Realtime Control
Course Syllabus
Week 1
Review of MIDI
Overview of Max
Max basics
object overview
MIDI objects
math objects, logic operators, and timing objects
resources for learning more
Week 2
Modifying data (transposition, inversion, randomization, etc.)
Repurposing data (changing control data to note data, etc.)
Detecting events (select, ==,
match, if, gate, route, etc.)
Changing timing (pipe, delay)
Generating timed actions (metro, tempo, line, etc.)
Week 3
Review of digital audio
Overview of MSP (Playing soundfiles, oscillators, and simple control
functions)
Continue topics from previous week
Week 4
Algorithmic composition/improvisation
Why realtime?
What is interactivity?
Uses of randomness and probability in musical structure (random, urn,
drunk, table, etc.)
Control functions in audio and music
Week 5
Mapping
MIDI to MSP and vice versa
logs and exponents
lookup tables
Detection of characteristics in data
melodic contour
histograms
beat detection
amplitude following
pitch detection
Week 6
More synthesis ideas
Waveshaping
sampling
granular
subtractive
hybrid
Considerations in instrument design
note management
velocity
envelopes
Principles of program construction
encapsulation
subroutines
routing
arguments
variables
Week 7
Composition and design considerations for interactive realtime performance
musical and performative goals
sonic/musical materials
controllers
cognition/interaction
Data structures in Max
table
coll
preset
matrices (and jit.cellblock)
Week 8
Presentation of short performances
Critique and review
Planning of final performance project
Week 9
Sound localization
Delay-based processing
Filters
Reverb and other effects
Week 10
Alternative means of control
iCube
Wacom
video tracking
audio following
Extended concepts of music
chance
collage
ambient music
networked performance
audio installation
audience participation
Discussion of new venues for interactive music
Week 11
Integration of MIDI/audio/video/etc. for performance
Graphics in Max (lcd/Jitter)
Correlation of music/sound to art/visual aesthetics (mappings of musical
parameters to spatial/visual ones)
Week 12
Max arcana (miscellaneous esoteric stuff)
grab
textedit
dialog
mtr
seq~
timeline
active
thispatcher
pcontrol
menubar
scripting
gestalt
collectives
Week 13
Presentation of performances
Critique and refinement
Week 14
Dress rehearsal and final modifications/debugging before public
presentation
Week 15
Final ³exam²
Review/critique of performances
Plans for future projects