The Center for Music and Technology

 

Overview

The Center for Music Technology (CMT) is a 3-room studio in the Swope Music Building with professional-grade audio production resources. Students use the CMT for original electronic composition and for projects that require recording, editing, mixing, and/or mastering of digital audio.

Access

Students are given swipe access to the CMT if they (a) are majors in the Music Composition or Studio Composition programs, or (b) are currently enrolled in a pertinent course in the Department of Music Theory, History and Composition (i.e., Studio Production 1 or 2, Scoring Film and Media, Scoring Video Games, Computer Music, or Popular Music Songwriting). Swipe access is removed at the end of each semester and, if applicable, reinstated at the beginning of the following one. At this time, we are not able to give swipe access to any student who has never been enrolled in a pertinent course or major.

Equipment

The CMT is home to a variety of professional-grade hardware and software.

Hardware
  • 5 Apple Mac Pro desktop computers
  • Over 40 dynamic, condenser, and ribbon microphones from manufacturers including Neumann, Schoeps, Royer, Shure, AKG, Audio-Technica, and Røde
  • Presonus Studio 1824C interface
  • PreSonus Studio 1810C interfaces, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 interfaces, and several smaller interfaces
  • Focusrite ISA Two and Solid State Logic Alpha VHD preamps
  • Behringer x32 Digital Mixer and several 4–16 channel Mackie mixers
  • Focal Twin, Genelec, and KRK monitors
  • Handheld Zoom digital recorders
  • Eurorack modular synthesizer with modules from Doepfer, Roland, Pittsburgh Modular, Make Noise, Mutable Instruments, Snyderphonics, and Studio Electronics
  • Nord Electro 4D Keyboard, and Edirol, Korg, and M-Audio MIDI keyboards
  • Fender Hotrod Deluxe 112 guitar amplifier, Ampeg BA-115 bass amplifier, and Roland KC-200 keyboard amp
  • Line 6, Akai, Roland, Snyderphonics, Yamaha, Mallet Kat, and Korg controllers
  • Headphones, cables, and other accessories
Software available on all desktops
  • Logic Pro X
  • Max/MSP 8
  • Native Instruments Komplete
  • Wave Diamond Bundle
  • Celemony Melodyne
  • Altiverb 7
  • Izotope RX 6 Audio Editor
  • Finale and Sibelius notation software
Additional sample libraries available on the Studio B desktop
  • Cinesamples CinePerc, CineBrass Core, and CineWinds CORE
  • Spitfire Chamber Strings
  • East/West Hollywood Orchestra
  • Sony Pictures Sound Effects Library
  • Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2

Studio B: the main recording and mixing station.
Studio B: the main recording and mixing station

Checkout and Other Policies

The most expensive and/or essential equipment will not be loaned out, but most equipment is available for students with CMT access to use for short periods of time with permission of the Faculty Director or Staff Director. No equipment—including microphones, digital recorders, interfaces, or accessories—can leave the CMT without permission.

In coordination with the CMT, several items are able to be checked out by any student (regardless of CMT swipe access) from the Presser Music Library on the first floor of Swope:

  • 2 Recording Kits that each contain:
    • 1 Shure SM57 microphone
    • 1 Shure SM-Beta58A microphone
    • Two XLR cables
    • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface
    • One set of headphones
    • One usb cord
  • 1 Stereo Recording Kit that contains:
    • 2 Warm Audio WA-14 Large-Diaphragm Condenser microphones
    • 1 stereo bar
    • 2 shockmounts
    • Two XLR cables
    • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface
    • One set of headphones
    • One usb cord
  • 2 Rode NT4 stereo microphone with clip, windscreen, and stereo to dual mono XLR Y cable.
  • Stereo pair of Rode NT5 microphones with 2 clips and 2 windscreens
  • 1 AKG D112 kick drum microphone
  • 1 Audio-Technica AT4040 with specialized shockmount stored in a separate bag
  • 1 Sennheiser MD421 microphone
  • 4 Zoom H4N handheld field recorders, including 2 AA batteries and 16GB SD card
  • 9 Microphone Stands
  • 4 pop filters
  • 1 Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 audio interface (separate from the ones in the recording kits)
  • 2 small keyboards (with usb cords)
  • 1 large keyboard (with usb cord)
  • 5 older model Macbook Pro Laptops with Logic, Finale, and Sibelius (including chargers)
  • 5 new model Macbook Pro laptops with advanced Studio Production software (including chargers)

Additional policies regarding cleanliness, hard drive usage, etc., are posted in the CMT.

Studio A: an additional station for mixing and general work.
Studio A: an additional station for mixing and general work

Related programs and courses

The CMT is a significant resource for students involved in the following academic programs:

It also serves the needs of students in the following courses :

MTC 170 – Studio Production I

MTC 170. Studio Production. 3 Credits.

This class focuses on the techniques of music production in a studio setting. Students learn the basics of recording, editing, mixing, and mastering in a digital audio workstation.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 272 requires a prerequisite of MTC 110 or MTC 112.
Typically offered in Fall.

MTC 171 – Popular Music Songwriting

MTC 171. Popular Music Songwriting. 3 Credits.

Analysis and composition of recent popular music.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 171 requires a prerequisite of MTC 110 or MTC 112.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MTC 270 – Studio Production II
MTC 270. Studio Production II. 3 Credits.

This class provides a continuation of production principles introduced in MTC 170, as students explore more advanced topics in recording, editing, mixing, and mastering in a digital audio workstation. They also learn to use analog synthesizers and create original studio-based music.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 270 requires a prerequisite of MTC 170.
Typically offered in Spring.

MTC 271 – Scoring for Film and Media
MTC 271. Scoring for Film and Media. 3 Credits.

Techniques used in composing, orchestrating, mixing, and recording music for the film, video and television industry. Use of sequencing software and sample libraries to write production-quality cues synchronized to film and video clips.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 271 requires a prerequisite of MTC 110 or MTC 112.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MTC 273 – Computer Music

MTC 273. Computer Music. 3 Credits.

Materials and techniques of electronic music and their use in composition. Laboratory experience in the composition of electronic music.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 273 requires a prerequisite of MTC 110 or MTC 112.
Typically offered in Spring.

MTC 274 – Scoring Video Games

MTC 274. Scoring Video Games. 3 Credits.

In this course, students gain practical experience composing video game music and audio cues. Students also gain a well-rounded understanding of the history and current state of contemporary video game music and audio, how the game development process works, the evolution of game audio, and production techniques.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 274 requires a prerequisite of MTC 170. Students who have not completed these prerequisites but possess the appropriate skills may enroll with permission of the instructor.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

Common AreaThe common area in the CMT, used for teaching, student meetings, and general work on desktop stations.

Contact

Questions about the CMT should be directed to Faculty Director Jacob Cooper (jcooper@wcupa.edu) or Staff Director Quinn Collins (qcollins@wcupa.edu).

Faculty Director Jacob Cooper
Faculty Director Jacob Cooper

Staff Director Quinn Collins
Staff Director Quinn Collins