CMUS 102 Survey of Music Technology

The technologies covered in this course introduce the digital tools needed to take music from its inception, to charting it theoretically, through recording, mixing, mastering, and creating print product for the marketplace. While digital hardware and software change, this course introduces the essential steps required in the current commercial music industry to prepare a product for distribution.

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After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussion

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for the discussion. Each thread must be at least 500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words.

Digital Audio Worksheet: from the Digital Audio lecture and research using the web, the student will fill out the worksheet using complete sentences. This worksheet will prepare the student for his/her work with music technology, as well as the exams.

The student will create a Nashville numbers chart to represent the song he/she is working with throughout the term. This will help the student continue to work in various technological tools to record, edit, mix, and notate this song.

The student will use the Ableton Live digital audio workstation to create several drum patterns in session view to use as building blocks for later assignments.

The student will utilize his/her previously created drum patterns along with newly recorded instrumental parts to flesh out a rhythm track recording with virtual instruments for the song he/she is working on throughout the term. This will include instruments such as drums, bass, percussion, keys, rhythm guitar, and lead guitar.

The student will take his/her knowledge of Ableton Live and translate it into the new digital audio workstation environment of Pro Tools. Once he/she learns the basics of how to navigate this new platform, the student will recreate his/her rhythm section recording in the new format.

In this assignment, the student will take his/her previously created rhythm section recording in Pro Tools and add a recording of an acoustic audio source—his/her vocals. The basics of gain structure, microphone technique, and vocal processing will be demonstrated.

The student will return to Ableton Live for this assignment and learn the basics of integrating video content into his/her creative projects. The student will also learn some slightly more advanced techniques in Ableton, such as time stretching.

The student will utilize Dorico music notation software to create a simple lead sheet for the song he/she has been working on throughout the term. This lead sheet will include identifying information, key, tempo, meter, rhythms, harmonies, melodies, and lyrics.

Quizzes (2)

There will be 2 quizzes throughout this course. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, include 13-20 multiple-choice questions, and have a 45-minute time limit.

The midterm exam will be a combination of 1 essay and 20 multiple-choice and true/false questions that will assess the student’s working knowledge of the basics of music theory, as well as the tools and processes involved in modern music production. One attempt is allowed with a time limit of 2 hours.

The final exam will be a combination of multiple choice and true/false questions that will assess the student’s working knowledge of all of the content presented in the course. One attempt is allowed with a time limit of 2 hours for the 40 questions.