Editing Programming (music)

{{Short description|Electronic or digital reproduction of musical sounds}}
{{distinguish|program music}}

'''Programming''' is a form of [[music]] [[Music production (music industry)#Modern production technology|production]] and performance using [[electronic device]]s and [[computer software]], such as [[Music sequencer|sequencers]] and [[Music workstation|workstations]] or hardware [[synthesizer]]s, [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]] and sequencers, to generate sounds of musical instruments. These musical sounds are created through the use of music coding languages. There are many music coding languages of varying complexity. Music programming is also frequently used in modern [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Rock music|rock]] music from various regions of the world, and sometimes in [[jazz]] and [[contemporary classical music]]. It gained popularity in the 1950s and has been emerging ever since.<ref name=Brett>{{Cite journal|last=Brett|first=Thomas|date=2020-05-26|title=Prince's Rhythm Programming: 1980s Music Production and the Esthetics of the LM-1 Drum Machine|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007766.2020.1757813|journal=Popular Music and Society|volume=43|issue=3|pages=244–261|doi=10.1080/03007766.2020.1757813|s2cid=218943863 |issn=0300-7766|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Music programming is the process in which a musician produces a sound or "patch" (be it from scratch or with the aid of a [[synthesizer]]/[[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]]), or uses a [[Music sequencer|sequencer]] to arrange a song.

== Coding languages ==
Music coding languages are used to program the electronic devices to produce the instrumental sounds they make. Each coding language has its own level of difficulty and function.

=== Alda ===

The music coding language Alda provides a tutorial on coding music and is, "designed for musicians who do not know how to program, as well as programmers who do not know how to music".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alda|url=https://alda.io/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=alda.io}}</ref> The website also has links to install, tutorial, cheat sheet, docs, and community for anyone visiting the website.

=== LC ===

LC computer music programming language is a more complex computer music programming language meant for more experienced coders. One of the differences between this language and other music coding languages is that, "Unlike existing unit-generator languages, LC provides objects as well as library functions and methods that can directly represent microsounds and related manipulations that are involved in microsound synthesis."<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Nishino|first1=Hiroki|last2=Osaka|first2=Naotoshi|last3=Nakatsu|first3=Ryohei|date=December 2015|title=The Microsound Synthesis Framework in the LC Computer Music Programming Language|journal=[[Computer Music Journal]]|volume=39|issue=4|pages=49–79|doi=10.1162/comj_a_00331|s2cid=32777643 |issn=0148-9267}}</ref>

== History and development ==
Music programming has had a vast history of development leading to the creation of different programs and languages. Each development comes with more function and utility and each decade tends to favor a certain program and or piece of equipment.

=== MUSIC-N ===
{{Main|MUSIC-N}}
The first [[Digital synthesizer|digital synthesis]] family of [[Computer program|computer programs]] and languages being [[MUSIC-N]] created by [[Max Mathews]]. The development of these programs, allowed for more flexibility and utility, eventually leading them to become fully developed languages. As programs such as MUSIC I, MUSIC II and MUSIC III were developed, which were all created by Max Matthews, new technologies were incorporated in such as the table-lookup oscillator in MUSIC II and the [[unit generator]] in MUSIC III. The breakthrough technologies such as the unit generator, which acted as a building block for music programming software, and the acoustic compiler, which allowed "unlimited number of sound synthesis structures to be created in the computer", further the complexity and evolution of music programming systems.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lazzarini|first=Victor|author-link=Victor Lazzarini|date=March 2013|title=The Development of Computer Music Programming Systems|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09298215.2013.778890|journal=[[Journal of New Music Research]]|volume=42|issue=1|pages=97–110|doi=10.1080/09298215.2013.778890|s2cid=60554574 |issn=0929-8215}}</ref>

