EMS Courses
MUS 209: Musical Acoustics
A broad introductory course that presents the fundamentals of acoustics and psychoacoustics, contextualized and reinforced through practical applications in music and creative audio. Topics include the physical properties of sound, wave mechanics and propagation, acoustic measurements, perceptual properties of sound, and acoustical properties of physical spaces. Students will develop a mathematical understanding of sound, and learn to apply that knowledge to solve problems in a variety of technical and creative situations. Satisfies General Education Criteria for Natural Sciences & Techology.
MUS 407: Electroacoustic Music Techniques I
An examination of the history, technology and techniques of creating and performing electroacoustic music. Students are granted introductory access to the Experimental Music Studios and develop an understanding of electroacoustic music techniques through lecture/demonstration, reading and written homework assignments, listening, exams, and a series of technical studio projects. Topics include sound reproduction systems, principles of analog/digital audio, mixing and signal flow, synthesis, sampling, MIDI, an introduction to DAW-based composition and workflow, the evolution of electroacoustic music studio technology, and a historical survey of notable electroacoustic composers and their work. Students learn to use a variety of studio tools ranging from analog audio gear to contemporary digital software.
MUS 409: Electroacoustic Music Techniques II
Relying on knowledge and techniques from MUS 407, students deepen and refine their compositional craft and understanding of electroacoustic music through a series of guided composition projects. Students periodically prepare presentation topics and regularly share completed and in-progress compositions in a master class format. Students can expect to complete MUS 409 with a substantive understanding of DAW-based composition and engineering, coupled with knowledge of several supplementary hardware and software tools.
MUS 401: Out-of-the-Box Recording Techniques
Introduces basic principles and best practices of audio recording and engineering in a professional studio context. Topics include an overview of the physical properties of sound (acoustics/psychoacoustics), principles of analog and digital audio, acoustic considerations of rooms and studio design, microphone types and placement strategies, gain staging, stereo imaging and immersive recording techniques, signal processing techniques such as compression, reverb, and equalization, and the art and technology of mixing. This course is presented as a series of lectures coupled with supervised hands-on recording sessions with live musicians.
MUS 402: In-the-Box Recording and Production Techniques
This class is an advanced practicum in audio recording including studio microphone techniques, classical or concert microphone techniques, recording session management, audio editing, and advanced mixing, production, and mastering techniques. Students will record a variety of instruments and ensembles in the studio and in concert venues, and they will complete mixing projects of recording sessions. Recording outside of class time will be assigned.
MUS 403: Creative Audio Coding I
Principles and creative practices of audio coding, facilitated through an introduction to the SuperCollider (SC) programming language, a free and open-source software environment for real-time digital audio synthesis and algorithmic composition. SC provides tools for creative audio applications in a coding environment oriented toward exploration, experimentation and discovery, allowing engagement with creative sound more deeply and with more nuance than digital audio workstations (DAWs) and other timeline-based environments.
MUS 405: Creative Audio Coding II
A continuation of Creative Audio Coding I, which more deeply explores concepts and applications related to creative audio coding. Topics may include advanced audio synthesis and sampling techniques, immersive sound, controllers and interactivity, multichannel electroacoustic composition, etc. Concepts are presented using the SuperCollider (SC) programming language, a free and open-source software environment for real-time digital audio synthesis and algorithmic composition.