Music Engineering at the University of Miami

Kenneth Pohlmann and Colby Leider School of Music, University of Miami email: {pohlmann, cleider}@miami.edu

www.music.miami.edu/mue

Abstract Inaugural program director Bill Porter, a preeminent recording engineer, emphasized recording The Music Engineering Technology program at the studio skills, and most early graduates pursued University of Miami encapsulates a multidisciplinary careers as recording engineers. The second program undergraduate Bachelor of Music degree within a more director, John Woram, editor of dB Magazine and traditional music school setting. The program also author, expanded the program’s scope to include offers a Master of Science degree for students with professional audio; in addition to employment in undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering or recording studios, many graduates pursued careers computer science. The program’s graduates have with audio manufacturers. continued musical and technical pursuits in both The MUE program was founded on the premise industry and academia. Recent major equipment that it would teach recording technology. With the acquisitions and partnerships with industrial creation of many similar academic programs also collaborators have positioned our program to expand its focused on recording technology and the strong educational and research stature. demand for audio engineers with more rigorous technical skills, the program expanded its curriculum. The third program director, Ken Pohlmann, thus 1 History and Overview further emphasized studies in electrical engineering and computer science; career options as hardware and The University of Miami was the first university software audio engineers became available. to offer a four-year undergraduate curriculum in A Master of Science degree was founded in 1986. Music Engineering Technology (MUE) culminating A minor in Computer Science was added in 1997, and in a Bachelor of Music degree, and it was the first in 2002, this option was modified to provide a double university to offer a two-year graduate curriculum major in Computer Science. Current degree offerings culminating in a Master of Science degree in Music solidify the engineering content in its curriculum Engineering Technology. Today, the Music while maintaining expertise in contemporary Engineering Technology program in the School of recording skills. Music ranks among the University of Miami’s most Approximately 80 undergraduates each year from prestigious programs. the United States and overseas combine the study of After research into appropriate curricula by Ted music, music engineering, electrical engineering, and Crager, Associate Dean of the School of Music, who computer science in a unique interdisciplinary determined that a minor degree in Electrical program. The undergraduate program requires Engineering was appropriate, the undergraduate proficiency on a musical instrument or voice and degree program was first offered in 1975. Then as development of performance skills. In addition, now, the undergraduate program was intended for students learn engineering theory and practice musicians who wish to pursue careers in technology. associated with today’s music and audio industries. The program has meet the guidelines of the National The result is a Bachelor of Music degree with either a Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since its minor in electrical engineering or a double major in inception and indeed set the NASM standard for computer science. music engineering technology studies. Majors are Approximately ten graduate students from the enrolled in music lessons and performing ensembles United States and overseas pursue a Master of during their four-year study, complete four levels of Science MUE degree each year. These students must music theory, and enroll in a strong complement of have completed Bachelor of Science degrees in either other music courses. In other words, their electrical engineering or computer science to be specialization in technology areas does not considered for admission. Their curriculum shortchange traditional music studies. combines studies in music engineering, sound synthesis, and psychoacoustics with graduate courses in electrical engineering and computer science. No This room will feature 20 workstations, each with a music performance proficiency is required, and music networked computer, as well as video projection and performance studies are not required. This degree surround playback facilities. program meets the general NASM requirements for a While the focus of the studios is the multitrack Master of Science degree in music. This program is recording and post production of music primarily designed for engineering students who seek performances, they are also used as working careers in digital signal processing and audio laboratories to develop new audio technology. software design. Students are expected to participate fully in the International students from China, France, Great maintenance, modification, installation, and design of Britain, Canada, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, both hardware and software systems. Extensive Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, hands-on laboratories provide students with practical Venezuela, Germany, Austria and other countries experience in real-life audio engineering situations, have enrolled in the program. The MUE program has providing both reinforcement of theoretical education experimented with Internet2 and expects to develop and practical skills. distance-learning capability in the future. International applicants must score satisfactorily 3 Undergraduate Curriculum on the TOEFL and meet other admission requirements established by the University of Miami One of the distinguishing features of our Office of International Admissions. undergraduate curriculum is the importance it places on students’ simultaneous development of strong musical and technical foundations. Undergraduates in 2 Facilities both majors are required to complete two semesters All students enrolled in the MUE program have of calculus and courses in physics, computer