Cody and Bernie: MIDI

Midi is a communication protocol that sends control messages to computers. MIDI is capable of varying instruments, tempo, and key with a few clicks. File formats are small and universal. It is the most popular formats used to share compositions and arrangements. MIDI was introduced in 1984, and before then synthesizers couldn’t communicate with computers. MIDI was designed for connecting and controlling synthesizers, and linking computers to synthesizers. Data that computers can send to other computers, when it leaves the computer and goes into a drum module or keyboard with contained sounds in them. Dave Smith was the driving force behind the generation of MIDI in 1981. Connected the Prophet 600 to the Roland JP-6 in 1983 to demonstrate MIDI. 1991 General MIDI was created to make MIDI compatible with just about every interface and computer. MIDI software: Sibelius, Protools, Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, and others.

Shaffer started out in 1943 collecting gear. He started recording with turntables and cutting records with a disc lathe at RTF studios. He recorded found sounds, in reverse, and using animal voices and natural sounds to give us a new perception of music. GRM was the first studio dedicated entirely to electronic music. Tape was a new medium at hand, and the audio fidelity was much improved. He experimented with variable speed tape machines.
John Cage got in with the Barrons in New York at their studio, and experimented and recorded with them, using homemade loudspeakers, oscillators, and sound wave generators.
Squarepusher is an electronic music artist, born in England in 75. He got tired of gigging and started buying DJ gear, including a sine wave generator and the Roland TB-303 - transistorized bass. He uses real tape machines with the software Reactor.

Will and Daniel: Piezo Pickups

Studied the effects of peizo electricity, led to smoke detectors, and sonar technology. Once the discovery was made it was very easy to make these, and American was secretive as compared to Japan, Piezo are used in the musical worlds’ in the 1960’s, before that instruments had to stand by a mic. Now pickups allows processing of sound right form the instruments, transducing vibrations into electrical current. Piezo pickups are good at natural sound reproduction, they are very small in size, and work by attaching to any sort of vibrating surface or instrument. They are resistant to feedback, Contact mics. Modern applications: amplifying guitarist violins, typically string instruments, and they can be alternative to mics. Piezos pick up sound differently than a mic. They respond to vibrations from contact with a surface, not by changes in atmospheric pressure. Non-musical uses, science and medicine to detect brain activity, door bells, smoke detectors.

Nick and Cynthia: Magnetic Tape

Mediums before tape: Grammophone and the phonograph. Plitzfreumer invented magnetic tape. Tape began with a plastic base with iron oxide coating to preserve recorded audio. New editing techniques and manipulation of sounds became possible. Tape changed performances and revolutionized the beginnings of broadcasting, and also led to digital recording. Wire recording was a low quality technology, and was non linear unlike tape. Tape recording allowed users to drastically manipulate sound with speed, reverse, echo, and delay. Tape thickness was eventually reduced over later developments. The Stancil Hoffman was the first magnetic tape recorder. Tape spawned developments of multi-track recorders. Ampex is the industry standard for tape and digital image processing. Tape enabled modern perspectives and processes of recording. Tape forever changed recording and editing audio. Introduction of tape made it possible to reverse and loop sounds. Ampex 4 track machine AG 440B, Line amplifiers on top correspond to a track Put tape on supply reel, and feed to take up reel. Tape effects are achieved with the use and manipulation of the playback, record, and erase head. We need to envision tape as occurring over time. Echo can be achieved by feeding the record head back into the input, and creating a distance between the playback and record head. Tape loops are possible by cutting and reconnecting the tape around a 3rd wheel. With tape, speed and pitch are linked, so slowing down a recording would result in everything detuned. Varispeed is voltage controlled. Tape is a physical medium, and cutting tape in different angles will create fades, blends, and or instantaneous entrances. Tape is subject to demagnetizing and can erode over time, losing the quality of the audio. Tape machines and their components need to be regularly cleaned, and machines would need proper calibration.



*All my Moog notes were not recovered when my computer died. I am having notes emailed to me so I can write on him...