[Weekly Summaries: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12]
Winter 2020
Monday 1/27
First, did the first electronic music history topic, assigned the quiz on this material as due next Monday. Second, students had the rest of the period to complete assignment #2. The only new material presented was entering notes in the piano roll using the pencil tool..
Did NOT do the following: Mixer and effects — will save this for Wednesday, along with global volume changes, fade-outs for example. (Next time: hear assignment #2, remind of quiz #1 due date, present material needed for assignment #3, start #3…)
Will need some additional time to finish #2 on Wednesday. Survey the class at start of that period to assess.
Wednesday 1/29
A lot of lab time on assignment #2. No one had finished before class started… Perhaps half finished by the end of the period, but I did not start to hear them yet. That should begin at the START of the period next time.
Did a brief explanation of how to display automation in tracks in Logic, adding more than one automation lane to the display. Took a look at the mixer, explaining channel strip and other basics. Did a quick overview of common effects types and how to manage multiple effects a track.
Should probably explain buses a bit next time…
Winter 2019
Monday 1/28
NEW: Two things affected today’s class activities. First, I was recovering from a cold that interferes with my voice. Second, students needed almost the entire period to complete assignment #2. The only new material presented was how to view certain controllers in the edit window at the bottom of the screen (“MIDIDraw”), including velocity. Also went over how velocity and volume differ in effect.
Did NOT do the following: Mixer and effects. Work on #3 (a few did start). (Next time: hear assignment #2, present topic for quiz #1, assign quiz #1 deadline..)
Wednesday 1/30
Significant lab time to finish #2 and start #3. Presented the first history topic, announced quiz #1 due one week from today. Began to hear #2, starting at east side of room. Got partway F, E, D, and part of C. Need to conclude “first pass” starting in row C, then B, A next time.
Still up: Automation. Also review how to create a master volume automation track (new easier method!), allowing automation of the fader to appear in the main window. Effects in Logic.
Spring 2017
Monday 5/1
NEW: Software instrument access. Mixer and effects. Hear remaining #2. Work on #3. Announced delayed date for #3. Reminded class about quiz #1. (Next time: topics for quiz #2.)
OLD: A lot of work time today on #2. Only two students were finished at the start of the period, so that plan was to hear any that finish today near the end of the period and then hear the rest next time. Introduced the “MIDI draw” method of editing velocities, and the method to quantize pitches. Briefly reminded about mute and solo. Because many needed it, the great majority of the class session was devoted to lab on project #2. At the end of the period I heard a very small number of #2 assignments, with the rest to be auditioned next time.
Tuesday 5/2
NEW: Work to finish #2. Matrix sequencer. More on samplers, starting with constructing and instrument on the NN-19. Reminder about quiz 2. Did not hear the #2 Subtractor project today — do this at the next session. (Also at next session: review, quickly, the process for creating a multi-keyzone instrument on the NN19, and then introduce the same on the NNXT, plus how to create layers on the NNXT.)
Wednesday 5/3
NEW: Collected and reviewed quiz #1. Presented the second electronic music history subject and assigned due date of one week from today. Heard one more #2 — all others should have been played by now. Work time on #3. (One person was already done, but others not finished — more work time on Monday?)
Still up: Automation. How to add additional automation lanes to a track and how to find other parameters to automate in addition to volume and panning. Also review how to create a master volume automation track (new easier method!), allowing automation of the fader to appear in the main window. Effects in Logic.
Thursday 5/4
NEW: Collect and review quiz #2. Announce test #1. Mention presentations. Review NN19 multi-sample instrument. Look at creating NNXT instruments. (Hear #2 — most are done, but sampler demo took long enough that there was no time left for this. Start of next class.)
Winter 2017
Monday 1/30
A lot of work time today on #2. Only two students were finished at the start of the period, so that plan was to hear any that finish today near the end of the period and then hear the rest next time. Introduced the “MIDI draw” method of editing velocities, and the method to quantize pitches. Briefly reminded about mute and solo. Because many needed it, the great majority of the class session was devoted to lab on project #2. At the end of the period I heard a very small number of #2 assignments, with the rest to be auditioned next time.
Up soon: The first electronic music history subject and assign the first take home quiz.