science, access to restricted-use recording and production electrical engineering, and several technical electives. facilities on the University’s Coral Gables campus. Students must also pass an entrance audition for the The L. Austin Weeks Center for Recording and School of Music on their principle instrument or Performance was completed in Spring 1994 at a cost voice and take a minimum of six semesters of private of $1.6 million. This facility features the 150-seat instrumental lessons in addition to six semesters of Clarke Recital Hall and a professional recording ensemble instruction. Furthermore, the undergraduate studio with a Euphonix System 5 digital mixing curriculum includes four semesters of music theory console, hard-disk recorder, Pro Tools, Genelec near- and sight-singing, music history, acoustics, field and far-field monitors, as well as two 24-track transducer theory, audio electronics, and introductory analog multitrack recorders, several dozen digital signal processing. professional studio microphones, and associated equipment. From a production standpoint, this studio 3.1 Electrical Engineering Minor is specifically designed for students to perform Students who declare an electrical engineering multitrack recording and remix sessions. In addition, minor take a complement of courses in the this studio adjoins a workshop area and a computer Department of Electrical Engineering, including laboratory containing audio/video workstations, hard- Electrical Circuit Theory, University Physics I, Logic disk editors, synthesis hardware, and sound Design, Electronics I, Electronics II, Electronics processors. This laboratory is used to post-produce Laboratory, Digital Design Laboratory, and three audio recordings, create sound design for video and approved electives. motion picture projects, author DSP assembly programs, design loudspeaker cabinets, and model room acoustics. 3.2 Computer Science Double Major The 600-seat Gusman Concert Hall, completed in Students who declare a computer science double 1974, now contains a multimedia laboratory with two major must complete three semesters of Java and Yamaha O2R digital consoles, Pro Tools, a hard-disk C++ programming courses, Assembly Language recorder, and a Sonic Solutions DVD authoring Programming, Discrete Mathematics I, Data system. In addition, the studio is equipped with Structures and Algorithm Analysis, Machine- timecode synchronizers, video recorders, Musician Interfaces, and two approved electives. synthesizers, and surround playback so that students can create and post-produce audio for video and 4 Graduate Curriculum motion picture programs. An adjoining recording studio managed by the Recording Services Program The graduate curriculum incorporates 33 hours of is used to record and edit live recordings of coursework culminating in a research project. performances in Gusman Concert Hall. Coursework includes 13 credits in graduate-level The Weeks Music Library and Technology Center music engineering, 8 credits in other music topics, will be completed in the Fall of 2004; this complex and 12 credits in electrical engineering and/or will include a MUE multimedia laboratory classroom. computer science. The research project requires original work in a music engineering subject area; this independent project provides students with in- The MUE program benefits from corporate depth knowledge of a specific subject area and support, principally for the funding of graduate provides experience in technical research and in research. Throughout its history, many companies original thinking. have generously assisted our education efforts. Some examples of recent thesis papers are Recently, Delphi funded a study on “High-Frequency provided below. Effects on Localization and Sound Perception in a Small Acoustic Space.” A paper was presented to the Spatially Relocated Robert 2003 Society of Automotive Engineers in Detroit, and final Frequencies and Their Effect Hartman results presented to Delphi allowed new designs of on the Localization of a automotive sound systems. In addition, Dolby Stereo Image Laboratories has recently awarded a five-year research project on topics of interest to the company. Sound Source Separation Eduardo 2002 Using a 3-D Correlogram, Trama Fuzzy Logic, and Neural 5 New Courses Networks Through its history, the MUE program has The Effects of Cross-Modal Rodrigo 2002 vigorously revised its course offerings to best reflect Interaction in the Perception Ordonez developments in audio technology theory and of Audiovisual Quality and practice. Dozens of new courses have been its Application in Data developed, and indeed many have been phased out Reduction Algorithms because of obsolescence. Two recent examples of new courses are provided. In 2001, former faculty Beat Detection in Music Margarita 2001 member Will Pirkle began offering a senior-level Using Average Mutual Escobar undergraduate course in audio plug-in design for Information digital audio workstations. Centered on the Steinberg VST API and the Microsoft DirectX architecture, the A System for Hybridizing Kim Hang 2001 course addresses the details of each interface, teaches Vocal Performance Lau students to write various types of processing plug-ins, Hybrid Reverberation Sean 2001 and culminates in a competition that awards grades Algorithm Using Truncated Browne based on various criteria, including user interface Impulse Response design, novelty of the processing algorithm, Convolution and Recursive marketability of the plug-in, and, above all, musical Filtering usefulness of the resulting software. Introductory Reducing Artificial Jasmin 2000 coursework in digital signal processing is a Reverberation Requirements Frenette prerequisite. using Time-variant Feedback In 2003, faculty member Colby Leider began Delay Networks offering an undergraduate seminar entitled Musician- An Adaptive Time-Frequency Abhijeet 2000 Machine Interfaces that combines an overview of Representation with Re- Tambe human-computer interface issues, a survey of the past synthesis using Spectral century of novel and experimental musical Interpolation instruments and controllers, and a laboratory Aural Phase