Monday, June 30, 2008

Spring 2008 Course Grades Posted I have posted final course grades for both the Music 8 and Music 51 classes. After logging in at the web site you should be able to see links to the two reports in the Resources section of the sidebar at the left side of the page. Have a great summer - and I'm looking forward to seeing many of your (and perhaps some of your friends!) in the fall 2008 electronic music classes! Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/30/08; 11:19:34 AM. | Discuss

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Open Lab Update - Thursday, June 26 The Electronic Music Lab will be open today (Thursday, June 26) for perhaps as long as about two hours starting around noon. Times are not precise since we are on the final exam schedule this week, but come at about that time if you want time for some last-minute work on your project. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/26/08; 10:47:10 AM. | Discuss

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Open Lab Update - Wednesday, June 25 It appears that I will not be able to open the lab for substantial open sessions this morning since I have other commitments including an on-campus meeting and the completion of some grading for other classes. I will try to open the room about a half hour or so before the 11:30 Music 8 final exam session, but students in the Music 51 class will not be able to work on final projects during the final. There is some chance that I may be able to open the lab for about an hour after we finish the playback of Music 8 final projects. I estimate that this might be at about 1:00-2:00 or so. I may be able to open the classroom for a short period during the middle of the day on Thursday, so stay tuned... Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/25/08; 9:42:16 AM. | Discuss

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Monday, June 23, 2008

Tuesday, June 24 Open Lab I plan to be on campus on Tuesday morning to open the lab for two hours or possibly a bit longer starting at about 11:30 a.m. Although I have still not been able to verify with absolute certainty that there are no other classes scheduled to use the lab, I cannot think of a class that would be scheduled at that time - so we should be fine. In case we do encounter a conflict, I'll post an update at that time. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/23/08; 10:43:40 PM. | Discuss

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Final Exam Week: Open Lab Session Updates It appears that there will be a one-hour open lab on Monday, June 23 at 11:30-12:20. Please cooperate with our lab monitor and be prepared to leave the lab right at the end of this session, at which point he must lock up the room. It is almost certain that I'll be able to open the lab for a couple hours on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 24. I do not yet know the exact time and there is still a small chance that the room may not be available, but I predict that it will most likely be available sometime after about 12:00 noon. I'll post updated information on this web site as soon as I have it. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/19/08; 2:07:58 PM. | Discuss

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Monday, June 16, 2008

Preparing Your Final Project for Playback I am providing an outline of steps to take to make sure that we can play back your final project at your final exam schedule. If you don't understand all of these stops just yet, don't worry - I will go over them during the Wednesday Intro class. (They also apply to Intermediate class projects.) Keep copies of your work As you work on your project keep original copies of your project and all support files (e.g. - samples, etc.) in your folder on your computer. At the end of each work session - after you quit Logic and/or Reason - be sure to copy your folder to the server so that you have a backup there. (Do not save directly to the server from inside the Logic or Reason applications - save on your computer first, quit the programs, and then manually move your backup files to the server.) Optional: Copy your folder to a memory stick or other backup medium that you can take with you. Save your project as a 'project' file From now on, save your work as a "project." Saving as a project creates a folder containing your piece and all support files needed to play it back on any computer. Choose "Save as project..." from the File menu. Bounce to mp3 Also on the File menu in Logic you will find a "Bounce..." command. Use this to create a mp3 audio version of your project that a) you can take with you at the end of the term and b) we can play back at the project playback session. Click on a blank area of the main Arrange window so that no regions are selecting and then choose "Bounce." Make sure that mp3 is checked, and then save the mp3 file in your folder on your computer. (It will be moved to the server when you make your backup as described above.) (Note for Intermediate students: When Logic and Reason are working in Rewire mode, your Reason tracks will also be bounced automatically.) Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/16/08; 12:52:49 PM. | Discuss

