We meet approximately once every two-three weeks during the Fall and Spring semesters to discuss the latest in computer music and sound synthesis. EMAIL LIST: If you would like to be added to our email list to be informed about future presentations, please send email to Tom Cortina (username: tcortina, domain: cs.cmu.edu).
For other semesters, click here:
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SPRING 2005
Tuesday,
February 15
1:30-3:00PM
Wean Hall 3213
Speaker: Roger Dannenberg
Topic: McBlare, The Robotic Bagpiper
Roger Dannenberg will demonstrate McBlare, a robotic bagpiper. McBlare was built last fall by Ben Brown and Garth Zeglin of the Robotics Institute, and Roger has been working on it ever since, with help from Ron Lupish, trying to make it play properly (insert bagpipe joke here). In the event McBlare is not cooperating, Roger will demonstrate some recent work with Aura.
Tuesday, March
1
1:30-3:00PM
Smith Hall 100
Speaker: Sofia
Cavaco
Topic: Learning intrinsic structures of impact sounds
Abstract: When one object impacts another, we can readily perceive many intrinsic properties of the resulting sound that allow us to distinguish differences in material, surface properties, and even object shape, in spite of wide variations in the raw acoustic waveform. Algorithms have been developed to extract basic features of impact sounds, such as the decay rates or the average spectra, but these approaches fail to capture the acoustic richness and variability that is characteristic of natural impact sounds. I will talk about a data-driven method for learning intrinsic structures of impact sounds. The method applies principal and independent component analysis techniques to learn low-dimensional representations that model the distribution of both the time-varying harmonic and amplitude structure of the sounds. The method is highly flexible and makes no a priori assumptions about the physics, acoustics, or dynamics of the objects.
Tuesday, March
15
8:00PM
PNC Recital Hall, Duquesne University
Performer: Roger Dannenberg
Title: Feedback
The "U3 Festival" opens with a free concert of chamber music and electronic music at PNC Recital Hall, Duquesne University, including "Feedback", a new work for trumpet and computer, composed and performed by Roger Dannenberg. "Feedback" uses software to create "real" feedback in the concert hall, with computer-controlled attenuation to keep the volume at a comfortable level. A total of 8 independent feedback circuits run using 4 channel sound, and each can be tuned using interactively controlled delays and filters.
Directions: For Duquesne Univ. maps and directions, click HERE (look for the School of Music). There's a big parking structure with an entrance on Forbes Ave. Via PAT bus, the 61's, 71's, and 501 stop at Duquesne University.
Tuesday, March 29
1:30-3:00PM
Wean Hall
3213 (NOTE ROOM CHANGE)
Speaker: Roger Dannenberg
Topic: Oscillation Controlled Sound Synthesis & A Description of
"Feedback"
Roger Dannenberg has been working with Cornelius Popel on a new synthesis technique in which a live signal replaces an oscillator in a more traditional synthesis technique. They call this "Oscillation Controlled Sound Synthesis" and variants of subtractive synthesis and FM have been implemented. In addition, Roger recently completed and performed "Feedback" for trumpet and computer. Real feedback is generated and controlled by the computer, so that the resonance of the hall becomes part of a huge oscillator -- essentially one giant electroacoustic instrument containing the performer and the audience. Roger will talk about the new synthesis technique and the "Feedback" composition.
Tuesday, April 19
2:00-3:00PM (NOTE TIME CHANGE)
Room: NSH 3305 (NOTE ROOM CHANGE)
Speaker: Ning Hu
Automatic Accurate Music Segmentation
Ning will present her recent results and ideas on automatic accurate segmentation.
If time permits, Roger Dannenberg will discuss the following new research:
Topic: Toward Holistic Music Analysis: Beat Tracking Using Music Structure
Most music processing attempts to focus on one particular feature or structural element such as pitch, beat location, tempo, or genre. This hierarchical approach, in which music is separated into elements that are analyzed independently, is convenient for the scientific researcher, but is at odds with intuition about music perception. Music is interconnected at many levels, and the interplay of melody, harmony, and rhythm are important in perception. As a first step toward more holistic music analysis, music structure is used to constrain a beat tracking program. With structural information, the simple beat tracker, working with audio input, shows a 70% improvement. This seminar will provide an informal overview of this new research.
Tuesday, May 3
9:00AM-12:00PM
Room: Newell-Simon Hall (NSH) 3305
Interface and Interaction Design
Student Presentations
Students, working in small teams, have designed music players that
employ novel interaction methods to strengthen the emotional connection
users have with music. Coffee and bagels served.