SuperCollider 101
Workshop Date:
Sun, 06/29/2014 - Thu, 07/03/2014
SuperCollider Workshop
SuperCollider is one of the most powerful programming environments for real time sound synthesis and processing, algorithmic & generative composition, and many other audio related applications. It is widely used by artists and scientists alike for both research and actual artistic creation. It features a powerful state-of-the-art sound engine and an easy to learn, fully featured object oriented language. Moreover, it is open source and totally free of charge. SuperCollider works on Linux, Mac, and Windows.This five-day intensive workshop welcomes participants of any discipline with or without prior programming or musical experience. The class is aimed at musicians, composers, researchers, sound artists, programmers, and all computer & electronic music enthusiasts interested in learning more about SuperCollider. If you have no prior experience, we will guide you through the creation of your first sounds, instruments and musical structures in SuperCollider. If you have some prior experience with SuperCollider or other similar software, you will be able to move more quickly into advanced topics with help and advice from the instructors.
This is a project-based class in which you will learn practical skills along with the study of technical, theoretical and artistic related topics. People of all computer skill levels are welcome in this learning environment. Participants immediately start working on projects the first day and are expected to finish a short piece by the last day. We will end the week with a listening session where all participants will play and discuss their final projects.
Participants will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities at CCRMA, including two multichannel composition studios. You may use your own laptop during the workshop; alternatively, you may use one of the several CCRMA workstations available in the building.
Topics to be covered:
What is SuperCollider and how it compares to other programming environments such as Pd and Max/MSP;
UGens (Unit Generators): oscillators, filters, delays, granulators, etc.;
Overview of synthesis techniques: additive, subtractive, AM, FM, granular synthesis;
Building your own Synth Definition (SynthDef);
Synth Server & Language
Using external controllers (MIDI or OSC)
Tasks, Routines, Events, Patterns
Building GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) in SuperCollider.
Algorithmic composition
Fundamentals of spatialization techniques (ambisonics, amplitude panning, VBAP, reverberation)
If you plan to use your own laptop, please install and test SuperCollider before the workshop starts. We will of course try to help troubleshooting your install if it does not work, but it it would be immensely helpful if you have a working setup when the workshop starts.
If you are not sure how to install SuperCollider, or cannot bring your own laptop, you will have a CCRMA desktop computer available for you for you.
We have a new schedule format this year. You'll notice you can register to either one of two different SuperCollider workshop formats. One of them is called "Evenings Only." This part-time status will allow students to attend only the evening lectures for reduced tuition. The regular SuperCollider tuition will give full time students individual assistance during afternoon labs in addition to evening lectures.
The evening lectures will form a cohesive, self-sufficient introductory course to SuperCollider, so if you choose the Evenings-Only option the only thing you miss is the opportunity to benefit from one-to-one assistance from the instructors in afternoon labs. If you are local and have a day job, this may be just the right option for you.
The full time option includes all evening lectures plus the opportunity to work on your personal project in the afternoon labs, with plenty of time to get individual help from the instructors. This is the best option if you have the time available and want to really dive into an intensive hands-on week of learning SuperCollider.
In both cases, note that Sunday 6/29 is the first day of class for everyone (part time and full time), morning and afternoon.
Here's how the schedule looks like:
Sunday 6/29 | Monday 6/30 | Tuesday 7/1 | Wednesday 7/2 | Thursday 7/3 | |
morning |
10-1pm everyone | --- | --- | --- | --- |
afternoon | 2-6pm everyone | 1-5pm full-time only | 1-5pm full-time only | 1-5pm full-time only | 1-5pm full-time only |
evening | --- | 6-9pm everyone | 6-9pm everyone | 6-9pm everyone | 6-9pm everyone |
Evenings-Only option
Total hours for this group: 19 hours of class.
Fee: $245
Total hours for this group: 35 hours of class.
Fee: $450
Click on the big button below to register. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.
You can download SuperCollider from:
http://supercollider.sourceforge.net/downloads
And you can get started with help from:
http://supercollider.sourceforge.net/learning
Screenshots, anyone?
A lot more screenshots can be seen in this photo album.
Here are some old, nostalgic screenshots:
SuperCollider on PlanetCCRMA Linux (Fedora)
SuperCollider on the Mac
SuperCollider on Linux
Another Mac screenshot...
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