Introduction to Music Technology

What is Music Technology?

• The use of technology to create, perform, analyze, and distribute music
• Combines elements of:
  • Musical creativity
  • Scientific understanding
  • Technological innovation

Fields Intersecting with Music Technology

• Audio Engineering — Broadcast/Sound Engineering Technician (BLS profile).
• Music Production — Music Producer (Berklee Online overview).
• Acoustics — Senior Acoustic Engineer (Acoustical Society of America example listing).
• Computer Science — Software Developer (BLS profile).
• Electronic Engineering — Electrical and Electronics Engineer (BLS profile).
• Music Performance — Musicians and Singers (BLS profile).

• Sound Design — Sound Designer (Prospects job profile).
• Interactive Media — Interactive Media Specialist (Berklee career role).
• Music Education — Consider a Career in Music Education (NAfME).
• Music Therapy — Careers in Music Therapy (AMTA).
• Game Audio — Sound Designer (PlayStation example posting).
• Virtual and Augmented Reality — Audio Software Engineer, AR/VR (Meta Reality Labs).

Quick Activity: Exploring 120 Years of Electronic Music

• Visit 120years.net
• Spend a few minutes browsing the site
• Pick one instrument, invention, or story that stands out to you

Step 2: Small Group Sharing

• Turn to a partner or small group

• Share what you found:

  • What is it called and when was it made?
  • What stood out to you (design, sound, history)?
  • Can you connect it to anything you already know about music or sound design?

Step 3: Whole Class Discussion

• Volunteers share highlights

• Guiding questions:

  • Did anyone find an instrument that feels like an ancestor to today’s tech?
  • Did you notice recurring themes in invention or use?
  • Which ones seemed totally bizarre or impractical?

Hardware: Sound Capture and Production

• Microphones: Convert sound waves into electrical signals
  • Dynamic, Condenser, Ribbon types
• Loudspeakers: Convert electrical signals back into sound waves
• Pickups:
  • Magnetic (Coil): For electric guitars and basses
  • Piezoelectric: For acoustic instruments
• Tonewheel Organ: Early electromechanical instrument

Electronic Instruments

Theremin

• One of the earliest electronic instruments
• Controlled without physical contact

Synthesizers

• Generate sound electronically
• Extensive sound-shaping capabilities
• Analog vs. Digital synthesizers

Buchla Synthesizer Demo

Software Tools

• Software Synthesizers: Virtual instruments simulating hardware or creating new sounds
• Sample Libraries: Collections of pre-recorded sounds for music creation
• Audio Effects: Digital signal processing tools for altering sound

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

• Ableton Live: Popular for electronic music and live performance
• Reaper: Flexible and cost-effective
• Pro Tools: Industry standard for recording and post-production
• Logic Pro: Widely used on Mac for music production
• FL Studio: Popular for beat-making and electronic music production

Emerging Technologies in Music

• AI-assisted composition and production
• Virtual and Augmented Reality in music creation and performance
• New interfaces for musical expression (NIME)

NIME: Laptop Orchestra

• Combines live performance with computer-generated sound
• Musicians use laptops and other digital instruments as primary tools

Activities in Music Technology

• Sequencing: Arranging musical elements for playback
• Composing: Creating original music using various technologies
• Mixing: Balancing and enhancing individual tracks in a recording
• Mastering: Preparing and transferring audio from a mix to a data storage device
• Live Sound: Managing audio during live performances
• Programming: Writing code to create or manipulate sound
• Live Coding: Performing music by writing and modifying code in real-time

Live Coding Demonstration