Electronic Music Essentials
Electronic Music Essentials
Status: In stock, Digital book is available for immediate access.
Electronic Music Essentials
The Electronic Music Essentials is a reference book for students who want to find BASIC information on various types of gear associated with electronic music. It is not meant as a detailed study of any of the equipment listed below. Each topic below is explained in easy to understand language, in many cases settings on gear for live and studio use is given to produce different effects. A list of current rackmount, software and pedal gear that I recommend is given for each device. Again, if you know all the gear listed below and how it all operates this is NOT the course for you. This course is meant for students who want to find out basic information on the topics below which is presented in easy to understand language with the least amount of “letters” and “numbers” that require higher knowledge on acoustics, electrical engineering etc… The topics covered include:
- Delays.
- Compressors and Limiters.
- Equalizers.
- Filter Effects.
- Exciter.
- Reverbs.
- Noise Gate.
- Loopers.
- Pitch Shifting.
- Synthesis.
- Reverbs.
- Ring Modulator.
- Eurorack.
- VCVRack.
- MIRack.
- Computer Software.
- MIDI.
- MIDI Controllers.
- Mixers.
- Digital Audio Interface.
- Amplifiers.
- Distortion Pedals.
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
- 500 Series Modular Equipment.
- Plug-ins.
- Microphones.
- Preamps.
- Signal Path.
- Cables for Audio and Video Production.
- Data Cables.
- Power Supplies.
- Basic Directions for VCVRack and MIRack programs.
VCVRack and MIRack
Many of the topics listed above have audio examples that can be played using two FREE programs that you need to download separately and install on your computer (Mac or Windows) or smart device i.e. iphone/ipad. VCVRack and MIRack are the two programs to use. I’ve included multiple examples of many of the effects listed above so that you can not only hear audio examples but use them in composing, recording or live performance. VCVRack works with both Mac and Windows and MIRack works with Iphone and Ipad only. Again, I’ve include many “patches” for these two programs that demonstrate the sound of various equipment as well as other patches. Some of the possible uses of these two programs are:
- Hearing the sounds generated by various equipment effects and synthesizer gear.
- Using MIDI Controllers to play various sounds for your audio productions both in the studio and live performance.
- Using your instrument to play sounds found in VCVRack or MIRack via a Digital Audio Interface (you need to buy a Digital Audio Interface in order to do this! But there are many cheap ones nowadays.).
- Use VCVRack as a stereo recorder or even multi-track recording. Again requires a Digital Audio Interface.
- Create graphic videos of your audio input to post on youtube or use at your live gigs.
- Many patches in VCVRack and MIRack include a keyboard so you can play sounds directly.
Additional Resources
I’ve also included in this downloadable package various help files to further educate you on electronic music or provide you with quick access to additional resources. These include:
- Thousands of samples to be used with various modules that require samples such a granulators and sample based effects units.
- A course on learning subtractive synthesis.
- Plug-ins folder for the VCVRack examples which will save you tons of time getting started.
- MIRack examples of many effects units, synthesizers, sequencers and other interesting sounds.
- Basic directions for installing VCVRack are found on the last few pages of the “Electronic Music Essentials” book.
TOC in the Electronic Music Essentials Course:
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Foreword
- How to Use This Book
- Delay Effects
- Delay Controls
- Tape Delays
- Analog Delays
- Digital Delays
- Computer Generated Delays
- Multi-Mode Delays
- MIDI Data Delays
- Delay Controls
- Additional Signal Processing Controls
- Digital Delay Applications
- Flanging and Phasing Shifting
- Popular Flangers
- Popular Phasers
- Chorus
- Popular Chorus Effects
- Doubling and Trebling
- Long Delay Effects
- Popular Long Delays
- Rhythmic Effects
- Vibrato
- Tremolo Pedals
- Vibrato Pedals
- Pitch Twisting Effects
- Resonant Effects
- Chromatic Tuned Resonances
- Advanced Effects Pedals
- Reverse Delay and Reverbs
- Multi-Mode Experimental Delays
- VCVRack Effects
- Advanced Effects Pedal
- Advanced Effects Pedals Units
- Delays with Additional Functions
- Compressors and Limiters
- Compressor/Limiter Performance Settings
- Types of Compressors
- De-esser
- Popular Compressor Units
- Equalizers
- Graphic Equalizers
- Parameteric Equalizers
