[sdiy] Class outline approved

[Aaron Lanterman]

Whoo hoo! I just wanted to share my joy.

My Technical Interest Group just approved my course outline for a special
topics class to be offered in Spring 2006 called "Theory and Design of
Music Synthesizers." I've been really wanting to get more into synth guts,
but the only way I could think of to make time to do it was to make it
part of my job. :)

As I start to get the material for this together, I'll be posting it on a
course website; I'll let y'all know the link when that actually starts
happening.

Below is what I turned in.

Prerequisites will be ECE2025: Introduction to Signal Processing (based on
the "Signal Processing First" book, which is really just a revision of
"DSP First" - ECE students at Tech learn about Fourier transforms, etc.
before they take circuits), and ECE3040 or ECE3710 (which will guarantee
that they will have seen transistors, diodes, and op amps)

The undergraduate curriculum committee still needs to vote to approve
this, but that's likely... I'm so excited!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This interdisciplinary course ties together threads in analog electronics,
digital signal processing, and applied physics using music synthesis the
unifying topic. Although examples will be given drawn from 40 years of
commercially produced hardware, this class is not about how to use any
existing piece of equipment (although students will gain insight that may
help them better use their own gear). Instead, it will develop the skills
and knowledge needed to develop new kinds of electronic instruments.

Grading: Small laboratory/homework assignments (approximately one per
week) (30%)
	    Analog hardware design project (due mid-semester) (25%)
	    Digital software design project (due end of semester) (25%)
	    Projects will require proposals, progress reports, and a final
 	    report
            Written final exam (20%)

Outline:

1. Analog Synthesis
   a. Modular approach vs. integrated approach
      i. Basic VCO -> VCF -> VCA chain
   b. Voltage control
      i. Envelopes
      ii. Low frequency oscillators
   c. Analog filter topologies
      i. Sallen-Key (ex: Korg, early Yamaha)
      ii. State variable (ex: Oberheim, later Yamaha)
      iii. Single-pole cascade (ex: Moog, Sequential Circuits)
   d. Variable impedance/gain elements
      i. Transistor ladders
      ii. Diode bridges
      iii. Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTA)
      iv. Norton (current-feedback) amplifiers
      v. Current-mode voltage controlled amplifiers (ex: SSM2164)
   e. Digital control of analog components
2. Digital Synthesis
   a. Limits of digital sample playback
   b. Virtual Analog
      i. Aliased and unaliased digital oscillators
      ii. Conversion of analog filter topologies into digital forms
   c. Additive synthesis
      i. Analysis/resynthesis
   d. Waveshaping
   e. Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis (ex: Yamaha DX-7)
   f. Hybrid digital/analog synthesis (ex: PPG Wave, Sequential Prophet
VS)
3. Physical modeling
   a. PDE models
      i. String/cavity models
      ii. Traveling wave solutions
   b. Digital waveguide implementations
   c. Excitation models
      i. Plucking
      ii. Bowing (stick-slip)
      iii. Blowing
   d. Introduction to physical models with multiple spatial dimensions