IDeATe: Automated Musical Instruments

10 units · Undergraduate

Spring: 10 units Robotic musical instruments build on a rich tradition of enhancing physical instruments with automation. In this project-oriented course we create and program novel electromechanical musical devices for live performance and installation. We review the history of player pianos, theater organs, and other historical automated instruments for inspiration. Students apply electrically powered solenoids, motors, and air valves to existing instruments to connect them to digital control. Students also develop novel machines to produce sound using physical processes. Using these collective results we assemble an idiosyncratic networked performance instrument and explore improvisation, composition, and algorithmic performance. Technical topics include electric actuators and interfacing, MIDI protocols and input devices, DMX and OSC networking, real-time Python, dataflow programming (Max and PureData), and elementary music and acoustics theory. This interdisciplinary course is part of IDeATe Physical Computing but is open to any student. Prerequisites: 15-104 Min. grade C or 15-110 Min. grade C or 57-345 Min. grade C or 60-210 Min. grade C or 60-212 Min. grade C or 15-112 Min. grade C Course Website: https://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/16-377