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Department of Computer Science, Unit Catalogue 2009/10


CM50201: Music and digital signal processing

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: EX100
Click here for further informationSupplementary Assessment: Supplementary assessment information not currently available (this will be added shortly)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Description: Aims:
To introduce the ideas of DSP programming and the ways in which musical signals can be treated as data.

Learning Outcomes:
1. To be able to code simple digital filters, and construct simple oscillators;
2. To be able to control a frequency domain analysis and resynthesis;
3. To be able to use three synthesis methods;
4. An understanding of the key aspects of digital signal processing and their application;
5. The ability to critically evaluate and apply a suitable synthesis method for a given application.

Skills:
An understanding of digital sampling and filtering (T, A); an understanding of mathematical modelling and analysis of signals (T, A); synthesis and manipulation of digital music (T, F, A).

Content:
Introduction: Musical signals: their nature, characterisation and representation. Pitch, amplitude and timbre. PCM representation: sampling and quantisation errors. MIDI representation and its limitations.
Software Systems: Music5 family,: Csound.
Additive Synthesis: Simple oscillators and their coding; wavetable synthesis. Helmholz theory and Fourier analysis.
Subtractive Synthesis: Noise, and digital filters. Filter types, IIR and FIR. Issues in filter design.
Psycho-acoustics: Basic ideas and Shepard tones as an example. Lossy compression. MPEG level 2 and MPEG-4. Time and frequency domains: Phase vocoding. FFT and IFFT; analysis and resynthesis. Pitch changing.
Physical Models: The wave equation. Delay lines and wave guides. The plucked string.
FM and non-linear synthesis: Analysis and coding of FM. Introduction to Granular Synthesis, formants and FOF. Pitch changing.
Spacialisation: Stereo panning, reverberation, localisation and audio clues. Composition: Process based, algorithmic composition. Pitch and Tuning: ET and Just; introduction to Sethares theory of consonance.
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.