Three original software programs utilizing improvisation and live sampling are presented here, along with a discussion of aesthetic issues raised by each. They are entitled Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Musiker, Motet, and Gamepad Sampler. These programs vary in the degree of required interaction and in the kind of user control. They are each studies in imitative counterpoint through live sampling, with an approach seeking elegance before solutions. Because of the improvisational nature of these works, there is no standard musical score. Instead the complete Max/MSP source code and a sound recording of performances making use of these programs in varied situations are included. A discussion of issues raised by these works includes aesthetics, ontology, performance, and the role of the composer. Non-interactive indeterminate compositions are ontologically thin, because some composerly agency is required of the performer. An interactive work can be ontologically substantial if it makes distinct and significant contributions to performance, even though it may not make sound on its own. Although reproducibility reduces ontology and eliminates aura, live sampling within a performance can deepen the ontology of the performance by recontextualizing previous events, reframing the original event as the first reference to an abstract musical idea that lies outside the musical performance. Reproducibility also diminishes the aura or stage presence in live performance with computers. Complex feedback systems can be used to create computation instruments: musical instruments whose unique structure resonates in ways not explicit in their programs. As the human condition and the situation of the composer change, definitions of the composer and performer must be revised. Composition is shifting away from the creation of static artifacts toward the design of dynamic systems.

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Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa there has been an increase over the last few years in audio engineering courses which include modules of study in audio post-production or even offer audio post-production as a major focus of study. From an academic standpoint however, and despite the growth in the local film industry, very little study of this field has been undertaken in South Africa until recently. In 2005, a MMus thesis was submitted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal entitled Acoustic Ambience in Cinematography: An Exploration of the Descriptive and Emotional Impact of the Aural Environment (Turner, 2005: online). The thesis briefly outlines the basic components of the soundtrack and focuses on describing and analysing the properties of ambience, a sub-section of sound effects. At Stellenbosch University, research has recently begun in the fields of film music and Foley (sound effects associated with human movement onscreen). The purpose of this thesis is to provide an overview of audio post-production and the contribution of sound to the film medium. It provides an outline of the processes involved in creating a soundtrack for film and includes a description of the components of the soundtrack and recommendations for practical application. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die afgelope paar jaar was daar ‘n toename in oudio-ingenieurskursusse, insluitend studiemodules in oudio post-produksie, en selfs ‘n aanbod vir modules in post-produksie as hoofstudierigting. Desnieteenstaande, en ten spyte van die groei in die plaaslike filmindustrie is tot onlangs min akademiese studies op dié terrein in Suid-Afrika onderneem. In 2005 is ‘n MMus-tesis aan die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal voorgelê, met die titel Acoustic Ambience in Cinematography: An Exploration of the Descriptive and Emotional Impact of the Aural Environment (Turner, 2005: aanlyn). Hierdie tesis gee ‘n basiese oorsig oor die basiese komponente van die klankbaan, en fokus op die beskrywing en analise van die eienskappe van ambience – ‘n onderafdeling van klankeffekte. By die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is onlangs ‘n begin gemaak met navorsing oor die terreine van filmmusiek en Foley, d.w.s. klankeffekte geassosieer met menslike bewegings op die skerm.. Hierdie tesis beoog om ‘n oorsig te gee van oudio post-produksie en die bydrae van klank tot die filmmedium. Dit verskaf ‘n oorsig oor die prosesse betrokke by die daarstelling van ‘n filmklankbaan en sluit ook in ‘n beskrywing van die komponente van die klankbaan en aanbevelings vir die praktiese toepassing daarvan.

Run-Length-Limited (RLL) channels are found in digital recording systems like the Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Compact Disc (CD), and Digital Versatile Disc (DVD). This thesis presents novel encoding algorithms for RLL channels based on a simple technique called bit stuffing. First, two new capacity-achieving variable-rate code constructions are proposed for (d,k) constraints. The variable-rate encoding ideas are then extended to (0,G/I) and other RLL constraints. Since variable-rate codes are of limited practical value, the second half of this thesis focuses on fixed-rate codes. The fixed-rate bit stuff (FRB) algorithm is proposed for the design of simple, high-rate (0,k) codes. The key to achieving high encoding rates with the FRB algorithm lies in a novel, iterative pre-processing of the fixed-length input sequence prior to bit stuffing. Detailed rate analysis for the proposed FRB algorithm is presented, and upper and lower bounds on the asymptotic (in input block length) encoding rate are derived. Several system-level issues of the proposed FRB codes are addressed, and FRB code parameters required to design rate 100/101 and rate 200/201 (0,k) codes are tabulated. Finally, the proposed fixed-rate encoding is extended to (0,G/I) constraints.