Tuesday 1/31
Not this quarter
Wednesday 2/1
Some work time on #2. Completed the “first pass” on #2 — hear “second pass” projects next time. Did the first electronic music history subject and assigned due date — reminded students to print NOW and that the must use the form and turn in on time (or email a completed copy in photo form) by start of class session. Many now worked on assignment #3.
Still up: Automation. How to add additional automation lanes to a track and how to find other parameters to automate in addition to volume and panning. Also review how to create a master volume automation track (new easier method!), allowing automation of the fader to appear in the main window. Effects in Logic.
Thursday 2/2
Not this quarter
Fall 2016
Monday 10/17
Did a bit more on automation. Showed how to add additional automation lanes to a track and how to find other parameters to automate in addition to volume and panning. Also showed how to create a master volume automation track, allowing automation of the fader to appear in the main window. Then went on to do the first electronic music history subject and assign the first take home quiz, which is due one week from today.
Tuesday 10/18
Not this quarter
Wednesday 10/19
Reminded class about the quiz that is due at the next class meeting. A lot of work time on assignment #3. Did the basic introduction to effects in Logic — so class now has the techniques to start on #4 (effects and automation). Heard a small percentage of the people who finished #3 — will hear the rest at the next class session, though some will still need some additional time.
Thursday 10/20
Not this quarter
Spring 2016
Monday 4/25
Heard more than half of #2. Originally I planned to hear the rest on the “second pass,” but I decided to make the second pass be at the start of the next class on Wednesday. Did the first history lecture, with the quiz assigned as due one week from today. Mention this again next time.
Next session: Hear remaining #2 at start and also cover techniques for #3 and possibly #4. Check prior notes for anything I have missed. IMPORTANT: There are still some students whose assignment #1 I have not heard — do this next time!
Tuesday 4/26
Finished up the “odds and ends” in the Subtractor. Heard all #2 assignments except for absences and two who were not quite finished. Will hear those next time. IMPORTANT: There are still students who didn’t play #1! Did very, very basic introductions to the NN-19 and NN-XT (mostly how to load instruments) and the Matrix Pattern Sequencer.
Wednesday 4/27
Work time on #3. Heard remaining #2. Covered addition of audio effects to channel strips and mixer, and went over a few specific effects: delay, reverb, EQ, etc. On to more information about automation. Reminder that quiz is due on Monday.
Regarding progress: Most students were not finished with #3 at the end of the period, so plan for substantial work time on Monday before hearing the projects. It is possible that Monday might be mostly quiz #1 review and then work time.
Thursday 4/28
Returned Quiz 1. Collected and reviewed quiz 2. Did not yet set a test date, but probably Tuesday, May 10 would be a good plan. Set this date when quiz 2 is returned. Worked more on the NN-19 sampler, doing most everything that the class needs to know for assignment #3. Also mostly completed the coverage of the Matrix Pattern Sequencer. Next time: Introduce the NN-XT and then a lot of work time on assignment #3.
Winter 2016
Monday 1/25
#2 due today after a bit of work time — with the expectation that not all will finish today and that those needing extra time may “take a pass” the first time around today and play it at the next session. Introduced signal processors (for assignment #4!) and heard some finished #2 assignments. Will present history topic #1 next time with quiz due date as assigned.
Tuesday 1/26
TBA
Wednesday 1/27
Work on #3. Hear remaining #2. Introduced effects last time. First history topic and reminded about assignment #3 due a week from today.
Thursday 1/28
Not this quarter.
Friday
Not this quarter
Fall 2015
Monday 10/12
#2 due today after a bit of work time — heard almost first three rows from door side of room but not all — more on Wednesday. Went ahead and presented history topic #1, since we are ahead of schedule. Quiz is due one week from today on Monday, October 12. Assigned #3, plus more on automation?
Tuesday 10/13
Not this quarter.
Wednesday 10/14
Work on #3. Heard remaining #2. Introduced effects.
Thursday 10/15
Not this quarter.
Friday
Not this quarter
Spring 2015
Monday 4/27
#2 due today after a bit of work time — heard almost first three rows from door side of room but not all — more on Wednesday. Went ahead and presented history topic #1, since we are ahead of schedule. Quiz is due one week from today on Monday, October 12. Assigned #3, plus more on automation?
