electronic music and software craftsmanship: analogue patterns
DESCRIPTION
Sous le feu des critiques: Trop moderne! Pas assez subversive aux yeux de certains! Pas créative! Un effet de mode passager pour les "djeunz"! Ou pire une musique de drogués!! Permettez moi au cours de cette session de vous éclairer sur cette culture et également sur les coulisses de la création des musiques assistées par ordinateur (MAO), et de voir ensemble les relations intéressantes que l'on peut tisser avec nos pratiques du développement logiciel (Software Craftsmanship). On a pu lire quelques analogies entre pratique des musiques jazz, somme toute une musique très classique, et la pratique du développement logiciel tel que nous la concevons tous ici ("agile" diront certain). Pourtant il y a bien des façons de faire de la musique et en tant que spécialistes de la programmation j'ai été étonné de constater que peu d'entre nous s’intéressent à la musique dite "électronique". Pourtant, dans ces musiques aussi, nous nous servons d'outils logiciels au service de notre inspiration et notre créativité. On retrouve l'approche incrémentale, la technique imposée par les machines, des patterns évidemment, mais aussi de la pratique répétée, de l'amélioration continue et la coopération quand nous formons des groupes collaboratifs. Au cours de cette session, après les généralités d'usage, je vous montrerai un DAW (digital audio workstation) logiciel, très couramment employé, et pas que pour la musique électronique, j'ai nommé "Live 9" d'Ableton avec sa surface de contrôle dédiée: Push (une sorte de clavier multi-fonctions pour la musique). Live est également extensible grâce à Max MSP, une API de programmation qui permet de scripter/patcher ce logiciel sous bien des formes. J'espère vous montrer que création et programmation ne sont pas si éloignés que cela... et vous ferai partager mon expérience au sein de la Do It Yourself Music AcademyTRANSCRIPT
A developer’s journey into Electronic MusicCrafting Software & Electronic Music
Who am I ?
What is Electronic Music?• Electronic music is music that employs electronic
musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production.
• Today electronic music includes many varieties and ranges from experimental art music to popular forms such as electronic dance music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_music
What is Electronic Music?• Electronic music is music that employs electronic
musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production.
• Today electronic music includes many varieties and ranges from experimental art music to popular forms such as electronic dance music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_music
• Electric Instruments (1930s): • Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Trautonium
Origin of Electronic Music
• Electric Instruments (1930s): • Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Trautonium
Origin of Electronic Music
• Electric Instruments (1930s): • Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Trautonium
Origin of Electronic Music
• Electric Instruments (1930s): • Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Trautonium
Origin of Electronic Music
Chronology• 1948: musique concrète & électro-acoustique (Shaeffer/
Henry/Boulez) • In his 1949 thesis Elektronische Klangerzeugung, Meyer-Eppler
conceived the idea to synthesize music entirely from electronically produced signals
• In the late 1960s, pop and rock musicians, including The Beach Boys and The Beatles, began to use electronic instruments, like the Theremin and Mellotron,
• Released in 1970 by Moog Music the Mini-Moog became the most widely used synthesizer in both popular and electronic art music. (Herbie Hancock / Tangerine Dreams / Floyd / Jarre / Moroder / Cerrone …)
• The early 1980s saw the rise of bass synthesizers, the most influential being the Roland TB-303, a bass synthesizer and sequencer released in late 1981 that later became a fixture in electronic dance music,[86] particularly acid house . It’s also the arrival of digital samplers and drums machines.
source: Wikipedia
Electronic Music Making & Software ProgrammingCulture and Similarities
Electronic Music Making & Software ProgrammingCulture and Similarities
Pioneers
Pioneers
1st computer
1st analog synth (24 poly)
Fame & Money
Popular computer
Popular Synth
Gurus: 2 uncles Bob!
!
!
!
!
!
• ...Martin
The synthesis of soundFundamentals explained by Bob Moog
The synthesis of soundFundamentals explained by Bob Moog
Electronic music tooling
• Analog/Modular Synthetizers • FM Synthetizers • Drums Machines • Samplers • Sequencers / DAW • Digital Synth / VST / Digital Emulation
Digital Audio Workstation
Ableton Live 9
IDE / DAW
• Write code • Sequence • Refactor • Bind • Build • Output
• Compose • Sequence • Arrange • Mix • Preview • Render
Let’s see it … in Live!
Sequencer
Let’s see it … in Live!
Drum Machines
It’s about Patterns
Let’s see it … in Live!
Sampler
Automating the Copy
Let’s see it … in Live!
Sampling is Art?
