Chowning & Music IV

With FM synthesis (see CMB: A Brief History ), John Chowning invented a wide spread synthesis technique, which was used extensively in 1980s pop music. When exploring this novel technique, he also lay the foundation for computer-based audio spatialization. With Music 10, a descendant of Max Mathews MUSIC IV, Chowning was able to create four-channel compositions with programmed movements of virtual sound sources. This object-based approach is still used in most cases today.

Algorithm

In Turenas (1972), source movements are enhanced with Doppler shift and the proper handling of the direct-to-reverb ratio:

/images/spatial/turenas_movement.png

Displaced circular movement with Doppler shift and reverberation (Chowning, 2011).


The above presented technique was used with Lissajous movements, which are characteristic for Turenas:

/images/spatial/turenas_lissajous.png

Stereo Version


References

2018

  • Christoph von Blumröder. Zur bedeutung der elektronik in karlheinz stockhausens œuvre / the significance of electronics in karlheinz stockhausen's work. Archiv für Musikwissenschaft, 75(3):166–178, 2018.
    [abstract▼] [details] [BibTeX▼]

2015

  • Martha Brech and Henrik von Coler. Aspects of space in Luigi Nono's Prometeo and the use of the Halaphon. In Martha Brech and Ralph Paland, editors, Compositions for Audible Space, Music and Sound Culture, pages 193–204. transctript, 2015.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]
  • Michael Gurevich. Interacting with Cage: realising classic electronic works with contemporary technologies. Organised Sound, 20:290–299, 12 2015. doi:10.1017/S1355771815000217.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]

2011

  • John Chowning. Turenas: the realization of a dream. In Proceedings of the 17th Journées d\rq Informatique Musicale. 2011.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]

2010

2008

  • Marco Böhlandt. “kontakte” – reflexionen naturwissenschaftlich-technischer innovationsprozesse in der frühen elektronischen musik karlheinz stockhausens (1952–1960). Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte, 31(3):226–248, 2008.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]
  • Jonas Braasch, Nils Peters, and Daniel Valente. A loudspeaker-based projection technique for spatial music applications using virtual microphone control. Computer Music Journal, 32:55–71, 09 2008.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]