Tuesday 4/28
Collected and reviewed quiz #1. Reminded class that quiz #2 is due one week from today. Covered all of the remaining “loose ends” on the Subtractor. Work time on #2 (Subtractor patches) but decided to put off hearing it until next time. Did a very basic overview presentation on the NNXT, NN19, and Matrix Pattern Sequencer — just enough to give people an idea of what these modules are.
Wednesday 4/29
Work time on #3. Explained #3 and all concepts to complete it. Heard #2. Announced new deadline for #3.
Thursday 4/30
Introduced building samples in the NN19, with key groups and root key and so forth. Reminded class that quiz is due next time. Began hearing the Subtractor assignment – got through the two rows on the east side of the room, but must finish the rest next time. Went over how to make velocity layers and sample layers on the NNXT. There are probably some additional loose ends to cover on the samplers next time. Also, since the earlier presentation on the Matrix was very basic, need to back and explain a few things still. Class started on the sampler/matrix assignment today, but I likely need to go over it and consider whether it can (or cannot) be finished before Thursday, 5/7.
Friday
Not in Winter 2014 (General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
Winter 2015
(General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
Monday 1/26
Work time on #2, which was due earlier but delayed as a result of the 1/19 holiday. Most are finished or nearly so, at I will hear it next time. (Promised 15 minutes of work time before hearing them.) Alerted the class to the need to come on time on Wednesday for the first electronic music history presentation and the following quiz. Introduced some new topics for assignment 3: alias (three methods of reusing regions), option-drag, loop; new track with same instrument; spreading drums across multiple tracks; basic automation.
Tuesday 1/27
Reminder about quiz due on Thursday. Continued coverage of FM. (Last time we finished operational coverage of the two LFO modules.). Began coverage of FM with two audio oscillators, went over how to set it up, and did the whole sideband calculation exercise. Could perhaps also return to apply envelopes to the resulting sounds to create clangorous effects. Also: Still need to cover a few odds and ends related to the Subtractor, mostly related keyboard control of the filter and mapping velocity to various parameters, portamento. Then/next a brief, initial session on signal processors in Reason – necessary for next assignment – introducing the serial connection of the half-rack reverb and delay to a subtractor.
Wednesday 1/28
(See older entries for next steps — we are behind them.) Did the first electronic music history presentation, with the follow up quiz due one week from today. Heard first pass (except last row) of assignment #2. Must hear pass two at start of period on Monday. (Not too soon to begin thinking about the next holiday and its effect on the schedule.
Thursday 1/29
Collected and reviewed first quiz on harmonics (second quiz on sidebands next time). Work time on the Subtractor (five instruments) assignment. Began listening to this assignment and got through perhaps half of those present. Covered a few remaining minor details about the subtractor. Introduced the Matrix Sequencer. Next time the samplers and finish the subtractor assignment auditions.
Friday 5/2
Not in Winter 2014 (General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
Spring 2014
(General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
Monday 4/28
After about 15 minutes of work time at start of period, did the first electronic music history presentation. Assigned the first quiz as due next Monday, one week from today. Began to hear assignment #2. Starting at row by door, heard first three rows and the back section of row 4—need to hear the rest and the “second pass” students next time. Did not introduce any new Logic techniques today. Need to introduce the master volume controller and how to add it and software instrument (logic basics instruments) stuff: where to find them and how to select sounds from their front panels. #3 had been listed as due at the next class, but that is not going to happen. Students need more time and the explanation of the “Logic basics instruments.”
Tuesday 4/29
Reminder about quiz due on Thursday. Began coverage of FM. Finished operational coverage of the two LFO modules. Began coverage of FM with two audio oscillators, but saved the theoretical/mathematical stuff for next time. In this regard, covered how to get oscillator 2 to modulate oscillator 1; initial setup with kbd track turned off for oscillator 2 and both oscillators set to sine wave; raising the FM knob; the term “sideband” (but not really the gory details about the numbers); applying envelopes to the resulting sounds to create clangorous effects; turning kbd tracking on so that the timbre stays the same as pitch changes. This means that next time I need to go over how to calculate sidebands; how to modulate using noise as the program; and more. (It as more important to leave time for work on project.) Work time today: 10 minutes at start of period, 30 minutes during middle of period… Also: Still need to cover a few odds and ends related to the Subtractor, mostly related keyboard control of the filter and mapping velocity to various parameters, portamento. Then/next a brief, initial session on signal processors in Reason – necessary for assignment #4 – introducing the serial connection of the half-rack reverb and delay to a subtractor.
