|
|
| |
Book ReviewsThe Computer Music Tutorial |
|
|
Book: The Computer Music Tutorial
Written by: Curtis Roads |
Publisher: The MIT Press
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5
|
|
Theoretical Foundations of a Continuously Evolving Art Form
Rating:
5 / 5
The rich history of electronic music technology teaches us that today's particular hardware and software designs will soon become obsolete. If there is to be any continuity discovered for musicians practicing within this medium, then it will have to be sought within the foundational theory that makes each product possible. For it is the foundational theory that will, once again, lead to the birth of the next generation of hardware and software.
With 1996's "The Computer Music Tutorial", Curtis Roads has written what may now be considered to be the most comprehensive introduction to the science of digital music currently in print. Beginning with the basics of digital audio and music systems programming techniques, the text then goes on to describe the major sound synthesis methods. The concepts are introduced with a minimum of mathematics so that the widest range of readers may come to understand the principles behind each technique. Enough detail is provided, however, to make the text of benefit to more advanced and demanding practitioners.
Some 264 pages are devoted to the theory of mixing, spatialization, an overview of pitch & rhythm recognition and a tutorial on spectrum analysis. Almost 25% of the book's 1,234 pages cover the musician's interface as it relates to controlling sonically important characteristics. Interfaces such as input devices, performance software, editors, music languages and composition systems are all discussed. Another 138 pages are devoted to digital signal processors, the MIDI protocol and system interconnections.
John W. Gordon closes out the tutorial with an introduction to the use of psychoacoustics in computer music.
"The Computer Music Tutorial", being a foundational text, will be of interest to many. This encyclopedic work will perhaps best serve the future software and hardware engineers of the music industry. Since the text is written in an accessible style, however, it will also be important reading for smart electronic musicians seeking to understand, in detail, the basics of their medium. After digesting this thorough text, the manuals for a range of current software and hardware products will be more easily comprehended and applied to musical purposes.
King of Kings
Rating:
5 / 5
If your looking for a definite guide to computer music and synthesis, this is the book. There is no other book like it. The writting style is clear and concise. The subject at hand is never confused and made as simple as possible without fluffing on the details.
Although it is a technical book with plenty of calculus functions it can easily be read by the non-technical as the math is more a by-product of the explaination than the focus.
If your very new to computer music and synthesis I might get this book and another called ~ Sound, Synthesis & Sampling by Martin Russ. Between the two there is very little to know before you can start focusing an one particular synthesis method.
excellent
Rating:
5 / 5
Some parts are a bit arcane, but this book mostly succeeds in explaining mathematical principles of audio synthesis to the musician who doesn't know much math. It's a bit dense at times, but overall a great read.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|