The Computer Music Tutorial [Paperback]

Curtis Roads (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 1996

The Computer Music Tutorial is a comprehensive text and reference that covers all aspects of computer music, including digital audio, synthesis techniques, signal processing, musical input devices, performance software, editing systems, algorithmic composition, MIDI, synthesizer architecture, system interconnection, and psychoacoustics. A special effort has been made to impart an appreciation for the rich history behind current activities in the field.Profusely illustrated and exhaustively referenced and cross-referenced, The Computer Music Tutorial provides a step-by-step introduction to the entire field of computer music techniques. Written for nontechnical as well as technical readers, it uses hundreds of charts, diagrams, screen images, and photographs as well as clear explanations to present basic concepts and terms. Mathematical notation and program code examples are used only when absolutely necessary. Explanations are not tied to any specific software or hardware.Curtis Roads has served as editor-in-chief of Computer Music Journal for more than a decade and is a recognized authority in the field. The material in this book was compiled and refined over a period of several years of teaching in classes at Harvard University, Oberlin Conservatory, the University of Naples, IRCAM, Les Ateliers UPIC, and in seminars and workshops in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Curtis Roads is a composer and researcher and was Editor and Associate Editor of Computer Music Journal for 20 years. He is currently Professor in Media Arts and Technology and Associate Director of the Center for Research in Electronic Art Technology (CREATE) at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1234 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; 1 edition (February 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262680823
• ISBN-13: 978-0262680820
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Curtis Roads (b. 1951) holds a joint appointment as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Media Arts and Technology (MAT) and in Music at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he is also Associate Director of the Center for Research in Electronic Art Technology (CREATE). He studied music composition and computer programming at California Institute of the Arts, the University of California, San Diego (BA Summa Cum Laude with Highest Departmental Honors), and the University of Paris VIII (PhD Très honorable avec félicitations). From 1980 to 1986 he was a researcher in computer music at the MIT Media Laboratory. He then taught at the Federico II University of Naples, Harvard University, Oberlin Conservatory, CCMIX (Paris), and the University of Paris 8. He has led masterclasses at the Australian National Conservatory (Melbourne), Prometeo Laboratorio (Parma), Ionian University (Corfu), Goethe Institute (Rome), Kunitachi College of Music (Tokyo), Royal Conservatory (Aarhus), Catholic University (Porto), and the Zürich University of the Arts, among others. He is co-organizer of international workshops on musical signal processing in Sorrento, Capri, and Santa Barbara (1988, 1991, 1997, 2000). He served on the composition juries of the Ars Electronica (Linz) and the International Electroacoustic Music Competition (Bourges, France). Certain of his compositions feature granular and pulsar synthesis, methods he developed for generating sound from acoustical particles. A cofounder of the International Computer Music Association in 1979, he was Editor of Computer Music Journal (The MIT Press) from 1978 to 1989, and Associate Editor 1990-2000. His books include Foundations of Computer Music (1985, The MIT Press), Composers and the Computer (1985, AR Editions), The Music Machine (1989, The MIT Press), Representations of Musical Signals (1991, The MIT Press), The Computer Music Tutorial (1996, The MIT Press), Musical Signal Processing (co-editor, 1997, Routledge), L'audionumerique (1998, Dunod), The Computer Music Tutorial - Japanese edition (2000, Denki Daigaku Shuppan) and Microsound (2002, The MIT Press), which explores the aesthetics and techniques of composition with sound particles. A revised edition of L'audionumerique was published in 2007. A Chinese version of The Computer Music Tutorial is scheduled for publication in 2010 as a national textbook. His music is available on compact discs produced by Asphodel, MODE, OR, the MIT Media Laboratory, and Wergo. His composition Clang-Tint (1994) was commissioned by the Japan Ministry of Culture (Bunka-cho). His electronic music collection POINT LINE CLOUD won the Award of Distinction at the 2002 Ars Electronica and was released as a CD + DVD on the Asphodel label (San Francisco) in 2005. In 2007 he received a National Science Foundation grant for research in algorithms for sound analysis (dictionary-based pursuit). He is currently completing a new book Composing Electronic Music: A New Aesthetic for Oxford University Press, a revised edition of The Computer Music Tutorial for The MIT Press, and a new set of electronic music entitled FLICKER TONE PULSE.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for computer music, February 19, 2003

By 

graham p krasan (ann arbor, mi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Computer Music Tutorial (Paperback)

I have had an interest in virtual synths, computer music programs such as csound, MAX/MSP, PD, etc. Although program-specific tutorials were helpful, I had found nothing that discussed sound processing, synthesis techniques (e.g. granular synthesis, additive, vector, etc.) and theoretical underpinning to all modern synthesizer techniques so I could understand what I was doing on a more fundamental level. The computer music tutorial does all that and more. I agree with other reviewers that it is not a "tutorial" in the sense that it doesn't extensively flesh out tips/tricks with particular programs, but it is invaluable for providing insight into an encyclopedia of synthesis techniques in very easy conceptual language (to those with no background in DSP). This book is essential to anyone who is interested in the world of sound manipulation in general, whether its sample-oriented, wiring together virtual modules in programs such as reaktor, sync modular, audiomulch, abox or those in a more programming driven interface such as csound and PD.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Electronic Musician's Bible, June 21, 2000

By 

Robert Bantin - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Computer Music Tutorial (Paperback)

I first came across this book at university, when faced with the daunting task of making a software synthesizer for a course project.

The lecturer of the course admitted to me that he had based the course on this book, so naturally I found a copy. After reading it for 5 minutes I ordered a copy, because I knew without a doubt this was the book that would carry me through the rest of my studies. Interestingly, anyone else who has ever seen my copy has gone and bought themselves without much delay!

What the book offers is threefold: 1. A good introduction to MIDI. 2. A broad spectrum of signal processing techinques (including SFX). 3. A fast repository of synthesis ideas.

It even explains the fundamentals of the Fast Fourier Transform optimisation.

A lot of math has been replaced by flow charts, and this is means that it can explain the ideas to a wider range of people (and not just mathematicians).

The real selling point of this book is that it is, ultimately, the best possible mix of scope and depth of the subject of musical synthesis.

At 1234 Pages, it's also good value for money!

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Enhanced Bible For Computer Music, December 5, 1999

By 

RAVEH GONEN - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Computer Music Tutorial (Paperback)

This book contains enormous amount of important information for any computer music researcher, composer, programmer. It covers all the computer music related subjects in a very unique manner. The writing is superb. I have learned a lot about Digital audio concepts, Digital mixing, filtering and dozens more issues. With this book, you can start developing a software synth, Audio Effect Plug-In and other computer music related software. You can enhance your knowledge about every aspect of computer generated music and making music with computers. This is a book both for beginners and advanced professionals. A Must !