Wednesday 4/30
Introduced the use of “logic basics instruments,” including the ES1, EFM1, EXS24, and Ultrabeat. Did a very quick introduction to bouncing tracks. Heard the rest of assignment #2. Work time on #3. Reminder of quiz deadline on Monday.At the next class: NEXT: Introduce the use of effects inserts in Logic, and finish any other new techniques that are necessary for assignment #4 OR do the first history topic instead.
Thursday 5/1
Collected and reviewed the first quiz—on harmonics and waveforms. Went on to cover the “numbers” related to sidebands and frequency modulation. Perhaps 5 were finished with #2 at start of period, and will likely hear most next time. (The official due date was today, but I’m still introducing new stuff about the Subtractor.) Second quiz due one week from today. (Update: By the end of the modulation presentation, I decided to not hear any Subtractor assignments today and hear them all next time.) Next up (as per old records) is the sampler. Double check old records for other related “next subjects.”
Friday 5/2
Not in Winter 2014 (General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
Winter 2014
(General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.) Monday 1/27 – Heard the few remaining Garage Band projects. Work on #2 – should be nearly complete by end of period, since it is due at next class. Introduced the three methods of reusing a region – loop, copy, and alias. Did not do: The only new subject was a brief introduction to the global tracks area at the top of the arrange window, and its use for tempo and meter. Wednesday’s class is about time for the first history topic. Tuesday 1/28 – Reminder about quiz #1 – due next class. Heard the few remaining Redrum projects. Did the presentation on modulation with two audio oscillators. Did NOT yet assign the quiz on this – probably need to review this at next class session. Still need to cover a few odds and ends related to the Subtractor, mostly related keyboard control of the filter and mapping velocity to various parameters, portamento. Then a brief, initial session on signal processors in Reason – necessary for assignment #4 – introducing the serial connection of the half-rack reverb and delay to a subtractor. Wednesday 1/29 – Much of the session today was work time on #3, which is due at the next class session. I also had to do a quick reprise of Monday’s topic for five students who missed that class. I did a basic introduction of automation in Logic, clearly showing how to do it with volume and pan and somewhat introducing the possibility of automating other things. At the next class: In many ways we are mostly caught up now. Heard the last of the Garage Band assignments. Heard a small number of the first Logic assignments (#2), and will hear all remaining #2 assignments during the first part of the next class. Announced that #3 is due one week from today – next Wednesday. Introduced the use of effects inserts in Logic. Did the introduction fairly quickly without much in the way of detail about specific effects and how they work or about editing them manually. (May want to show an example of editing an effect next time.) Next time: finish any other new techniques that are necessary for assignment #4 OR do the first history topic instead. Thursday 1/30 – Heard a very few remaining Redrum (#2) assignments. Did NOT hear assignment #3 (Subtractor) today since I still had to cover a few Subtractor topics and most students are no where near being done. Changed date to next class – probably will have to hear at end of period. Collected and reviewed first take-home quiz. Did an extremely brief introduction to NN-19 and NN-XT – little more than where to find them and what they are. Details on the sampler will be next topic. (With new Reason, I am switching the order of signal processors and samplers so that samplers come first now.) NEED TO ASSIGN THE SECOND QUIZ! Students now working on assignment #3, and quite a few seemed to be finished or almost so. Friday 2/1 – Not in Winter 2014 (General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
Spring 2013
(General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.) Monday 4/29 – Most of today was used for assessing work on assignment #2, with some students using time to complete that assignment and others moving on to work on #3, which is due in one week. The only new subject was a brief introduction to the global tracks area at the top of the arrange window, and its use for tempo and meter. Wednesday’s class will introduce a lot more new material, likely for assignment #3, though it is about time for the first history topic, too. Attendance was down today. There were a few open computers. Tuesday 4/30 – Collected and quickly reviewed quiz #1. (Quiz #2 is due one week from today.) Introduced a few odds and ends related to the Subtractor, mostly related keyboard control of the filter and mapping velocity to various parameters. Also discussed “polyphony” on synths and portamento. Did a