Music recordings contain the mixed contribution of multiple overlapping instruments. In order to better understand the music, it would be beneficial to understand each instrument independently. This thesis focuses on separating the individual instrument recordings within a song. In particular, we propose novel algorithms for separating instrument recordings given only their mixture. When the number of source signals does not exceed the number of mixture signals, we focus on a subclass of source separation algorithms based on joint diagonalization. Each approach leverages a different form of source structure. We introduce repetitive structure as an alternative that leverages unique repetition patterns in music and compare its performance against the other techniques. When the number of source signals exceeds the number of mixtures (i.e. the underdetermined problem), we focus on spectrogram factorization techniques for source separation. We extend single-channel techniques to utilize the additional spatial information in multichannel recordings, and use phase information to improve the estimation of the underlying components.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two non-destructive methods of extracting audio from Edison phonographic cylinders were investigated. A recording device with high accuracy positioning was designed and manufactured. A microscopic image method was investigated first. Surface images of the cylinder were obtained using a webcamera. An audio signal was then extracted from the width modulation. Results were not pleasing as echoes caused by intergroove modulation were perceptable. The audio also lacked resolution. The true modulation of the audio is not embedded in the width, but in the depth of the groove. The second audio extraction method involved using a laser pick-up from a compact disc player to measure the depth of the groove. Three laser recording methods were investigated. The first was forward recording, that measured the depth modulation in the recording direction of the groove. The second method, backward recording, was identical to forward recording with the mechanical system moving in reverse. Four recordings from different positions in the groove were combined to create an audio signal. This combination of recordings showed a substantial improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. A third recording method, transverse recording, that measured the whole depth profile of the groove was also investigated. The groove profile was then processed to an audio signal. A manual audio restoration program was written to replace visible sections of distorted data with better interpolations. Two speech enhancement methods were investigated, the first being the most commonly used speech enhancement method for digital audio restoration, Short-Time Spectral Attenuation (STSA). The second method is based on linear predictive coefficient (LPC) estimation of short-time frames. The two methods were evaluated by means of listening tests. The LPC enhancement method was preferred because it enhanced the intelligibility of the speech. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Twee nie-destruktiewe metodes om klank van Edison-fonograafsilinders te onttrek, is ondersoek. 'n Opneemtoestel, wat die silinders met baie hoë akkuraatheid posisioneer, IS ontwerp en vervaardig. 'n Mikroskopiese beeldrnetode IS as eerste klankonttrekkingsmetode ondersoek. Mikroskopiese beelde is met 'n webkamera van die silinderoppervlak geneem. Klank is vanuit die wydtemodulasie sigbaar in die beelde onttrek. Resultate was nie bevredigend nie weens groefintermodulasie-eggo's en 'n tekort aan resolusie. Die ware modulasie van die klank is nie in die wydte van die groefie gegraveer nie, maar in die diepte. Die tweede klankonttrekkingsmetode gebruik 'n aangepaste lasersensor van 'n CD-speler om die dieptemodulasie van die groefie te meet. Drie laseropneemmetodes is ondersoek. Die eerste is voorwaartse opname, wat die dieptemodulasie in die opneemrigting van die groefie meet. 'n Tweede opneemmetode, truwaartse opname, is identies aan voorwaartse opname, behalwe dat die meganiese stelsel in trurat beweeg. Vier opnames vanuit verskillende posisies in die groefbreedte is gekombineer om 'n klanksein te vorm. Die kombinasie van vier opnames toon 'n beduidende verbetering op die sein-tot-ruis-verhouding. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot die derde opneemmetode, dwarsskandering, wat die hele profiel van die groef meet. Die groefprofiel word dan verwerk tot 'n klanksein. 'n Handoudiorestourasieprogram is geskryf om sigbare verwringing in die klanksein met beter interpolasies te vervang. Twee spraakverheffingsmetodes is ondersoek. Short- Time Spectral Attenuation (STSA) is die mees gebruikte metode vir oudiorestourasie. 'n Tweede spraakverheffingsmetode wat van 'n lineêre voorspellingskoëffisiëntafskatting (LPC-afskatting) van korttydraampies gebruik maak, is ook toegepas. Die twee metodes is deur luistertoetse teen mekaar opgeweeg. Die LPCmetode is verkies aangesien dit die verstaanbaarheid van die spraak beter behoue laat bly.

