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Sound Synthesis Class
with Christopher Mckinlay
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Date & Time
June 14, 2011, 7pm–10pm
June 18, 2011, 2pm–5pm
June 21, 2011, 7pm–10pm
June 25, 2011, 2pm–5pm
Location
Machine Project
Map
Pricing
$225 for members
$250 for non-members

The electronic synthesis of audio signals is a wonderful combination of mathematics (harmonic analysis and linear differential equations) and electrical engineering (analog and digital signal processing).

This class will present the theoretical fundamentals of sound synthesis with a view towards applications in music and sound design. We will use the open source software platform SuperCollider as a toolkit for the class.

Requirements:
A laptop with a working installation of SuperCollider, headphones, and a love of sound. No prior mathematical or programming experience is required.

About the Instructor:
Christopher Mckinlay is a 5th year PhD candidate in Mathematics at UCLA studying digital audio signal processing.

Class 1
Tuesday, June 14, 7pm–10pm
Software and Synthesis
with Christopher Mckinlay

An introduction to digital audio signal processing and the SuperCollider programming environment. Audio and control rates. Analog transitions and AD/DA converters.
Class 2
Saturday, June 18, 2pm–5pm
Time and Frequency
with Christopher Mckinlay

Mathematical fundamentals of acoustic waves and how we perceive them. A rough guide to the Fourier transform. Spectrum analyzers. The classical waveforms and their spectra. Additive synthesis.
Class 3
Tuesday, June 21, 7pm–10pm
Frequency-based Effects
with Christopher Mckinlay

Subtractive synthesis and its fundamental role in audio production. Filters and their properties. Resonance (‘Q’) and filters as oscillators.
Class 4
Saturday, June 25, 2pm–5pm
Time-based Effects
with Christopher Mckinlay

The frequency properties of delays and feedback networks. A taxonomy of related audio effects such as reverberation, flanging, ring modulation, and chorusing.
Class 5
Saturday, June 25, 2pm–5pm
Non-linear Synthesis and Effects
with Christopher Mckinlay

Introduction to frequency modulation synthesis, compression, and saturation. Bit reduction and noise. Analog and digital distortion.

Refund policy:
Please note, all class fees include a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $25 that will be deducted from your refund if you sign up for, then drop, a class. So, for example, if you sign up for Machine Sewing 101 and pay the $155 class fee, but then remember that you have trapeze school final exams that conflict with the Sewing class and shouldn’t have signed up after all, we will refund you $130 of your tuition payment.

Gift certificate purchase:
If you have a Machine Project gift certificate you’d like to redeem for a class, please email us at machine@machineproject.com and let us know.