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What
the Music SIG does
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Hi there! People
often ask what the Music SIG does.
Below are some notes I made towards an answer. Yahya Yahya Abdal-Aziz, Music SIG Leader, Melbourne PC User Group Inc email : music@melbpc.org.au Someone else wrote --- Our meetings are designed to cater for club members interested in the application of computers to music. Our members range from beginners to professionals and everyone is encouraged to participate. The meetings are casual with participants guaranteed to enjoy themselves. We have regular presentations from our members on musical topics of special interest. --- it wasn't me! What I wrote was ---- Here's
the short answer --- The
Music SIG is for MelbPC members who like to make or hear music. That's
a pretty broad statement. So
here's the long one! --- --------------------- --------------------- When
the IG started several years ago, it was the Computer Music SIG. This
pretty much limited it to the music that you, or someone else, can
create with the help of your PC, or perhaps even have the PC create
automatically. This focus was too narrow. So
any of the following things is a fair topic for questions, discussion,
training or presentation at the Music
SIG --- ·
How to choose a sound card, speakers, or a CD-ROM
drive to go with your PC. ·
How to instal this music hardware in your PC. ·
Software drivers for this hardware and how to instal
and operate them. ·
Extra memory for your sound card - what, why, how? ·
How to play your favourite music while you use the
PC for work. · Hooking up your audio gear - amplifiers, microphones, radio and TV tuners and · so
on. ·
Cataloging your tape, record, or CD collection on
your PC. ·
Playing anything straight out of your music catalogue. ·
Sampling, digital and analogue recording of music
and live sounds on hard disk. ·
Music resources on the Internet. ·
Sequencing software. ·
Software to teach composing and arranging. ·
Software to compose and arrange music automatically. ·
Systems of musical notation - classical, sequencer
and MIDI. ·
What is MIDI, and why do I need it? ·
Musical instruments - new, old and bizarre - their
characteristics and their ·
Using your PC as an aid in learning to play a musical
instrument. ·
My son is learning the piano - which MIDI keyboard
should I buy? ·
Singing and the tonic sol-fa. ·
But don't you need perfect pitch? ·
Making a new song - chorus and verse, bridge and
hook ·
Guitar bends, slides and licks. ·
Printing your music for publication. ·
Printing instrumental parts for band members. ·
Physical acoustics and psychoacoustics - what we
hear and how we hear it. ·
Theory and practice of harmony - why does that sound
so good? ·
Tuning and temperament - how and why scales are
built. ·
My friend the Mixolydian mode. ·
Reference books on music. ·
The Percy Grainger Museum. ·
Companding - hearing your music better as you grow
older. ·
Editing and transforming sound samples. ·
Bet you can't imitate that bird! ·
Metre, rhythm and prosody. ·
Music for dancing. ·
The recipe for Mum's Apple Polka - choreographic
notation. ·
A catchy tune - what makes a good melody? Well,
there are actually a couple of items in that list we haven't covered
yet - but the rest we have at least touched on.
There are also heaps of possible topics missing from the list
- namely the things that interest the 10,500 or so members who HAVEN'T
visited the SIG yet. The
IG has a regular programme, consisting of - 1 Introduce new members 7:30 - 7:45 2 Question & Answer 7:45 - 8:15 4 Coffee and Chat 8:15 - 8:30 3 Demonstrations 8:30 - 9:30 4 Workshop questions & answers arising 9:30 - 10:00 Times
are approximate. The last
part is rather informal, and may continue at members' discretion. When we take the SIG meeting on excursion,
we vary the format to suit the situation. -------------------- From
the answer above, I hope you can see we are indeed interested in,
and have something to offer you, in response to each of your questions. Mind you --- we are NOT necessarily experts
in any of the things you care about!
But we do try to help, by sharing knowledge and experience. Turn
up, do, and let's make it happen for both you and your 12-year-old
- assuming you can both last till at least 9:30 pm! --------------------- Also --- Greg,
For
your information, below is the reply I sent recently to another enquirer
who wanted to know what the IG covers. The IG covers anything at all to do with music, not just computer
music or the use of the computer as a musical tool. People have even been known to bring and demonstrate acoustical
instruments! For those who
want it, there's a lot of theoretical knowledge available to tap. Someone recently asked what software members use. They use Cubase, Cubasis, CakeWalk, Logic,
Band-in-a-box, freeware and shareware sequencers, notation programs
like Noteworthy Composer, MIDI and MP3 players --- a whole range of
software. The discussion is always wide-ranging, the level is generally beginner
to medium. However we entertain
any questions, are happy to share our knowledge and learn from others,
and would welcome your input. We
often have members show off their latest compositions on the PC. Styles of music include just about anything
you've ever heard of. We've just recently had some new sound equipment - amplifier, speakers,
mike and tape deck - installed, which has really improved the playback
of our various efforts. Why don't you come along once for free and see how you like it?
