Maintained by Gary P. Scavone.
Music Technology,
Schulich School of Music
McGill University
Fall 2025
| Course Description |
This course is a continuation of MUMT 306: Music and Audio Computing I. Various sound synthesis and processing techniques will be studied. Exercises will focus on the development of audio processing and programming skills. Students will learn how to implement sound synthesis and audio processing algorithms in Matlab and Pd.
| Instructor: Gary P. Scavone | TA: Eto Sun | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| Course Details |
| Time: | Fridays 1:35 - 4:25 PM | |
| Place: | C-412 | |
| Credits: | 3 | |
| Prerequisites: | MUMT 203, previous programming experience, curiosity and creativity beneficial | |
| Texts: | Computer Music: Synthesis, Composition, and Performance by Dodge & Jerse, 2nd Edition, Wadsworth Publishing, 1997. | |
| The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music by Miller S. Puckette, 2006. |
| Grading and Policies |
Attendance and punctuality: It is expected that you will be punctual and attend all classes. E-mail communications with teaching staff should be courteous and professional. Aim for brief, to-the-point messages, and plan ahead: allow a reasonable amount of time for responses. Extensions and/or make-ups will need to be requested a week or more in advance of a due date and should include supporting documentation.
There will be two 1.5 hour "in-class" exams, each consisting of both a written and a computer-based section. Assignment due dates will be indicated for each homework. The grade of a late homework will be reduced by 20% per day after the due date. Homework handed in 5 or more days late will be given a grade of 0.
| Exams (2): | 35% | |
| Homework (8): | 35% | |
| Final Project: | 25% | |
| Participation: | 5% |
The "participation grade will be based on attentiveness/participation in class discussions. Grading curves will be applied if deemed appropriate. Work submitted for evaluation as part of this course may be checked with text-matching software within myCourses. In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.
| Final Projects |
There will not be a final exam for this class. Instead, students are required to work on a final project of their own design. The final project provides students the opportunity to pursue a more in-depth study of a particular aspect of the class that they are most interested in. Group projects are possible with the instructor's approval. Project topics should relate to the course material and might include an electro-acoustic composition, the development of an application, or the use of an existing software package (Pd, Matlab, ...) to achieve an interesting music synthesis task. Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor and/or TA in the development stages of the project. Short project progress discussions will occur in class during the 6th and 10th weeks of the semester. Final presentations will occur during the last class of the semester. A short web-based project report detailing the objectives, methodology, and results will be due at the presentation session. Grading will be based in part on effort, organization and creativity in pursuing the project objectives.
| Course Outline |
| Week 1 (29 August): | Digital Signals, Amplitude / Envelopes, Introduction to Pd |
| Week 2 (5 September): | Sound Spectra, Audio Metrics, Audio Processing in Matlab |
| Week 3 (12 September): | Sampling, Wavetables, Granular Synthesis |
| Week 4 (19 September): | Digital Filters & Delay Lines |
| Week 5 (26 September): | Delay-Based Effects |
| Week 6 (3 October): | Artificial Reverberation, Project Discussion #1 |
| Week 7 (10 October): | Review, Exam #1 |
| Study Break (17 October): | No Class |
| Week 8 (24 October): | Additive Synthesis, Classic Waveforms |
| Week 9 (31 October): | Amplitude Modulation, FM Synthesis |
| Week 10 (7 November): | Frequency-Domain Analysis, Modal Synthesis, Project Discussion #2 |
| Week 11 (14 November): | Physical Modeling |
| Week 12 (21 November): | Exam #2, Frequency-Domain Processing |
| Week 13 (28 November): | Final Project Presentations |
| Labs & Links |
Conformément à la Charte des droits de l'étudiant de l'Université McGill, chaque étudiant a le droit de soumettre en français ou en anglais tout travail écrit devant être noté, sauf dans le cas des cours dont l'un des objets est la maîtrise d'une langue.
McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see McGill's guide to academic honesty for more information).
L'université McGill attache une haute importance à l'honnêteté académique. Il incombe par conséquent à tous les étudiants de comprendre ce que l'on entend par tricherie, plagiat et autres infractions académiques, ainsi que les conséquences que peuvent avoir de telles actions, selon le Code de conduite de l'étudiant et des procédures disciplinaires (pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez consulter le guide pour l'honnêteté académique de McGill).
Please read the Guidelines for teaching and learning and this course outline.
© Instructor-generated course materials (e.g., handouts, notes, summaries, exam questions) are protected by law and may not be copied or distributed in any form or in any medium without explicit permission of the instructor. Note that copyright infringements can be subject to follow-up by the University under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
|
| ©2004-2025 McGill University. All Rights Reserved. Maintained by Gary P. Scavone. |