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Electronic Music Final Exam Schedules Both Electronic Music classes will use their scheduled final exam sessions for playback of final projects. You must attend your scheduled exam session in order to get credit for your final project. These sessions are scheduled as follows: MW Music 51 Introduction to Electronic Music class final exam session at 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27. TTh Music 8 Intermediate Electronic Music class final exam session at 11:30-1:30 on Wednesday, June 25. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/16/08; 12:45:35 PM. | Discuss

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Week 11 Open Labs The normal open labs should be available this week on Tuesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 19: 11:30-12:20 2:10-4:10 In addition, you may drop in during any electronic music class and use an open workstation. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/16/08; 9:15:15 AM. | Discuss

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Still Have Assignments to Show Me? If there are any assignments that you have not yet shown me (excepting the final project) you need to let me know this week. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/16/08; 9:13:40 AM. | Discuss

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

Some Highlights of the Final Week of Classes... ... prior to final exams week. This week: Intro to Electronic Music will have a work day for final projects on Monday. On Wednesday, we'll use perhaps half of the class period for written test #2 and half for additional work time. Intermediate Electronic Music will continue on both days with class presentations. Any additional class time will be available for work on final projects. Open lab sessions are available on Tuesday and Thursday as per the usual schedule. This week is the last week of regularly scheduled open labs. (Feel free to drop in during either class and use any open computer, too.) During final exams week I will try to schedule some open lab time on Tuesday and/or Wednesday. Watch for more information. Your final projects are due and will be played back at the scheduled final exam sessions. Check your green sheet for the time/day scheduled for your class. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/15/08; 10:36:31 PM. | Discuss

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

NO OPEN LAB TODAY AFTER CLASS Our lab monitor will not be available to open the electronic music lab this afternoon between 2:10 and 4:10. Unfortunately, this means that the AFTERNOON open lab will be cancelled. (Normally I would stay and keep the lab open myself, but I have a prior commitment today and I will not be able to stay past the end of the 12:30-2:10 class.) Fortunately, there is still a lot of open lab time available next week on both Tuesday and Thursday. Dan Mitchell Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/12/08; 10:27:23 AM. | Discuss

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Quick Overview of Weeks 11 and 12 After this week, there are only two weeks left in the spring term. Week 11 is the last week of regular class meetings, and week 12 is "final exams week" at De Anza. Check your course calendar - linked for the greensheets listed in the sidebar - for full details. Here is a quick list of highlights: Music 8 Music 51 Both Mon 6/16 Regular class meeting - final project work session Tue 6/17 Regular class meeting - class presentations and work time on final projects Open Labs at usual times Wed 6/18 Regular class meeting - work time on fina projects and TEST 2 Thu 6/19 Regular class meeting - Class presentations and work time on final projects. Open Labs at usual times Mon 6/23 NO CLASS Tue 6/24 NO CLASS Possible open lab to be announced Wed 6/25 FINAL EXAM SESSION @ 11:30-1:30 p.m. Attendance required. Final Project Playback Possible open lab to be announced Thu 6/26 Possible open lab to be announced Fri 6/27 FINAL EXAM SESSION @ 11:30-1:30 p.m. Attendance required. Final Project Playback Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/11/08; 1:43:17 PM. | Discuss

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Two Weeks... Then Final Exams Week We are now in week 10 of the term. This week and next week (week 11) are the last two "regular weeks" of the term, followed by the final exam sessions during week 12. In both electronic music classes, the primary task is now the completion of your final projects. All class time not devoted to something else will be available for work on the projects. But this probably will not be enough time for you to complete your project, at least not if you want to make it as good as it can be. In the Intro to Electronic Music class, we'll use some class time on Wednesday of this week to review the take-home quiz that is due that day. We'll also use perhaps half of the period on Thursday, June 19 (the last regular class meeting before finals) for test 2. In the Intermediate Electronic Music class we will use a significant portion of the three remaining regular class meetings for your class presentations. Open lab time (see the link in the upper sidebar for a summary) should continue to be available during  weeks 10 and 11. As you know, there are several hours of time available every Tuesday and Thursday - plan to use this time! There may (or may not?) be some open lab time available during final exams week. I do not yet know the schedule, but I will likely be able to provide some information near the end of week 11. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/10/08; 12:47:51 PM. | Discuss