If that's not practical, is there any other way we can be more
useful to you? As
to your other questions, the answers are --- 1.
Yes, we do answer such questions as what hardware and software
do I need? Mind you, the answers may be as numerous as
the people answering! :-) Seriously,
you should find some useful guidance from the members, but you will
still need to use your own judgement. 2.
. We meet on the first Monday every month.
Meetings start at 7:30pm and finish when everyone's had enough
--- usually around 10:00pm for most.
Meetings are open to members of Melbourne PC User Group. Non-members are also welcome to attend two
SIG meetings as visitors. After
that, they need to decide whether they wish to join the user group. 3.
What will we discuss at the next meeting?
(a) Whatever comes up in the Q&A session; (b) Any software demonstrated by members; (c) Any music played by members. I hope we see you soon. If they're not too young, bring the kids! Regards, Yahya Yahya Abdal-Aziz, Music SIG Leader, Melbourne PC User Group Inc -----Original
Message----- From: Price, Gregory To: 'music-sig@melbpc.org.au' Subject: Info Required Peoples, I'm interested in using my PC to learn &
make music (I'd like to get the kids into
it as well) - what do I need to get this done ie what S/W & H/W?. Would this sort of question be answered at
the meetings? If so, I'm interested in
coming along to a meeting - can you tell me when the next meeting is, and
what will be discussed? Greg Price And also --- Dear
Paul, When
we're _really_ well organised, we plan out the programme for the evening,
or even for the entire year, in advance.
Sometimes, we just wing it! Mostly
you'll find that each SIG meeting has a question-and-answer session,
when ANYONE can ask ANYTHING --- if it's at least vaguely connected
with the purpose of the SIG --- and ANYONE can answer.
The SIG leader usually tries to moderate the enthusiastic discussion
a little. After
which, come any special presentations, either by an invited and knowledgeable
guest, or by IG members themselves.
An SIG often has a different theme from one meeting to the
next. Whenever possible, we announce these topics
in advance, using the magazine, bulletin board or an IG home-page
on the Web. We
usually have a break for supper --- coffee, tea, sugar, milk and biscuits
are provided free of charge. If
you're in luck, the SIG you're at has some members who like to bring
cakes or savouries to share. For
example, the Graphics SIG is renowned for usually providing a feast
for more than just the eyes ... After
supper, more presentations, or questions and answers, or a bit of
a tutorial on the PC in some commonly used software, or whatever else
people fancy. Both
the Graphics and Music SIGs, which I lead, are somewhat informal and
flexible regarding exact times. This
helps to keep members - particularly novices! - relaxed, able to enjoy
themselves while sharing in a learning experience.
We also have a very broad focus, not restricting ourselves
to just some aspects of using PCs.
For
example, the Music SIG covers such areas as --- ·
alternate guitar tunings - what and why ·
how the physiology of hearing affects the construction
of scales, ·
theory and practice of composition, including voicing,
ranges of instruments, song-writing, rhythm and prosody, ·
MIDI hardware and keyboards, recording and playback,
·
sound cards and their utility software, ·
analysing bird-song and transcribing it into notes
...
and so on. There
are members interested in all sorts of musical genres. We're
particularly pleased to have members present their own work at SIGs,
since they can show their fellow members just what they can do, and
how to do it, without breaking the bank on expensive equipment and
software. For example, I like to show off shareware and
freeware whenever possible. Please
come along and join in! Regards, Yahya Yahya
Abdal-Aziz Music
SIG Leader, MelbPC. email:
music@melbpc.org.au -----Original
Message----- From: Paul McConkey To:
music-sig@melbpc.org.au Subject: An expression of interest Hi to all the
music people out there. As a long time
member of Melbpc I have always wondered what the music IG
is all about ? I am a professional
musician and use various music programs in my work: namely
Finale & Encore. I would be interested
in finding out more of what goes on in your IG and if possible
I may be available to attend one of your meetings. Any information
would be appreciated as to what you offer. Thank you in
anticipation Paul McConkey Still here? Great! I hope
the above will give you some idea of what we're about.
And even more, that you'll come along to a meeting soon. We welcome your thoughts and opinions on how
the SIG can serve you best. Yahya Yahya Abdal-Aziz, Music SIG Leader, Melbourne PC User Group Inc email : music@melbpc.org.au |
Music SIG