An Introduction to Music Technology

An Introduction to Music Technology, Third Edition provides a clear overview of the essential elements of music technology for today's musician. This book focuses on the topics that underlie the hardware and software in use today: Sound, Audio, Sequencing and Software Instruments, Computer Notation and Computer-Assisted Instruction. Appendices cover detailed aspects of MIDI software and hardware. Written for both music technology majors and non-majors, this textbook introduces students to a wide range of principles and practices so students can learn how to work with a wide range of software programs, adapt to new music technologies, and apply music technology in their performance, composition, teaching, and analysis. Features: - Thorough explanations of key topics in music technology - Content applicable to all software and hardware, not linked to just one piece of software or gear - In-depth discussion of digital audio topics, such as sampling rates, resolutions, and file formats - Explanations of standard audio plug-ins including dynamics processors, EQs, and delay based effects - Coverage of synthesis and sampling in software instruments - Pedagogical features, including: - Further Reading sections that allow the student to delve deeper into topics of interest - Suggested Activities that can be carried out with a variety of different programs - Key Terms at the end of each chapter - What Do I Need? chapters covering the types of hardware and software needed in order to put together audio systems - A companion website with links to audio examples that demonstrate various concepts, step-by-step tutorials, relevant hardware, software, and additional audio and video resources. The third edition has been fully updated to cover shifts in technology since the publication of the second edition, including increased coverage of mobile and cloud-based apps, updated graphics representing current software and hardware, and reorganized coverage of computer hardware and software topics.

Section I: Sound 1. What is Sound? 2. Sound Properties and the Waveform View 3. The Overtone Series and the Spectrum View Section II: Audio 4. Digital Audio Software: The Digital Audio Workstation 5. Audio Hardware 6. Digital Audio Data 7. Audio-What Do I Need? Section III: MIDI and Software Instruments 8. Software Instruments and Sequencing 9. MIDI Hardware 10. MIDI Messages 11. A Basic Synthesis Model 12. Synthesis Techniques 13. Sampling Techniques 14. Beyond the DAW/sequencer 15. MIDI and Software Instruments-What Do I Need? Section IV: Computer Notation and Computer-Assisted Instruction 16. Computer Notation 17. Computer-Assisted Instruction Appendix: Computer Hardware Appendix: Computer Software Appendix: MIDI in Depth