Distortion Daisuke 2000 practicum in which students design and build their Detection Koya own alternate controllers. The course culminates in a Duffing’s Equation as an Justo A. 1999 final design project. Excitation for Guitar Models Gutierrez Minimum Weighted Norm Alex 1999 Extrapolation of Digital Souppa 6 Personnel Audio Using Frequency Ken Pohlmann, Professor, serves as the director of Domain Blocking Music Engineering and teaches courses in studio Digital Watermarking of Ricardo 1999 production, digital audio, and acoustics; Colby Audio Signals Using a Garcia Leider, Assistant Professor, teaches courses in audio Psychoacoustic Auditory signal processing, production, sound synthesis, Model and Spread Spectrum transducer theory, and audio electronics; Joe Abatti, Theory Lecturer, teaches courses in studio recording, mixing, Computational Improvements Jason 1998 and audio post production; and Paul Griffith serves as to Linear Convolution With VandeKieft Director of Recording Services and oversees the Multi-rate Filtering Methods recording internship program. Five-Channel Panning Laws: James R. 1998 An Analytical and West Experimental Comparison 7 Scholarships and Financial Other students have received degrees in law and medicine. Assistance As noted, many MUE graduates are active in the The University of Miami ranks among the leading professional music and film industries as recording American universities in funds budgeted for academic and mixing engineers. Their credits are far too scholarships. Several types of scholarships are numerous to list. Recently, graduate Neal Avron awarded to academically gifted undergraduate produced and recorded a hit album Sticks and Stones students without regard to financial need. For for New Found Glory, which reached an example, Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarships provide Amazon.com sales ranking of 220. Myron Nettinga full tuition, Henry King Stanford Scholarships received an Oscar for Best Sound for his work on provide half tuition, and Jay F. W. Pearson Ridley Scott’s film Black Hawk Down. Adam Scholarships provide about half tuition per academic Michalak works at the Sony scoring stage in Culver year. City; his film projects include work on the The University of Miami also participates in the soundtracks for Minority Report, Men in Black II, and National Merit Scholarship program, and School of Stuart Little II, and his television projects include The Music scholarships are available for MUE majors. Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Futurama. Additional financial assistance, awarded on the basis The MUE program has also placed graduates with of need, is available in the form of loans and work- many prestigious audio engineering companies. A study grants. MUE majors who are Florida residents partial listing of their employers includes ADS, AKG are uniquely eligible to receive funding from the State Acoustics, Alesis, Analog Devices, Apple Computer, of Florida. A limited number of university Aureal, BGW, California State University at Chico, assistantships and corporate funding help sponsor CBS, Claire Brothers, Cirrus Logic, Columbia some graduate students. University, Compaq, Crest Audio, Crystal River, Delphi, Denon, Dictaphone, Digidesign, Disney, Dolby Laboratories, DTS Digital Theater Systems, 8 Placement Ecole de Tech Musicale, Editel Chicago, EFX Los Graduates pursue careers throughout the audio Angeles, Euphonix, Federal Bureau of Investigation, industry as recording engineers, audio systems FMRTS Design, Fox Television, General Motors, engineers, software programmers, manufacturer’s George Massenburg Labs, Harman International, technical representatives, and audio designers. Some Hewlett-Packard, Jaffe Acoustics, JBL, Klark Teknik, accept positions in sound reinforcement companies, Korg, Microsoft, Motorola, National Semiconductor, audio and video postproduction studios, studio NBC, New England Digital, Norsk Rikskringkasting, acoustical design companies, and installation firms. Norwegian Caribbean Lines, Otari, Paramount The overriding goal of the program is to fill the Studios, Philips Dupont Optical, Polk Audio, international demand for highly qualified music PolyGram Group, Real Networks, Radio Caracas, engineers through an emphasis on contemporary RCA Records, Rockwell Aerospace, Roland, Rupert theoretical and practical skills. Neve, Sennheiser, Shure, Sonic Foundry, Sony Students are expected to work at the “cutting Broadcast, Sony Classical, Sony Italy, Sony edge” of technology. For example, a design team of Professional Products, Spatializer Audio Labs, Studer students, using hardware and software tools provided Revox, Syracuse University, Tektronix, Telemundo, by Motorola, recently authored MPEG-1 Layer II Texas Instruments, 3Com Corporation, 3M, Todd- data reduction software to achieve a 4:1 data AO, U.S. Optical Disc, Universal Studios, University reduction ratio on recorded audio signals as well as of Southern California, Venevision, Wheatstone, and adaptive filtering to remove noise. Two corporations Yamaha. asked this student team to submit examples of their coded files for analysis and submit employment 9 Conclusion applications for employment after graduation. The Music Engineering Technology program, at both Many students enroll in a summer internship the undergraduate and graduate levels, was course to acquire experience in professional innovative in its introduction of these unique environments; this is subject to availability and the curricula. Through its history, it has stayed current student’s proficiency. As interns, students work in with developments in technology theory and practice. recording studios, manufacturing companies, and Its graduates, numbering in the hundreds, have other locations to develop the practical skills needed contributed significantly to the music and audio to excel in this creative profession. This practical industries. experience makes them attractive to employers following graduation; indeed, many students are recruited while still enrolled in school. Of course, a percentage of undergraduate students elect to seek graduate work, often toward an M.S. or Ph.D. degree.