Orientador: Pedro Peixoto Ferreira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T12:51:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Malhao_RafaeldaSilva_M.pdf: 19665783 bytes, checksum: 97dedddf16af7fdc50c3ab0adc13a7b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A presente dissertação tem como objeto e objetivo central compreender o processo tecno-genético de formação dos DJs de Música Eletrônica de Pista (MEP) para uma atuação efetiva frente a uma pista de dança. Para dar conta da tarefa que me propus dediquei-me a analisar este processo a partir de três de abordagens distintas, a saber, tecnologia, técnica e habilidade, que assumem dinâmicas relacionais diferentes que dependem do objetivo e combinação estabelecida entre elas, e a partir destes diferentes cenários relacionais estas combinações orientam ritmos específicos de interação entre humanos e máquinas. Estas combinações e ritmos foram o núcleo para a análise mais profícuo identificado para explorar o DJ como conceito e prática no âmbito da MEP. Estas três abordagens visam desdobrar as questões relativas a cada tópico supracitado e a integração destas abordagens se dá por meio de uma experiência estética não contemplativa. A primeira abordagem tem como preocupação central as diferentes formas em que a tecnologia de reprodução sonora foi relevante para MEP e visa constituir uma base material da mudança tecnológica para as discussões abordadas subsequentemente. A segunda abordagem parte desta base tecnológica a fim de apresentar as possíveis formas de constituição das habilidades, das técnicas e do corpo por meio da atuação sinérgica para fins comuns entre DJs e tecnologias de reprodução sonora. A terceira abordagem se vale das duas anteriores para tentar compreender a relação que se estabelece entre estes modos tecnológicos e técnicos de formação das habilidades e percepção que contribuem na forma de interação entre DJs e pista de dança, atendo-se principalmente, nas potencialidades e especificidades de uma proposta tecno-estética que busca escapar da passividade contemplativa na relação entre público e executores de atos estéticos. Este percurso se fez necessário para a compreensão do papel das tecnologias na formação dos sentidos e das ações a eles correspondentes durante o processo de aprendizado das técnicas sendo elas de discotecagem ou modos de dança. Por fim, identifico, assim como alguns autores que perpassam o texto, que o modo de percepção, bem como o corpo que percebe ? e todas as implicações desta situação ? não são dados a priori, e sim, se constituem ao longo das diferentes interações com o ambiente e com a tecnologia. E que uma abordagem estética que privilegie a experiência estética mediada por objetos que não são necessariamente estéticos, mas objetos que possibilitam diferentes reticulações do espaço e do tempo por meio do seu modo de manipulação e inserção em contextos específicos foi a maneira mais interessante para descrever a relação entre DJs, tecnologias e pista de dança / Abstract: The aim of this study is to understand the techno-genetic process of the development of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) DJs in an effective performance in the dance floor. To be able to accomplish this task I analyse the process from three distinct approaches, namely technology, techniques, and skills that assume different relational dynamics depending on the goal and the combination stabilished among them, and from those different relational scenaries those combinations orient toward specific rhythms of interaction between mankind and machines.These combinations and rhythms were the most proficuous nucleous to the analysis, identified to explore the DJ as concept and practise in EDM. Those three approaches are to unfold the issues regarding each topic above mentioned and the integration of the approaches happens through a non-contemplative aesthetic experience. The first approach aims the different ways sound reproduction technology was relevant to EDM and intends to build a material base of technological change to the discussions subsequently dealt. The second approach derives from said technological base in order to present the possible ways of developing skills, techniques, and body by the synergic movement to common goals between DJs and sound reproduction technology. The third approach derives from the first two aiming to understand the relation stablished among the technological ways and the techniques to form the skills and perceptions that contribute the way of interaction between DJs and the dance floor. It focuses mainly in potencialities and specificity of the techno-aesthetic proposal that tries to scape from contemplative passivity in the relation between the audience and the performer of aesthetic acts. All this process was needed to understand the role the technologies play in the formation of senses and actions corresponding to them during the technique learning process of either DJing or dance moves. Consequently, I identified, as well as some autors who perpassed the text, the fact that the way of perception and the body that perceives and also all implications of this situation are not given a priori, and that way, are constituted during the different interactions with the environment and technology. Also an aesthetic approach that previleges the aesthetic experience mediated by objects not necessarily aesthetic, but objects with different reticulations of the space and the time through their form of manipulation and inserction in specific contexts was the most interesting way to describe the relation between DJs, technologies, and dance floor / Mestrado / Sociologia / Mestre em Sociologia