to capture the information. Since the human ear can hear up to 20KHz – well some can, that means that the sampling rate must be over that frequence. I will show on the board the idea of this.

D to A Going back the other way you must convert from digital back to analog. Same concepts apply and your D to A must match frequency and sample size in order to work properly.

Recording I just want to give you an introduction into digital recording. We will first review the A/D and D/A. I will do this with equipment in our lab to start but will bring in ProTools at a later date. To start we will use sound forge. We will start on Page 6 of the online manual.

Sound forge advantages Easy to get started. With an external mixer can do quite a bit. Good method to learn the basics, very little equipment required etc. I use this for simple things – lectures etc. Very fast and easy to learn. Once you have learned this other programs will fall into place. Good for just scratchpad or for a small demo. If you need something fast this works well.

Sound forge disadvantages Only 2 channels. For most recording this is just not enough. - I use at least 2 just per instrument. Not full featured in the version we are running. I really prefer to use ProTools for critical work. Some small bugs that are bothersome. Not in a format that studios can mix down to easily. Lower dynamic range than external systems. No automation in the version – new version may offer it with an external Mackie Mixer.

Mackie Mixer Manual is loaded on your computer at school. Be sure to read it then play with the mixer. Also review the hook up manual. At this point will go to word document on basic mixing.

Software Mixers In order to really take advantage of these you must know the basics of mixing. The idea is just the same as a H/W mixer. Following is a 2 page on one S/W mixer. I like Vegas as a stand alone mixer but it may be overkill for you.

Do a write-up of each section – at least a couple of sentences summing up the section. Add in any questions that you may have on this.

MIDI, which means: Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a digital communications protocol. In August of 1983, music manufacturers agreed on a document that is called "MIDI 1.0 Specification". Any device that has MIDI capabilities must adhere to this specific data structure to ensure that all MIDI devices are capable of working together. This protocol is a language that allows interworking between instruments from different manufacturers by providing a link that is capable of transmitting and receiving digital data. It is important to remember that MIDI transmits commands, but it does not transmit an audio signal. The MIDI specification includes a common language that provides information about events, such as note on and off, preset changes, sustain pedal, pitch bend, and timing information. The specification has been updated more recently with specific data structures for handling sample dumps, MIDI time code, general MIDI and standard MIDI files. To see a complete listing of all MIDI data, go to:

There are four main categories of MIDI data. The following charts represent information on the current hexadecimal numbers that are used in MIDI transmission. Each MIDI message includes a Status Byte. If they are required, Data Bytes will follow each Status Byte. Some of the example below have links that may be clicked for more detail about the MIDI event. Channel MessagesChannel Messages System Common System Common System Exclusive System Exclusive System Real- Time System Real- Time

MIDI at NDNU COLLEGE OF NOTRE DAME MUSIC TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY MIDI AND MUSIC SYNTHESIZERS This handout presents instructions for using General MIDI specifications with each of the three music keyboard synthesizers in the Music Tech Lab. If you need more details than are in this handout, consult the published manuals at the computer stations.

Start up Finale In the Help choose How to use the manual

After reading how to use the manual go to help and read Chapters 1-3 in the manual. Do a paper for assignment 6 on how you will use Finale or a notation program in your music development. Answer the following questions: 1.Why use the computer to notate? 2.What advantages does the computer have in doing notation? 3.What could be future uses for the computer in notation? 4.How will you use the computer and notation? 5.What roadblocks do you see to learning how to notate on the computer? This should be turned in by Oct 11, 2004

2) Which website that have lots of MIDI files to download? How to put a MIDI on my web page? What is the difference between MIDI and MP3? Lets start by answering these questions: MP3 files are audio files that have been compressed. The compression takes the audio files and makes them smaller with some minor loss of information. Digital data (16 bits) is in the original Wave file. This is at 44KHz with 16 bits. That data would normally be run through a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) and converted into an analog signal to drive the speakers. With MP3 the data is compressed and on playback it uncompressed but is still handled in a similar matter. A 3 minute MP3 would have about 4Meg of information. MIDI files are computer files that are MIDI data. No music until it goes through a MIDI instrument and the digital data is then read to control the instrument and make the music. A 3 minute MIDI file would have about 1K of data. Much smaller and easier to handle.

First Finale Assignment Watch the Finale Tutorial. Take notes on entry up to the Hyperscribe section. Make sure that you ask instructor questions about areas that you dont understand. Enter Happy Birthday as on the next page. Send me the file by Oct 18, 2004.

At this point class will watch part of the tutorial. You can do this with Finale or with Notepad. You have one week and 3 days to complete this assignment.

Lets discuss this.

MIDI Folder Hands On Midi Library - H MIDI Files on the Net - Self Sequenced Music Under 75 Years Old Midi Music Page Music Software GUITAR (Shareware Music Machine) Music Software NOTATION (Shareware Music Machine) SyntheSysResearch The Finale Forum - For users of Coda Music's Finale The Midi Express - Hundreds of TV and movie midi themes WAVPLANET.COM- Television

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Use a search engine Use a search engine to explore the web. Find at least 4 new sites with MIDI files. Look particularly for styles that you are interested in. We will work on importing into Finale. Isnt as easy as you might think it is.

