Music Technology for the Writer

In this course, students learn to utilize digital technology and MIDI to create musical arrangements of either original or existing thematic material using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Students focus on the musical use of technology and production aspects of a project, including the MIDI standard, signal flow of a MIDI and recording workstation, utilizing sound processing equipment, choosing appropriate sounds and combining elements from software synthesizers, and alternate approaches to quantizing and refining rhythmic grooves. Students learn aspects of mixing and production through practical applications of tools and techniques such as equalizers, reverbs, delays, flangers, and choruses, and dynamic processing units-compressors, noise gates, and limiters. Students learn ways to enhance writing in recording and mixing through the effective use of sound processing equipment. In addition to class meetings, students will be expected to schedule individual hands-on time for practice and assignments in the lab.