Introduction to Creative Music Programming

There are two stages for the hand in of coursework (including your Final Project).

Stage 1

Final Project to be uploaded to WebCT in the normal manner, by 3pm, Friday, 9th May. The upload should be in the form of an archived or zipped file containing the following:

1. Your patches (contained within a single directory). The main patch should be commented (in edit mode) with an explanation of the function of component parts, and acknowledgements of any external objects or components you have used, but not created.
2. A readme file with any additional information you wish to include. Clear instructions to the user should be given.
3. ONE audio output file of a performance of your patch. You should record the output in uncompressed format, but should then compress the file to include in the archive. You can record in one of three ways:
   • Use ‘Quickrecord’ from the ‘Extras’ menu in MaxMSP
   • Use the adoutput~/sfrecord~ subpatch listed in Task 1b, and given below
   • Use an external device

Stage 2

All three assessed tasks, together with the Final Project, must be compiled on a single data CD and submitted, with the appropriate cover sheet, to the Student Information Centre, by 3pm, Monday, 12th May. The material for the Final Project should confirm the the guidelines given in Stage 1, and should be identical in content. The material for the first three assessed tasks should be given in unarchived format, but should be identical to your original material uploaded on WebCT .

Your material must be submitted both via WebCT and to the Student Information Centre.

Please make sure you set up and test your patches and equipment in good time. All students must attend for the whole time of their group session. All students are invited to attend other sessions.

Group A: 3.30 – 4.30 pm
Chris Bardwell-Doughty, Ryan Covill, Jason Brooks, David Osborn, Will Feeley, Peter Sperring, Olly Walton, Andrew Davis, Django Widdowson-Jones

Group B : 4.30 – 5.30 pm
Arran Taylor, Andrew Rogers, Daniel Servante, Will Railton, Giuseppe Salone, Daniel Smith, Michael Coates, James Baxter, Peter-James Belcher

Group C : 6.00 – 7.00 pm
Oliver Highton, Owen Waide, Joshua Hunnisett, Robbie Germeno, Oliver Kelly, Naomi Rose, Rudolfs Busmanis, Tom Rogers

The Freesound Project is a collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds. Freesound focusses only on sound, not songs. This is what sets freesound apart from other splendid libraries like ccMixter. New to this site? Read the What is Freesound page to learn more!

As you get ready to return to the joys of ICMP and MaxMSP, this is a reminder that, if at all possible, you should buy a USB game controller for use in the remaining sessions. There’s no need to spend a fortune, although you should avoid the very cheap models. The controller can be wired or wireless, and the simplest ones to use are the generic USB/PC types. You can also use a dedicated controller (such as the PS2, PS3 or XBox), but you’ll need to have an appropriate adapter as the computer will only take a USB connection. Other types of physical controllers can also be used (you might find some on eBay, for example).

Note: a selection of controllers will be available in class if you are unable to get hold of one.

Task 8 will be posted shortly but, if you’d like to get started earlier, begin by exploring the hi object. You can also find a tutorial on the Cycling 74 site entitled Making Connections: Connecting a Joystick to MaxMSP/Jitter.

Welcome to the resource page for AF115010S – Introduction to Creative
Music Programming for the Spring semester of 2008. Here you will find a
range of material relating to the the course plan, lessons and assessment tasks, as well as access to the WebCT site where you will submit your work. In addition, there is additional material about MaxMSP, and the way in which other composers, performers and programmers have used it to create interesting projects.