Computers and Music
Computers and Music
James C. Compton
Sunset Primary School, West Linn, Oregon
August 20, 2006
Most people think of computers as mundane tools for completing daily tasks. But they are also a central part of exciting new technologies for artists including musicians. As computers improve and become faster and more powerful, they are becoming as integral to a musician’s work as any instrument. Over the years, musicians have struggled to use the computer as an integrated tool, as working with audio places huge demands on the machine. This often resulted in problems such as latency, a time delay from pressing a note on the keyboard to hearing the sound. This can be quite frustrating during
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The use of this technology in the classroom has allowed students to play a song and see it instantly displayed on the screen. With the new wireless MIDI, students can interact with the computer via a keyboard from anywhere in the classroom. Today, there are also MIDI technologies for guitars, violins, saxophones, and even trumpets. A common problem for musicians today is choosing the right audio interface. There are PCI cards and stand-alone boxes available. One has to choose between USB or firewire ports, and how many inputs and outputs will be needed. For use with a high quality condenser microphone, the device should have built in 48-volt phantom power. Another choice are the depth and sample rates available for recording quality. CD quality is 16 bit at 44.1kHz , but much higher rates are possible. Certain interfaces are fine for single track recording, but others might work better to record several instruments at the same time (Walker, 2004). Professional musicians use the computer for a variety of applications. They use the mobility of the laptop to compose songs on the road in hotel rooms and on tour buses. They use the desktop machines at home to record all or part of a CD, saving costs substantially. Computers are used live on stage to run backing audio tracks, light cues, and multimedia shows, among other uses. Musical notation is easy on the computer and it is now possible to print
Most successful musicians know a hidden art carried out by the work of a good sound engineer; it is essential for a magnificent album. For the rest of us novice listeners and fans, we believe what we hear through our speakers or played over the radio are the true skilled professional musicians, soaring at their craft. Most contemporary music, from pop to R&B and acid jazz to the sophisticated realm of orchestral film scores, has been modernized by several inventions encased within the studio. The art of audio engineering has taken on new forms, from the nuts and bolts, "plug it in, and see if it works" era into the digital world, because of these wonderfully tragic solutions to a
Resembling an acoustic piano, the low keys are weighted heavier than the high keys. It has a memory that is filled with 50 classic piano songs, as well as the music book, “50 Greats for the Piano.” Fast and simple configuration and navigation is created through the Controller App for an iOS device, providing a rich graphical user interface. Whether the player is ready to record their next number one selling single or simply practice one hand at a time, the 2-track song recorder is a great extra with this
The History of the Piano The piano has seen many sights and has been a part of countless important events in the past and present, and is said to have dominated music for the past 200 years (Welton). Throughout history, inventions come along that "take art away from princes and give it the people" (Swan 41). Not unlike the printing press, the piano made what was once intangible possible: the poorest of peasants could enjoy the same music that their beloved rulers did. The piano can be played by "the rankest of amateurs, and the greatest of virtuosos" (Swan 41); so even if a person is not very intelligent, a simple tune can easily be learned.
It is important to recognize how the sound of music is being engineered over time. There are many audio engineers till this day trying to improve the qualities of stereo like or listening equipment to be the best
Music has been a part of human society for thousands of years, and in each time period, music has been an integral part of culture. During the Middle Ages, numerous instruments were created for the art of music making. One of these instruments is called the hurdy-gurdy. Despite its strange name, this instrument has stood the test of time and still attracts the attention of music-lovers today (Baines, Bowles, & Green, 2001).
