Course detail

Software prototyping of audiovisual work 1

FaVU-1SPAD1Acad. year: 2021/2022

The course is designed as a series of consecutive lectures and practical exercises. Within each class students will learn the basic possibilities of working with data, image, sound and generative principles of visual compositions in 3D space using the Max platform. In addition, the course will be aimed at mastering all the basic principles of building partial projects (patches), so that students gain elementary experience and are able to implement individual patches independently. During the course, individual sample projects will be created together, framed thematically, and gradually graded in difficulty. Finally, a one-off task will be assigned to be completed independently within a well-specified time period.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Tomáš Hrůza

Department

Department of Audiovisual Technology (KAT)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

By completing the course, the students will gain practical experience with the principles of graphic programming and working with data, image and sound in general, which can be applied to their own work.

Prerequisites

Standard PC skills, Windows platform, or Mac OS.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures and practical exercises - working with Max software on school licenses; demonstrations of the work of authors using the Max platform, discussions.
If distance learning is necessary, the course can also be implemented in the form of online lectures on the MS Teams platform. The prerequisite for this is the provision of temporary licenses for students so that they can install the software on their own computers.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

The following conditions are set for the award of credit: active participation in the class; submission of completed assignments. In the credit week, a one-time individual assignment will be given: the realization of a custom authoring project of medium difficulty in the Max graphical programming environment, which will be based on the procedures discussed. The time period for the realization of this project will be two hours. There will be a short discussion with the instructor over each project submitted.

Course curriculum

1. Introduction to the Max programming environment (historical background, about the author). Description of individual alternatives.
2. Detailed description of the Max environment, description of the basic UI, options for extending it using external libraries, demonstration of export and compilation options, context with Ableton Live, etc.
3. Creation of elementary sound tool – Live sampler, working with sound samples using buffer, working with sound samples using HDD.
4. Creation of a sample multichannel live sampler including creation of elementary interface.
5. Introduction to basic MIDI functions, building an elementary MIDI instrument using GM MIDI.
6. Working with oscillators, creating different forms of oscillators and their harmonization.
7. Creating a sample project based on additive synthesis.
8. Introduction to the Jitter module – working with raster, video and 3D content.
9. Creating a sample project based on transforming video to audio using colour detection in a video stream.
10. Creating a sample project with elementary 3D objects and their deformation using the normal map principle.
11. Creating a sample project using already finished 3D models in the process of creating an experimental AV structure in the Max environment.
12. Credit week – independent work.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to provide students with a basic orientation in the possibilities of using the principles of the graphic programming environment Max (Cycling74) in the creation of an author's work. The Max software is one of the key tools used by music, audiovisual and DIY experimenters worldwide, both for initial prototyping and for the creation of final works. One of the aims of the course is also to introduce the possibilities of creating their own software to students who have no previous programming experience. Another aim of the course is to present already realized projects of selected international authors working with the Max environment in the context of creating electroacoustic music, experimenting with generative images and connecting original software with physical computing.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance is compulsory (3 unexcused absences are tolerated). Making up missed classes is done by agreement with the teacher in the form of alternative assignments.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Alessandro, Cipriani, Maurizio, Giri. Electronic Music and Sound Design - Theory and Practice with Max 8 - Volume 1 (Fourth Edition). 1. vydání. Řím: Contemponet, 2019, ISBN-10 : 8899212104
Geoffrey, Kidde. Learning Music Theory with Logic, Max, and Finale. 1. vydání London: Routledge, 2020, ISBN 9781138544291
Gregory, Taylor. Step by Step: Adventures in Sequencing with Max/MSP. 1. vydání. Walnut: Cycling '74, 2018, ISBN 978-1732590304
Miller, Puckette. The Theory and Techniques of Electronic Music. 1. vydání. World Scientific Publishing Company, 2007, ISBN: 9812700773
V. J. Monzano. Max/MSP/Jitter for Music: A Practical Guide to Developing Interactive Music Systems for Education and More. 2. vydání. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016, ISBN : 0190243740

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Tomáš Hrůza

Exercise in computer lab

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Tomáš Hrůza