Digital Synths / VSTs• Virtual Studio Technology • Plug-ins • Modularity • Composition
Let’s see it … in Live!
Libraries <> Frameworks• Tools to be more productive
Let’s see it … in Live!
Crafting and Creating
• Similarities in Techniques and Practices
Fundamental Code
Some help to write it?• Snippet?
!
• Patterns? !
• Scaffholding? !
• Scripting? !
• AOP?
! Arpegiator?!
! Patterns?!
! Presets?!
! Automation?!
! Patches?
Programming vs E-Music• Composing / Finding Patterns • Sound synthesis (Modern
Luthery) * • Sampling * • Assembling (Digital Audio
Workstation) • Applying Effects / Shaping • Mastering • Distributing • Playing / Performing
• Understanding • Culture • Design • Code • Test • Refactoring • Patterns • Deliver • Quality
Highly skilled• We know our instruments • We know the electronic culture and sub culture • Reference to the “Standards” • Modern Luthery • Chord structure • Groove • Rythms • Sound Processing • Mixing • Mastering
SpecializedSubject experts - Aim to master main instrument
But we understand each others instruments Diverse backgrounds Defined roles No one Leader People/Role interchange
IT Protocols
Music Protocol• Musical Instrument Digital Interface
Programming Languages
Popular Languages
Programming Musicthe Pure Data language
Graphical Programming
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/build-max-live-device-beginner-tutorials-point-blank/
Graphical Programminghttp://en.flossmanuals.net/pure-data/introduction/graphical-programming/
Let’s see it … Live!
Drawback
• Terrible lack of abstraction :(
Parametrizable tools
Max 4 Live / MSP / JitterMORE ON http://www.cycling74.com/docs/max5/vignettes/intro/docintro.html
SuperCollider
• an Open Source programmable audio engine
http://www.audiosynth.com/
A new kind of Luthery• Re-invent your own instruments
!
• Discover new sounds !
• Explore infinite combinations !
• Crafting musical computers for new musics' performance and improvisation
http://goo.gl/nyb38q
http://goo.gl/zL6yj1
Communities• http://overtone.github.io/
Communities• Agile • Koding Dojos • Conferences
! DIY ! Live Jams ! Rencontres
http://www.les-siestes-electroniques.com/Rencontres-Futurism
The DIY Music AcademyA desire to share knowledge …
… a band playing « live jams »
Playing in Band / Live Jam• Team
• Self organisation • Increase connexions • Learn from mistakes • Requires Creativity • Requires Vision • Anticipates • Need practice (a lot) • Flexibility
http://fr.slideshare.net/SUGSA/agile-the-jazz-manifesto
! Improvisation !Accept changes !Express ourselves !Challenge ourselves !Build on other’s ideas !Keep musical references !Incremental performance !Need rehearsal (a lot!) !Adapt to the audience
• Pair Progamming !Famous Duos
Coordination in Collaboration• Play together to achieve a common goal • Rehearsals / Continuous Improvement • Emerging conception • Tools for Coordinate and collaborate • No « chef d’orchestre », only synchronization • Self directed team • Group creativity
Are we on TDD?
• Objective Goals • Test first • We practice • We deliver
! Subjective matter ! We play first ! We practice ! We release
A matter of Styles• Automates • Imperative progr. • Procedural • Object Oriented • Declarative • Functionnal • Data Oriented
• ElectroAcoustic • Concrete music • Stochastic music • Modernism • Techno/House • Ambient/ NewAge • Drum & Bass /
Jungle • Trance , Hardcore ,
Electro , Nudisco ….
Soooo many styles
http://goo.gl/I6rPK
The importance of Remixes• Constant Evolution of a Work • Open it to others • Let the others refactor or re-interpret • Open Contests • The art of reusing
The art of DJing• Assembling music / cut-n-paste • Making artwork build with others • Is the DJ a musician? • He is skilled? • Is he a real author? • Author and copy rights? • The status of the DJ
Help! Everyone is a dj…
Can everyone be a (good) developper?
Do I have to feel bad ?
• IF I DO ELECTRONIC MUSIC
• it’s « Dance » Music
• A music for leisure
• Played at night in dark places
• It’s an industry
• Needs good crafters
• IF I AM A GAME DEVELOPER
• it’s for Gaming and Kids
• A product for Entertainment
• Played at night in dark rooms
• It’s an industry
• Needs good developers
Old practices
Best pratices?
Agile?
4ème édition parisienne tous les dimanches après-midis du mois de juillet : les 6, 13, 20 et 27 juillet 2014, de 16 à
18h. - http://www.les-siestes-electroniques.com/