Project Overview
This final project for MIT's 21M.361 Electronic Music Composition course represents my exploration into electronic music production, sound design, and digital composition. The project consists of five distinct tracks that showcase different approaches to electronic music creation, from ambient soundscapes to rhythmic compositions.
I decided to draw inspiration from Daft Punk's debut album Homework; in my opinion, this album is marked by its, for lack of a better term, "repetitive" nature, as if the duo is practicing the fundamentals in order to produce better music. Therefore, in a similar vein, I named my EP Problem Set to highlight the fundamentals that I practiced throughout this semester, and I incorporated some of the compositions I made into the EP itself.
The first two tracks, Grass! and Cut!, highlight the soundwalks I went on and the way I sliced and diced samples from the sound walk in order to produce the compositions. The next two tracks, VCV! and VCV! (pt. 2) are more of a long-form composition where I experiment with VCV rack in order to try and test the multitude of different sounds that a rack synthesizer can produce with just a few barebones fundamental modules. For the final track, Final!, I tried to focus a bit more on recording, mixing, and sampling.
Each track explores unique sonic textures, rhythmic patterns, and compositional techniques, demonstrating the versatility of electronic music tools and the creative possibilities they offer. The project serves as both a culmination of the course material and a personal exploration of electronic music as an art form. Final! is my favorite one!
Track Descriptions
1. Grass!
An ambient exploration featuring organic textures and natural sound elements. This track focuses on creating a sense of space and atmosphere through layered sound design and subtle rhythmic elements.
2. Cut!
A rhythmic composition that explores percussive elements and dynamic sound manipulation. This track emphasizes groove and movement through carefully crafted drum patterns and bass elements.
3. VCV!
An experimental piece created using VCV Rack, a virtual modular synthesizer. This track demonstrates the creative possibilities of modular synthesis and patch-based sound design.
4. VCV (pt. 2)
A continuation of the VCV exploration, this track builds upon the concepts from the previous piece while introducing new sonic elements and compositional structures.
5. Final!
The culminating track that brings together elements from all previous pieces. This final composition represents the synthesis of the project's themes and techniques into a cohesive musical statement.
Technical Approach
This project utilized a combination of digital audio workstations (DAWs), virtual instruments, and modular synthesis tools. The VCV Rack tracks specifically demonstrate the power of virtual modular synthesis, allowing for complex sound design and experimental composition techniques that would be prohibitively expensive or impractical with physical hardware.
Each track was carefully crafted to balance technical proficiency with artistic expression, incorporating elements of sound design, arrangement, mixing, and mastering. The project represents approximately 40+ hours of composition, production, and refinement work.
Learning Outcomes
Through this project, I gained:
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in digital audio production, sound design, and electronic music composition
- Creative Expression: Understanding of how to translate musical ideas into electronic formats
- Sound Design: Ability to create and manipulate electronic sounds and textures
- Composition: Skills in structuring electronic music pieces and developing musical themes
- Production: Experience with mixing, arrangement, and finalizing electronic music tracks
Future Directions
This project has opened up new avenues for creative expression and technical exploration. Future work could include:
- Live Performance: Adapting these tracks for live electronic music performance
- Collaboration: Working with other musicians to create hybrid electronic-acoustic compositions
- Advanced Techniques: Exploring more sophisticated sound design and composition methods
- Genre Exploration: Experimenting with different electronic music styles and subgenres