🎼Electronic Music Composition Unit 1 – Electronic Music & Sound Fundamentals

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Electronic music composition involves creating music using electronic devices, software, and techniques
• Sound is a vibration that travels through a medium (air, water, solid materials) and can be perceived by the human ear
• Waveforms represent the shape and characteristics of a sound wave, with common types including sine, square, sawtooth, and triangle waves
• Frequency refers to the number of cycles a sound wave completes per second, measured in Hertz (Hz)
• Amplitude is the strength or intensity of a sound wave, often perceived as loudness
• Timbre is the unique character or quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds with the same pitch and volume
• Envelope describes how a sound changes over time, typically divided into attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR) phases
• Oscillators generate basic waveforms and serve as the foundation for sound synthesis

Sound Physics and Waveforms

• Sound waves are longitudinal waves that cause particles in a medium to compress and expand, creating areas of high and low pressure
• The speed of sound varies depending on the medium, with sound traveling faster in solids than in liquids or gases
• Wavelength is the distance between two corresponding points on a wave, such as two consecutive peaks or troughs
• The relationship between frequency and wavelength is inversely proportional: higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, while lower frequencies have longer wavelengths
• Harmonics are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency that contribute to the overall timbre of a sound
• Overtones are any frequencies above the fundamental frequency, including both harmonics and inharmonic frequencies
• Phase refers to the position of a point on a waveform cycle relative to the start of the cycle, measured in degrees or radians
• Constructive and destructive interference occur when sound waves interact, resulting in increased or decreased amplitude, respectively

Digital Audio Basics

• Analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) is the process of converting continuous analog audio signals into discrete digital data
• Sample rate is the number of times per second that an analog signal is measured and converted into a digital value, typically expressed in Hz or kHz
  • Higher sample rates (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz) capture more detail and higher frequencies but result in larger file sizes
• Bit depth is the number of bits used to represent each sample, determining the dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio of the digital audio
  • Common bit depths include 16-bit (CD quality), 24-bit (studio recording), and 32-bit (high-resolution audio)
• Nyquist theorem states that the sampling rate must be at least twice the highest frequency in the analog signal to accurately represent it in the digital domain
• Aliasing occurs when the sampling rate is too low to capture high frequencies, resulting in these frequencies being misrepresented as lower frequencies
• Dithering is the process of adding low-level noise to digital audio to minimize quantization errors and improve the perceived resolution of the signal
• Digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) converts digital audio data back into a continuous analog signal for playback through speakers or headphones

Synthesis Techniques

• Additive synthesis creates complex sounds by combining simple waveforms (sine waves) at different frequencies and amplitudes
• Subtractive synthesis starts with a harmonically rich waveform (square, sawtooth) and filters out unwanted frequencies to shape the sound
• Wavetable synthesis uses pre-recorded or generated waveforms stored in a table, allowing for smooth transitions between different waveforms
• Frequency modulation (FM) synthesis creates complex timbres by using one oscillator (the modulator) to modulate the frequency of another oscillator (the carrier)
• Granular synthesis divides a sound into short segments called grains, which can be manipulated and recombined to create new textures and timbres
• Physical modeling synthesis simulates the physical properties and behavior of real-world instruments using mathematical algorithms
• Sampling involves recording and manipulating real-world sounds, which can be played back and processed in various ways
• Synthesis parameters, such as oscillator pitch, filter cutoff frequency, and envelope settings, can be modulated to create dynamic and evolving sounds

MIDI and Digital Instruments

• MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol for communicating musical performance data between electronic devices
• MIDI messages include note on/off, pitch, velocity, and control change information, but do not contain actual audio data
• MIDI sequencing allows for the recording, editing, and playback of MIDI performances, enabling precise control over timing and expression
• Virtual instruments are software-based synthesizers or samplers that respond to MIDI input and generate audio output
• MIDI controllers, such as keyboards, drum pads, and wind controllers, provide tactile control over MIDI parameters and can be used to perform virtual instruments
• MIDI mapping allows for the assignment of MIDI messages to specific parameters in software or hardware, enabling customized control over sound and performance
• MIDI clock is a timing signal that synchronizes tempo-based devices, such as sequencers, drum machines, and effects processors
• MIDI automation records changes to MIDI parameters over time, allowing for dynamic and evolving performances

Audio Effects and Processing

• Equalization (EQ) is the process of adjusting the balance of frequency components in an audio signal, used for shaping the tonal character of a sound
• Compression reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal by attenuating loud parts and/or amplifying quiet parts, creating a more consistent level
• Reverb simulates the natural reverberation of a physical space, adding a sense of depth and space to a sound
• Delay creates a repeating echo effect by playing back a delayed copy of the original signal
• Chorus creates a thickening effect by combining the original signal with slightly detuned and delayed copies of itself
• Flanger creates a sweeping, metallic effect by mixing the original signal with a delayed copy and varying the delay time
• Distortion adds harmonic overtones and non-linear effects to a signal, creating a gritty or aggressive sound
• Modulation effects, such as phaser, tremolo, and vibrato, create movement and interest by varying parameters like phase, amplitude, or pitch over time

DAW Essentials

• A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is a software environment used for recording, editing, and producing audio and MIDI data
• Multitrack recording allows for the simultaneous or sequential recording of multiple audio or MIDI tracks, which can be independently edited and processed
• Mixing is the process of balancing and blending individual tracks, applying effects, and creating a cohesive stereo or surround sound image
• Automation in a DAW refers to the recording and playback of changes to parameters over time, such as volume, panning, or effect settings
• Audio editing tools include cut, copy, paste, fade, and crossfade functions, enabling precise manipulation of audio regions
• MIDI editing tools allow for the quantization, transposition, and velocity adjustment of MIDI notes and events
• Virtual instruments and effects can be loaded as plug-ins within a DAW, expanding the creative possibilities for sound design and processing
• Rendering or exporting a project creates a final audio file that can be distributed or further processed outside the DAW environment

Composition Techniques for Electronic Music

• Layering involves combining multiple sounds or elements to create a rich and complex texture, often using complementary or contrasting timbres
• Sequencing is the process of arranging and programming musical events (notes, chords, patterns) over time, typically using a MIDI sequencer or DAW
• Sampling and looping techniques involve capturing and repeating audio segments to create rhythmic or melodic elements, often used in genres like hip-hop and electronic dance music
• Sound design is the process of creating and manipulating sounds to achieve a desired aesthetic or emotional effect, often using synthesis, sampling, and effects processing
• Arrangement refers to the structural organization of a composition, including the introduction, development, and variation of musical ideas over time
• Modulation techniques, such as key changes, metric modulation, or timbral modulation, can add interest and variety to a composition
• Generative and algorithmic composition techniques use mathematical models, rules, or chance operations to create musical structures or content
• Collaboration with other artists, musicians, or producers can bring new perspectives, skills, and ideas to the compositional process