Tommaso Rosati

This chapter explores various ways that music technologists communicate with devices and how devices can communicate with each other. These communication methods are essential; thus, two standard protocols are presented here. Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, is a standardized protocol for musical instruments and other digital interfaces. The connectors, the types of messages, controllers and interfaces used, and polyphonic expression concepts are shown in this part. The other standard protocol that is presented in this part is Open Sound Control, or OSC. OSC is another open-source protocol for communication for devices over a network (either wireless or wired) or the Internet. The fundamental concepts of how OSC functions are depicted through illustrations and in the text.

Play with Sound: Manual for Electronic Musicians and Other Sound Explorers offers a thorough introduction to music technology by centering on curiosity and creativity in the exploration of the fundamentals of sound. With color illustrations throughout, this book covers topics regarding audio software, acoustical principles, electroacoustic systems, audio processing, sound synthesis, and communication protocols. Each chapter features creative exercises that utilize live electronics, production, and composition to unearth the theories presented and develop technical and musical creativity. Additionally, interactive graphics and lesson slides are available as digital resources to enhance learning inside and outside the classroom. Play with Sound is an ideal textbook for beginners of all backgrounds looking for an introduction to music technology, production, and live electronics. By engaging with this book, everyone, including traditional students as well as those learning outside the traditional classroom setting, will be able to expand their musical skills and professional opportunities into the world of music technology.

This chapter encompasses the entire music technology signal chain, defining and providing fundamental concepts to the various components that music technologists may encounter. This chapter focuses on analog devices, digital devices, interfaces, output devices, and the analog to digital conversion and digital to analog process. Within the analog component portion, various cable types, inputs, signal level differences, impedances, microphone types, magnetic pickups, mixers, and output devices are presented. Additionally, microphone directivity and commonly used stereo microphone techniques are shown. Likewise, digital systems such as computers, audio software, digital interfaces, and audio file types are discussed. Lastly, an in-depth exploration of the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog process and implications on sample rate and distortion are expounded upon.

This chapter discusses aspects of acoustics and psychoacoustics that deal with sound waves and how humans perceive sound. The chapter starts with an overview of sound waves, from their definition to the investigation of their properties. Fundamental concepts such as speed of sound, period, phase, amplitude, wavelength, and periodicity are presented. Descriptions of the logarithmic nature of human listening and the implications towards equal temperament are highlighted. Included with the discussion on amplitude, the decibel is introduced, alongside the Fletcher-Munson curves. Lastly, timbre is investigated by analyzing both dynamic envelopes and spectral plots. Various instruments are used as examples, with accompanying waveforms and spectrograms.