This page includes examples of student work from my courses. The page describes each example, the course from which it comes, and provides media and any links to media if necessary.
MUS 476/576 (Digital Audio Workstation Techniques I) Sound-To-Picture Assignment
In the Sound-To-Picture assignment, students select a clip of video of their choice, and then use their digital audio workstation to produce a synced audio track that artfully addresses the video’s content (emphasis on music). They apply concepts they’ve learned throughout the term (MIDI sequencing, audio editing, virtual synths, aux buss routing, basic effects processing) in one of their last assignments in the course.
Three student examples are provided:
Student A, animation from AKIRA w/ original music, on YouTube
Student B, La Quinta hotel ad w/original music, on YouTube
Student C, video game sequence w/ original music, on YouTube
MUS 477/577 (Digital Audio Workstation Techniques II) Narration Assignment
In the Narration assignment, students ask a question that frames a narrated topic, from which they create a mini audio instructable or mini-podcast. They work on scripts, compile sounds and music, and then craft a one- to two-minute work complete with sound fx and music.
Student example A outlines their work process.
Student example B explains the Talkbox effect.
MUS 478/578 (Digital Audio Workstation Techniques III) Class Album
Digital Audio Workstation Techniques courses cover recording, sequencing, and editing of digital audio, MIDI, as well as the signal flow of professional audio setups, with advanced topics in mixing and mastering. In MUS 478/578, students work on an original mastered release, with a portion of students contributing to a class album that we publish on major streaming services. Note about compliance: any student who contributes signs a FERPA waiver created in collaboration with the UO contract office.
The class albums may be found on streaming services; here are links to Spotify: 2019 (URL); 2020 (URL).
The two student examples highlighted from the Spring 2020 album are:
SkyeWint “Insomnolence” (URL)
Lucci Diamond “I Cannot Dare” (URL)
MUS 482/582 (Audio Recording Techniques III) Challenge Song
The final term of the Audio Recording Techniques course sequence culminates in the recording of the “Challenge Song,” a song chosen by the class which we attempt to re-create as closely as possible to the original. Students lead the course in all aspects of production, including booking talent, engineering the recording and overdub sessions, mixing the track, and mastering for release. Two examples of student work include Supertramp “The Logical Song” and Massive Attack “Teardrop”
Massive Attack “Teardrop” (2018)
Supertramp “The Logical Song” (2019)
MUS 483/583 (Audio Effects Theory & Design) Modulating Delay Audio Plugin
For the final project students have the option to build a flanger, chorus, or LFO controlled effect. The audio effects are compiled as .vst or .au plugins, which work in most professional digital audio workstation software (the same software used throughout MUS 476, 477, 478, 480, 481, and 482 courses).
Student example is the plugin (GUI screenshot, code), although I have taken a quick drum break (Allen Toussaint’s “Fingers and Toes”) and automated controls from the student plugin so that you may hear the student’s audio plugin applied to audio. The first six (6) seconds of audio is dry audio (no effect) followed by one (1) minute of effected audio signal from the plugin. Student also used their plugin within their senior project recital. The program from that concert at the School of Music and Dance may be found here (URL).
Download the MUS 483-583 Audio Plugin example code as .zip file.