Programming (music)

Not to be confused withprogram music.

Programmingis a form ofmusicproductionand performance usingelectronic devicesandcomputer software,such assequencersandworkstationsor hardwaresynthesizers,samplerand sequencers, to generate sounds of musical instruments. These musical sounds are created through the use of music coding languages. There are many music coding languages of varying complexity. Music programming is also frequently used in modernpopandrockmusic from various regions of the world, and sometimes injazzandcontemporary classical music.It gained popularity in the 1950s and has been emerging ever since.

Music programming is the process in which a musician produces a sound or "patch" (be it from scratch or with the aid of asynthesizer/sampler), or uses asequencerto arrange a song.

Coding languages

Music coding languages are used to program the electronic devices to produce the instrumental sounds they make. Each coding language has its own level of difficulty and function.

Alda

The music coding language Alda provides a tutorial on coding music and is, "designed for musicians who do not know how to program, as well as programmers who do not know how to music".The website also has links to install, tutorial, cheat sheet, docs, and community for anyone visiting the website.

LC

LC computer music programming language is a more complex computer music programming language meant for more experienced coders. One of the differences between this language and other music coding languages is that, "Unlike existing unit-generator languages, LC provides objects as well as library functions and methods that can directly represent microsounds and related manipulations that are involved in microsound synthesis."

History and development

Music programming has had a vast history of development leading to the creation of different programs and languages. Each development comes with more function and utility and each decade tends to favor a certain program and or piece of equipment.

MUSIC N

The firstdigital synthesisfamily of computer programs and languages beingMUSIC-Ncreated byMax Mathews.The development of these programs, allowed for more flexibility and utility, eventually leading them to become fully developed languages. As programs such as MUSIC I, MUSIC II and MUSIC III were developed, which were all created by Max Matthews, new technologies were incorporated in such as the table-lookup oscillator in MUSIC II and theunit generatorin MUSIC III. The breakthrough technologies such as the unit generator, which acted as a building block for music programming software, and the acoustic compiler, which allowed "unlimited number of sound synthesis structures to be created in the computer", further the complexity and evolution of music programming systems.

Drum machines

Around the time of the 1950s, electric rhythm machines began to make way into popular music. These machines began to gain much traction amongst many artists as they saw it as a way to createpercussionsounds in an easier and more efficient way. Some of the popular artists who used this kind of technology are the following:J. J. Cale,Sly Stone,Phil Collins,Marvin Gaye,andPrince.Some of the popular drum machines through the time of the 1950s-1970s were the Side Man, Ace Tone's Rhythm Ace, Korg's Doncamatic, and Maestro's Rhythm King. In 1979, the LM-1drum machinecomputer was released by the guitarist,Roger Linn,and its goal was to help artists achieve realistic sounding drum sounds. This drum machine had eight different drum sounds:kick drum,snare,hi-hat,cabasa,tambourine,two tom toms, two congas,cowbell,clave,andhandclaps.The different sounds could be recorded individually and they sounded real because of the highfrequenciesthe sound (28 kHz). Some notable artists who used the LM-1 drum machine werePeter Gabriel,Stevie Wonder,Michael Jackson,andMadonna.These developments continued to happen in future decades leading to the creation of new electrical instruments such as theTheremin,Hammond organ,electric guitar, synthesizer, and digital sampler. Other technologies such as the phonograph, tape-recorder, and compact disk has enabled artists to create and produce sounds without the use of live musicians.

Music programming in the 1980s

The music programming innovations of the 1980s brought many new unique sounds to this style of music. Popular music sounds during this time were thegated reverb,synthesizers,drum machines with 1980s sounds, vocalreverb,delay,andharmonization,and master bus mix downs and tape.Music programming began to emerge around this time which drew up controversy. Many artists were adapting more towards this technology and the traditional way music was made and recorded began to change. For instance, many artists began to record their beats by programming instead of recording a live drummer.

Music programming in the late 2000s

Today, music programming is prevalent amongst almost every artist. Most of them use software on their computer or laptop to produce music and do not actually use physical instruments. These different programs are calleddigital audio workstations(DAW) and are used for editing, recording, and mi xing, music files. Most DAW programs incorporate the use ofMIDItechnology, which allows for music production software to carry out communication between electronic instruments, computers, and other related devices. While most DAWs carry out the same function and do the same thing, there are some that require less expertise and are easier for beginners to operate. These programs are run onPCs,and the top 12 most popular DAWs now are as follows:FL Studio,Avid Pro Tools,Apple Logic Pro X,Magix Acid Pro,Ableton Live,Presonus Studio One,Magix Samplitude Pro X, Cockos Reaper, Propellerhead Reason,Steinberg CubasePro,GarageBand,andBitwig Studio.

Equipment

• Technology:digital audio workstation,drum machine,groovebox,sampler,sequencer,synthesizerandMIDI

External links

• Dobrian, Chris (1988)."Music Programming: An Introductory Essay".Claire Trevor School of the Arts,University of California, Irvine.