Schedule

Tuesdays, October 3rd - 24th
6pm - 8pm ET

Description

In this month-long course, we will examine the historical and technical aspects of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) technology in electronic music and practice hands-on production techniques in Ableton Live.

Producer, audio engineer, and creative technologist Ana Roman will provide an in-depth exploration of MIDI's origins, with a focus on the collaborative efforts of its founding figures, Ikutaro Kakehashi and Dave Smith, in establishing the MIDI standard.

Together we will learn about the evolution of MIDI as an integral component of music technology and the pioneering contributions of women, including Wendy Carlos and Laurie Spiegel, in its development and influence on music production.

Ana will demonstrate how to map MIDI controllers, creatively use virtual instruments, and experiment with techniques such as editing, quantization, and velocity adjustments.

By the end of the course, participants will present their MIDI compositions and open dialogue on the intersection of gender, technology, and music.

Open to all levels.

This event will take place virtually via Zoom.

Please note: ticket registration closes 30 minutes prior to event start time.
Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to MIDI and Its Origins
• Founding figures: Ikutaro Kakehashi and Dave Smith
• MIDI's impact: versatility, real-time recording, editability

Week 2: Technical Overview in Ableton Live
• MIDI in Ableton: tracks, clips, instruments, effects, and more
• Demo with Novation controller

Week 3: Women Pioneers in MIDI History
• Wendy Carlos: classical composer to electronic music pioneer
• Laurie Spiegel: interactive MIDI artistry and "Music Mouse"

Week 4: Final Presentations and Showcasing Women's Impact
• Suzanne Ciani: sound design
• Presentations, critical feedback, Q&A
• Reflect on gender, technology, and music in MIDI

Hardware & Software Requirements

• Computer with Zoom software
• Ableton Live
• MIDI Controller (Recommended: Launchkey Mini \\\\\\\[MK3\\\\\\\], Akai APC Key 25 \\\\\\\[mk2\\\\\\\], Novation Launch Control XL, Arturia KeyStep)
• Controller Driver installed

Please email us at hi@soundial.org with any questions about equipment

Instructor Bio

Ana Roman is a producer, audio engineer, generative, and creative technologist. They specialize in sound design, MIDI/synth sequencing, and generative music. Their workshops have appeared in She Knows Tech (U.K.), Femnoise (Barcelona), Water and Music, Discwoman, and In Sessions NYC. Roman’s music, creative coding, and generative music projects have appeared in fashion films, galleries and festivals throughout the world.
https://www.anaroman.space/
Contact
hi(at)soundial.org
Website: soundial.org
Instagram: @soundial_org
Cancellation Policy

Ticket holders have the option to cancel their reservations and receive a full refund if they do so at least 48 hours before the event starts. However, please note that any cancellation requests made within 48 hours of the event start time or after the event has already begun will not be honored.

If you're unable to attend but have a friend who'd love to take your spot, you can transfer your reservation to them before the class begins.

To request a cancellation, please send an email to hi(at)soundial.org with the subject line "Cancellation Request." In the email, include the following info:

• Your full name
• Date and time of the scheduled event

For eligible cancellation requests, we will initiate a refund to the original payment method used during registration. Please allow a processing time of 5-10 days for the refund to be processed.

Soundial reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events if necessary. Despite our best efforts, unforeseen circumstances such as technical issues or unavailability of instructors may arise, requiring adjustments to the event schedule. We will make every effort to notify you promptly and provide alternative options or refunds as needed.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in these situations!