2nd Notation Assignment This assignment will be using Hyperscribe. Pick a piece that you have music for or better yet compose your own piece. If you compose your own piece you can earn an A+ on this assignment. If you pick a piece then your top grade you can earn is A-. I really want you to write a piece. If you are not a music major there is only a bonus for doing your own piece. If you compose your own piece you will not be required to have lyrics, otherwise you will need to put lyrics in the piece or have an piece with at least 4 instruments. Enter the following: –Notes –Title –Composer –Lyrics –Chords (in symbol form) –Articulation. –Time and key signatures –Correct clefs –Space music so no more than 4 measures per line Must be at least 24 measures long. Due a week from next Monday (Nov 1). You may have to start it in Notepad and then move it to Finale in order to complete it and have it look close to the original!

Finale Tutorial For this assignment you must finish watching the entire video tutorial on Finale. Answer the following questions: –Explain the steps setting up your score. –How do you create pickup measures? –How many tools in the main tool palette? –How do you add new staves? –What is the difference between page view and scroll view? Why would you choose one over the other (give examples). –Explain how to change the key, time or clef. Give at least 2 examples of the clef. –Explain in simple entry tool how to enter notes using the number keys. –Explain exactly how to use your computer keyboard and speedy entry to inter notes. –Explain in Speedy Entry how to enter notes. For an example use a C major scale and then the C major chord all quarter notes. –Explain steps to entering music using Hyperscribe and a MIDI keyboard. –Why is setting up the Hyperscribe correctly key to a correct entry of your piece? –Explain Quantization. –Can you enter music with a non MIDI instrument? Explain how if you can do that. –Explain the steps in copying a section of music and pasting it somewhere else in the score. –Explain at least 5 things that the mass edit tool can do, how to do them and why it is important.

Cont. Explain 2 different ways to add lyrics to your score. How do you add chord symbols? How do you show fretboard diagrams? How do you add staccato to a note? To a group of notes? Explain 3 different shortcut keys for adding articulation. How do you pick a note duration range to apply articulation (like 1/8 th to ¼ notes) How do you apply performance markings to a rhythmic section. (explained in articulation video). Explain use of resize tool. How do you you change the size of just 1 staff? How do you join measures from one line to the next? Very important for some of the pieces you already did. How do you freeze the number of measures per line in your piece? How do you just listen to one note or chord in the playback menu? Explain how to use smart playback. How do you print individual parts of a score? Explain how to create a worksheet for a class in finale. Explain the steps to scanning a piece of printed music. Explain how to use at least 3 plug ins and why you would use them in your music. How do you create slashed symbols for rhythmic notation?

2nd Notation Assignment This assignment will be using Hyperscribe. Pick a piece that you have music for or better yet compose your own piece. If you compose your own piece you can earn an A+ on this assignment. If you pick a piece then your top grade you can earn is A-. I really want you to write a piece. If you are not a music major there is only a bonus for doing your own piece. If you compose your own piece you will not be required to have lyrics, otherwise you will need to put lyrics in the piece or have an piece with at least 4 instruments. Enter the following: –Notes –Title –Composer –Lyrics –Chords (in symbol form) –Articulation. –Time and key signatures –Correct clefs –Space music so no more than 4 measures per line Must be at least 24 measures long. Due a week from next Monday (Nov 8, 2004). You are being allowed extra time so that you can compose something. Last term one of the best pieces was composed by a non-music major. The student didnt have any bias towards what to do and came up with a very modern sounding piece. You may have to start it in Notepad and then move it to Finale in order to complete it and have it look close to the original!

This takes the class to the ½ way point. Instructor will post rest of class before this part is complete.

Go to: http://music.northwestern.edu/links/projects/midi/expmidiindex.htmlhttp://music.northwestern.edu/links/projects/midi/expmidiindex.html

Start up Finale In the Help choose How to use the manual

After reading how to use the manual go to help and read Chapters 1-3 in the manual. Do a paper for assignment 6 on how you will use Finale or a notation program in your music development. Answer the following questions: 1.Why use the computer to notate? 2.What advantages does the computer have in doing notation? 3.What could be future uses for the computer in notation? 4.How will you use the computer and notation? 5.What roadblocks do you see to learning how to notate on the computer? This should be turned in by Oct 17, 2004

2) Which website that have lots of MIDI files to download? How to put a MIDI on my web page? What is the difference between MIDI and MP3? Lets start by answering these questions: MP3 files are audio files that have been compressed. The compression takes the audio files and makes them smaller with some minor loss of information. Digital data (16 bits) is in the original Wave file. This is at 44KHz with 16 bits. That data would normally be run through a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) and converted into an analog signal to drive the speakers. With MP3 the data is compressed and on playback it uncompressed but is still handled in a similar matter. A 3 minute MP3 would have about 4Meg of information. MIDI files are computer files that are MIDI data. No music until it goes through a MIDI instrument and the digital data is then read to control the instrument and make the music. A 3 minute MIDI file would have about 1K of data. Much smaller and easier to handle.

First Finale Assignment Watch the Finale Tutorial. Read in text 331-356. Will enter in step first. Make sure that you ask instructor questions about areas that you dont understand. Enter Happy Birthday as on the next page. Send me the file by Oct 18, 2004.

Lets discuss this.

We will watch the Video training We will watch the first part of the video training in class. Best if we watch and then try what we see on the tutorial.