Music Technology Sound Modules

A sound module

What is a sound module? an electronic musical instrument without a human-playable interface such as a keyboard an electronic musical instrument without a human-playable interface such as a keyboardelectronic musical instrumentkeyboardelectronic musical instrumentkeyboard "played" using an externally connected device -external device may be a controller, a sequencer "played" using an externally connected device -external device may be a controller, a sequencercontroller sequencercontroller sequencer Connections between sound modules, controllers, and sequencers - generally MIDI Connections between sound modules, controllers, and sequencers - generally MIDIMIDI Sound modules may use any number of technologies to produce their sounds Sound modules may use any number of technologies to produce their sounds  Synthesizer Synthesizer  Sampler Sampler  digital piano; digital piano digital piano  or a rompler. rompler Drum modules are sound modules which specialize in percussion sounds. Drum modules - triggered by external tigger pads or pickups as well as through MIDI. Drum modules are distinguished from drum machines through their lack of dedicated on-board triggers and lack of an integrated sequencer. Drum modules are sound modules which specialize in percussion sounds. Drum modules - triggered by external tigger pads or pickups as well as through MIDI. Drum modules are distinguished from drum machines through their lack of dedicated on-board triggers and lack of an integrated sequencer.percussiondrum machinespercussiondrum machines usually rack-mountable, but can also have a table-top form factor. usually rack-mountable, but can also have a table-top form factor.rack-mountableform factorrack-mountableform factor advantages over a fully-integrated instrument as does any system with a modularized design: advantages over a fully-integrated instrument as does any system with a modularized design:  Cost -- is cheaper  Space -- takes up less room  Obsolescence cycles -- When it becomes obsolete, a sound module can be replaced without changing a favorite controller, or vice versa.

Types of Modules Massive Sound Palette Modules Massive Sound Palette Modules Specialty Modules Specialty Modules General Modules General Modules Micro Modules Micro Modules

What is a sound module? Device containing banks of sounds Device containing banks of sounds Regular, General Midi, General Standard Regular, General Midi, General Standard Banks and instruments Banks and instruments Manually selected or triggered Manually selected or triggered

Sound Module

What is a virtual sound module? Software emulation of a sound module Software emulation of a sound module Banks of sounds Banks of sounds Processor dependant Processor dependant Sound Card Sound Card

How do sound modules operate Sound Synthesis Sound Synthesis A sound/Patch/Program A sound/Patch/Program Banks –128 Banks –128 Combination/layering Combination/layering Global parameters Global parameters

Sound module functions Editing Editing Effects Effects Dumping Dumping System Exclusive System Exclusive

Sound module functions Aftertouch algorithm algorithm analog analog analog-to-digital converter (ADC) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channel channel controller controller editing editing editor/librarian editor/librarian effects effects equalization (EQ) equalization (EQ) Flash ROM A type of updatable ROM. Flash ROM A type of updatable ROM. frequency frequency frequency modulation (FM) frequency modulation (FM) General MIDI (GM) General MIDI (GM) GS GS layer layer MIDI channel MIDI channel multitimbral multitimbral phone connector phone connector pinjack connector pinjack connector polyphony ROM polyphony ROM S/PDIF Sony/Philips Digital Interface S/PDIF Sony/Philips Digital Interface synthesizer synthesizer tone generator tone generator

Assignment for own enrichment Find out from the internet sources some sound modules of your choice and examine all the parameters discussed today Find out from the internet sources some sound modules of your choice and examine all the parameters discussed today Discuss what you can do with a sound module in a recording environment vis a viz multitrack recording. Discuss what you can do with a sound module in a recording environment vis a viz multitrack recording.