- Semi and Quasi-Parametric Equalizers
- Equalizers In Performance
- Musical Pitch and Frequency Chart
- Popular Equalizers
- Filter Effects
- Popular Filter Effect Units
- Popular Filter Pedals
- Exciter
- Audio Enhancer
- Sub-Harmonic Synthesis
- Popular Exciter Hardware
- Popular Exciter Plug-ins
- Audio Enhancer Hardware
- Audio Enhancer Plug-ins
- Popular Sub-Harmonic Synthesis Hardware
- Popular Sub-Harmonic Synthesis Plug-ins
- Reverb
- Acoustic Reverbs
- Mechanical Reverbs
- Digital Reverb
- Digital Reverb Parameters
- Reflection Characteristics
- Absorption Characteristics
- Special Reverb Features
- Reverb in Performance
- Room Simulator
- Special Reverb Effects
- Popular Reverb rack-mount, pedal and plug-in reverbs
- Noise Gates
- Expanders
- Noise Gates in Performance
- Popular Noise Gates
- Noise Reduction
- Popular Noise Reduction Systems
- Loopers
- Popular Loopers
- Pitch Shifting
- MicroPitch
- Popular Pitch Shifting Units
- Synthesis
- Popular Synthesizers
- Subtractive Synthesis
- FM Synthesis
- Sample-Based Synthesis
- Wave-table Synthesis
- Vector Synthesis
- Additive Synthesis
- Spectral Synthesis
- Physical Modeling Synthesis
- Granular Synthesis
- West Coast Synthesis
- Popular Synthesizers
- Ring Modulator
- Eurorack
- VCV Rack
- Computer Software
- MIDI
- MPE
- MIDI Controller Messages
- Controllers
- Popular Controllers
- MIDI Foot Controllers
- Popular Controllers
- Mixers
- Common Controls Found on Analog and Digital Mixers
- Popular Mixers
- Streaming Mixers
- Home Studio Mixers
- Live Sound Mixers
- High End Mixers
- Digital Audio Interface
- Popular Audio Interfaces
- Amplifiers
- Tube or Solid State
- Speaker Sizes
- Amp Controls
- Bass Amplifiers
- Modeling Amps
- Popular Guitar Tube Amps
- Popular Guitar Solid State Amps
- Popular Guitar Modeling Amps
- Popular Software Based Amps
- Popular Bass Tube Amps
- Popular Solid State Bass Amps:
- Popular Keyboard Amps:
- Popular Amps for Acoustic Instruments
- Distortion Pedals
- Clipping and Overdrive
- Boost Pedals
- Distortion Pedals
- Fuzz Pedals
- Power Attenuator
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Popular DAWs
- 500 Series Modular Equipment
- Popular 500 Series Modular Modules
- Plug-ins
- Popular Plug-ins
- Microphones
- Cardioid microphones
- Super-cardioid microphones
- Hyper-cardioid microphones
- Omni-directional microphones
- Bidirectional or figure-8 microphones
- Dynamic microphones.
- Large Diaphragm Condenser microphones.
- Small Diaphragm Condenser microphones.
- Ribbon microphones.
- Proximity Effect
- Popular Microphones
- Popular Lavalier:
- Popular Shotgun:
- Popular Wireless:
- Electric Guitar Mics
- Electric Dynamic Guitar Mics
- Electric Guitar Condenser Mics
- Electric Guitar Ribbon Mics Acoustic Guitar
- Mics: (Often used in pairs)
- Popular Guitar Piezo Mics
- Mics for Acoustic Piano
- Vocal Mics
- Drum Mics
- Preamps
- Popular Preamps
- Signal Path
- Cables for Audio and Video Production
- Audio Cables
- Audio Speaker Cable
- Data Cables
- Video Cables
Electronic Music Essentials Today!
Status: In stock, Digital book is available for immediate access.
What’s in the book
Additional Information for Electronic Music Essentials:
- Digital Edition 978-1-59489-358-2
- 102 page PDF.
- PDF course on learning subtractive synthesis.
- Audio Plug-ins for VCVRack.
- 1000s of samples for use with VCVRack and MIRack programs.
- 100s of patches for hearing effects and synths discussed in this book using VCVRack or MIRack.
What people are saying:
I used an earlier edition of this book back when Bruce taught the “Effects Applications in Live Performance Class” at Berklee College of Music.” A really valuable resource for quick basic knowledge on how to use various effects units and understanding the overall picture of the resources that a contemporary musician needs to know to function in contemporary music. J. Ogland
I used this book in the “Electronic Music Ensemble” that professor Arnold used at Montclair State University. I was very “green” on understanding even the fundamentals of electronic music and this book really helped me to get the big picture. It also turned me on the VCVRack and MIRack which has saved me thousands of dollars. I can now create professional sounding recordings with state of the art sounds. Awesome!!. J. Deiter
In my opinion this is a must own book for any contemporary musician. You will be called on to used much of the equipment found in this book and you need basic knowledge on what it does and how to operate it. It will also help you immensely if you are in a studio situation where you are not happy with your sound and through the knowledge contained in this book you can have an intelligent conversation with the engineer on how you might fix your sound. A. Edgars