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/