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Monday, June 9, 2008

Quiz 3 Due This Wednesday, June 11 The last take-home quiz, quiz 3 is due at the start of class this Wednesday, Jun 11. This quiz is based on material presented in class on Monday, June 9. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/9/08; 12:36:41 PM. | Discuss

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Tentative Intermediate Class Presentation Schedule Based on the first group of presentation proposals turned in today I have started to schedule your class presentations. The current list is found below. Students who did not turn in their presentations much submit them on Thursday, and they will be scheduled to make their presentations on Thursday, June 12. Spring Equipment available in the classroom for use by all presenters. Mac computer running MS: office inc. Powerpoint Keyboard and audio; USB/MIDI to Mac Logic, Reason, Protools LE, Garage Band, Sibelius DVD, VHS playback Computer playback of .mp3, .aiff, .mov, .qt files. Projector for above. Laptops can connect if you have adapter. Audio can connect if you can accept a 1/4” or 1/8” stereo plug. Thursday, June 12 Robert M - "Electronic music (sampling) techniques of Amon Tobin." Tim I - "Sampling topic" Victor L - "Fruity Loops" Tuesday, June 17 Krystal I - "Circuit Bending"* Eric S - "Circuit Bending"* Josef T - "Drum Synths" Namphoung V - "Electronic Music and Movies" Antonio S - "Supersilent" * Eric and Krystal proposed the same topic, and need to meet with with each other to detemine how to avoid overlap and perhaps cooperate on a "group project." Approval of their topics is pending submission of proposals that include this. Thursday, June 19 Matt D - "Microphones" Rexidan - "Sound Blaster X-Fi Extreme Sound Card James P - "Development of Polyphonic Synths" Gary M - "Signal Processors for Guitars" Jeffrey K - "Mobile Recording Studios" Dave M - "Albleton Live" Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/3/08; 2:26:02 PM. | Discuss

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Monday, June 2, 2008

Retaking Test 1 For several students who may wish to improve their test 1 performance, you will have the option of retaking this test during class on Wednesday, June 11. If your performance is better on the second test you'll earn an average of your grade on the two tests. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/2/08; 2:13:55 PM. | Discuss

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Intro to Electronic Music Take Home Quizzes REMINDER: For students in the MW Intro to Electronic Music Class... QUIZ 4 is due IN CLASS ON WEDNESDAY this week. There are two take-home quizzes remaining this quarter. Links to the quizzes are on the quizzes page found at the "Quizzes" link in the sidebar. Note that I have reversed the due dates for quizzes 3 and 4. Quiz 4 is due first; quiz three is due one week later. Dan Mitchell Posted by Dan Mitchell on 6/2/08; 1:11:50 PM. | Discuss

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Updated Grades Several students asked if I could post updated grades online. I have done so. Once you log in to the web site you should see a link near the bottom of the Resources section of the sidebar. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 5/28/08; 3:03:27 PM. | Discuss

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Music 51: Test 1 Results Test 1 was returned in class on Wednesday, May 28. If you earned a lower grade than you hoped, be sure to discuss this with me - there may be a way to raise your grade on this test. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 5/28/08; 1:40:05 PM. | Discuss

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Music 8: Informal Review of Your Tentative Presentation Proposals Next Tuesday In order to see how everyone is doing on selecting and developing their class presentation topics, please come to class next Tuesday, 5/27 prepared to tell us very briefly about the topic you are planning to propose for your presentation. Posted by Dan Mitchell on 5/22/08; 1:59:13 PM. | Discuss

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