=== Drum machines ===
Around the time of the 1950s, electric rhythm machines began to make way into [[popular music]]. These machines began to gain much traction amongst many artists as they saw it as a way to create [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] sounds in an easier and more efficient way. Artists who used this kind of technology include [[J. J. Cale]], [[Sly Stone]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Marvin Gaye]], and [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]. Some of the popular [[drum machine]]s through the time of the 1950s-1970s were the Side Man, Ace Tone's Rhythm Ace, Korg's Doncamatic, and Maestro's Rhythm King. In 1979, the [[Linn LM-1|LM-1]] drum machine computer was released by guitarist [[Roger Linn]], its goal being to help artists achieve realistic sounding drum sounds. This drum machine had eight different drum sounds: [[Bass drum|kick drum]], [[Snare drum|snare]], [[hi-hat]], [[cabasa]], [[tambourine]], two [[Tom drum|tom toms]], two [[Conga|congas]], [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]], [[Clave (rhythm)|clave]], and [[Clapping|handclaps]]. The different sounds could be recorded individually and they sounded real because of the high [[Frequency|frequencies]] of the sound (28&nbsp;kHz). Some notable artists who used the LM-1 were [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Michael Jackson]], and [[Madonna]].<ref name=Brett /> These developments continued to happen in future decades leading to the creation of new [[Electronic musical instrument|electrical instruments]] such as the [[Theremin]], [[Hammond organ]], [[electric guitar]], [[synthesizer]], and [[digital sampler]]. Other technologies such as the [[phonograph]], [[Tape recorder|tape-recorder]], and [[compact disc]] have enabled artists to create and produce sounds without the use of live musicians.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pinch|first1=Trevor|last2=Bijsterveld|first2=Karin|date=October 2004|title=Sound Studies: New Technologies and Music|url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0306312704047615|journal=[[Social Studies of Science]]|volume=34|issue=5|pages=635–648|doi=10.1177/0306312704047615|s2cid=113623790 |issn=0306-3127|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Howe|first=Hubert S. Jr.|date=Spring–Summer 1966|title=Music and Electronics: A Report|jstor=832214|journal=[[Perspectives of New Music]]|volume=4|issue=2|pages=68–75 (68)|doi=10.2307/832214}}</ref>

=== Music programming in the 1980s ===

The music programming innovations of the 1980s brought many new unique sounds to this style of music. Popular music sounds during this time were the [[gated reverb]], [[synthesizer]]s, drum machines with 1980s sounds, vocal [[Reverberation|reverb]], [[Delay (audio effect)|delay]], and [[harmonization]], and master bus mix downs and [[Tape recorder|tape]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-04|title=Getting that 80s Sound Right: 6 Tips to Produce 80s Music|url=https://www.masteringbox.com/80s-sound/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=MasteringBOX}}</ref> Music programming began to emerge around this time which drew up controversy. Many artists were adapting more towards this technology and the traditional way music was made and recorded began to change. For instance, many artists began to record their beats by programming instead of recording a live [[drummer]].<ref name=Brett />

=== Music programming in the early 2000s ===

Today, music programming is very common, with artists using software on a computer to produce music and not actually using [[Musical instrument|physical instruments]]. These different programs are called [[digital audio workstation]]s (DAW) and are used for editing, [[Music Recording|recording]], and [[Mixing (process engineering)|mixing]] music files. Most DAW programs incorporate the use of [[MIDI]] technology, which allows for music production software to carry out communication between [[Electronic musical instrument|electronic instruments]], computers, and other related devices. While most DAWs carry out the same function and do the same thing, there are some that require less expertise and are easier for beginners to operate. These programs can be run on personal computers. Popular DAWs include: [[FL Studio]], [[Avid Technology|Avid]] [[Pro Tools]], [[Logic Pro|Apple Logic Pro X]], Magix [[Acid Pro]], [[Ableton Live]], [[Studio One (software)|Presonus Studio One]], Magix Samplitude Pro X, [[Cockos]] [[REAPER|Reaper]], [[Propellerheads|Propellerhead]] [[Reason (software)|Reason]], [[Steinberg Cubase]] Pro, [[GarageBand]], and [[Bitwig Studio]].

==Equipment==
*Technology: [[digital audio workstation]], [[drum machine]], [[groovebox]], [[sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]], [[Music sequencer|sequencer]], [[synthesizer]] and [[MIDI]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web| url= http://music.arts.uci.edu/dobrian/CD.MusicProgramming.htm | title= Music Programming: An Introductory Essay | year=1988 | first= Chris |last=Dobrian | publisher= [[Claire Trevor School of the Arts]], [[University of California, Irvine]]|ref=none}}

{{Electronic rock}}

[[Category:Electronic music]]
[[Category:Musical techniques]]