brief, initial session on signal processors in Reason – necessary for assignment #4 – introducing the serial connection of the half-rack reverb and delay to a subtractor. Briefly mentioned the possibility of connecting signal processors to the mixer but did not demo it – for next time. Most of the period was work time on #3 and possibly starting on #4. Wednesday 5/1 – Much of the session today was work time on #3, which is due at the next class session. I also had to do a quick reprise of Monday’s topic for five students who missed that class. I did a basic introduction of automation in Logic, clearly showing how to do it with volume and pan and somewhat introducing the possibility of automating other things. At the next class: In many ways we are mostly caught up now. Heard the last of the Garage Band assignments. Heard a small number of the first Logic assignments (#2), and will hear all remaining #2 assignments during the first part of the next class. Announced that #3 is due one week from today – next Wednesday. Introduced the use of effects inserts in Logic. Did the introduction fairly quickly without much in the way of detail about specific effects and how they work or about editing them manually. (May want to show an example of editing an effect next time.) Next time: finish any other new techniques that are necessary for assignment #4 OR do the first history topic instead. (OLD: Work time on #3. Went over some odds and ends – how to show time/bars in the “ruler bar,” how to check to see that the percussion parts on multiple tracks really share the same “inst” part. Hear a few remaining examples of assignment #2 from those who were no finished on Monday. Some still have not shown it, but they know that they must tell me when/if they finish. Work time on project 3. Began the description of how to use effect inserts in Logic. Did not start first EM history topic today. Must do next week!) Thursday 5/2 – Heard remaining Redrum (#2) assignments. Did the second half of the modulation topic, this time using two audio oscillators. Collected and reviewed quiz #1. Announced that quiz #2 is due next Thursday. Students now working on assignment #3, and quite a few seemed to be finished or almost so. (OLD: Completed the description of the signal processor assignment. Heard almost all Assignment #3 – a few to hear next Tuesday.) Friday 2/1 – not scheduled. (General Notes for Week 4 – Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.)
2013 Winter
(General Notes for Week 4 – This week in all classes we need to go over how to create backups. Need to start the EM history topics in both 51 classes and assign first quiz. (Quiz 1 due in Music 8.) Intro needs to learn how to create a MASTER VOLUME FADER and CONTROL TRACK and how to automate track volume and panning.) Monday 1/28 – After last week’s odd schedule, we are playing catch-up. Finished the techniques necessary for assignment 3 today. Heard the garage band assignments. Changed deadline for #2 to next class – will try to hear some perhaps 15 minutes into period and then hear unfinished work later in the period. Need to specify deadline for #3 as most likely next Monday, but think about this. (OLD: Introduced method of spreading drum parts across multiple tracks – with this and the material on three ways to re-use regions, it is now possible to do the next assignment 3. Automation is perhaps next, and it is time to do a history topic.) Tuesday 1/31 – Introduced Reason effects and how to wire them to individual instruments and to the mixer. Announced due dates for the two quizzes, and the cancellation of this Thursday’s class for a music department flex day. The Subtractor assignment is supposed to be due today, but not everyone is finished – heard perhaps a half dozen of them, and announced that I would hear the rest at the start of the next meeting. Wednesday 2/1 – Heard remaining assignment 2 from those who were no finished on Monday. Some still have not shown it, but they know that they must tell me when/if they finish. Work time on project 3. Did a _very_ basic introduction to how automation is displayed and entered in Logic – just enough to get people started on it. DID NOT: Introduced the use of effects/inserts in Logic. Briefly went over a few sample effects, how to add, bypass, and remove them, how to add more, etc. Did not start first EM history topic today. Will need a half hour or so of work time on #3 on Monday before I begin to evaluate them. Thursday 2/2 – No meeting due to music department flex day activity in the afternoon Friday 2/3 – Began with a few minutes of work time, then did the “second pass” to hear assignment #2. Plan: work time on #3. Introduce Logic automation. First EM history topic. Assign history quiz 1 for next Friday. Did a quick explanation of the Logic Basics instruments. DID NOT HEAR #3, so plan for start of next week: collect and review quiz, then hear #3, then work time on #4 (need to review it with class), then other stuff as needed…
Dan Mitchell 