The first section of this paper will examine or describe how the creation of the Fairlight Computer Musical instrument by Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie in 1979 changed the production of music forever but
The guitar, the guitar is an old but useful instrument. The guitar is 3,500 years old, the guitar is the most useful instrument there is.The guitar has only six string, the strings aren’t as thick as the bass is. The guitar strings are from thickest to thinnest. The thinnest strings are at the bottom of the guitar. The second instrument is the bass, the bass has the same frame as a guitar. How the bass is different from the guitar is that the bass on has four strings but the strings are a lot thicker than the guitar strings. The bass is similar to the guitar because the strings also are from thickest to thinnest. The third instrument is going to be the drums. The drums help keep a beat to a song. There are many different kinds of drums. They have a electric drums. Did you know the drummer from Def Leppard uses a custom electric drum kit because of the car accident he was in. His band members think he plays and sounds better than he did when he had two ams. The fourth instrument is going to be to keyboard. Like the drums there are many other kinds of keyboards too. The keyboard plays an important role in the music industry. The keyboard can tell what mood the song will be in like they keyboard can tell if the song will be happy like Van Halens Summer Nights is a happy song that is talking about summer is fun and how you have plans a lot haha and Beethoven's Pathétique. It’s a sad song
In my first two years at Howard University, I lived among flutes in Washington D.C.’s technology scene, attending hackathons and technology meet-ups. Armed with a spoonful of programming knowledge and a wave of enthusiasm, I seized every opportunity to grow through the people I encountered. Although I learned plenty from them about powerful tools, what I took away as a part of me was their reasons for loving tech. A desire to reduce traffic accidents in D.C.; a burning passion to help former inmates re-enter society; an urgent need for police accountability in minority neighborhoods. The following year, I
A vital part in the making of any professionally made album is the production and post-production process. These processes are the responsibility of audio engineers employed by record labels. The engineers are responsible for the recording, mixing, and mastering of audio tracks. To do this, engineers are trained with various technologies in the fields of multi track recording, outboard gear and digital/analog workstations. With their knowledge and tools, engineers help the artists convey their art as best as possible not only to themselves but also to the demographic they wish to express their art to.
<br>The development of recording technology has run parallel to a reorientation in popular music production. The goal of getting a good sound is no different now than it was when the first recordings were made, but the idea of what a good sound is and how it should be achieved are radically different.
Popular Music The term popular music is defined as “any of a number of musical genres ‘having wide appeal’ and typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry.” Throughout the years, musical styles have reflected the society of the time, therefore music has evolved the world through the changes that uncover every day. However music doesn’t just change alongside society but with technological advances and new ideas.
The modern day society is highly developed and the sector setting the trend for this development is represented by the technologic industry. Throughout the past recent decades, technology has evolved from an inaccessible dimension into one which impacts all aspects of the modern day life, from the making of breakfast to the means in which the people complete their professional tasks.
However, modern technology has made it possible to package many of the features of large recording studios into small digital recording consoles, which amateur musicians can afford. The price of one of these consoles, the Tascam Digital Portastudio 788, at Musiciansfriend.com, is $899.99 [1]. This console, although seemingly expensive, is much more cost-effective than paying for an entire studio, and can achieve nearly the same results. The real benefit of a digital recording console, however, is the creative control it bestows upon musicians. Instead of having a producer who dictates how the recording should sound, the musician becomes the producer, giving him complete control over all aspects of the composition. Additionally, because of the cost of studio recording, a musician's time in the studio is usually limited. However, with a personal digital recording console, one can freely experiment with new ideas without time constraints. While this unmediated recording environment theoretically provides an artist with unlimited creative flexibility, it also allows for detrimental misuse in the form of non-original composition, which can negate the creative possibilities of this new artistic process.
The definition of music is very different to many people. Some say that music is the arrangement of sound and silence. Others like myself say music is that and much more. Music is an aural form of art that is used to express emotion and touch the hearts of the listener through the use of phrasing, dynamics, style and tone color. Music is a very universal art form.
This does not detract the sources useful information as to the advancements of recording studio technology. Bryce Merrill illustrates the interactions between memory and home studio recordings through presenting ethnographic data in his paper, Music to Remember Me By . Merrill creates an interesting argument, supporting the use of home recording studios and their impact upon musicians in regard to wellbeing. The key elements within this article centre on the use of memory in the studio, new technologies, and the practice of home recording. The emphasis on personal experience and a lack of adequate external evidence, however, is apparent within this article which does compromise the validity of the notions presented. Although, it does serve as a great personal case study as Merrill explains his personal perspective of technological changes. More so, Merrill also manifests the personal impact and the necessity to adapt to technological changes, alluded to within Gibson 's article, which is also mentioned by Pinch and Bijsterveld . Therefore, these sources provide an overall solid basis for further research into the effect of technology upon both home and professional recording studios. The advancements made in digital music technology has allowed the accessibility of information on recording knowledge, that was once privy to those within a professional status. Studio engineers have always depended