Music Education Set-Ups

Here are some guidelines for Music Education Set-Ups:

A basic computer - MIDI workstation.

computer - (Mac, PC, etc.)
MIDI interface - (not needed if synth has a built in interface)
Multi-timbral synth with a built-in MIDI interface
two MIDI cables
headphones, powered speakers, sound system or amplifier (if your synth has no speakers)
software(notation, sequencer, accompaniment, sound-editing)
A basic non-MIDI computer music workstation a computer with sound input device
CD-ROM disk drive
microphone
headphones, powered speakers, sound system or amplifier
sound editing software
A basic non-computer music workstation Mic
tape deck
effects processor
Multi-timbral synth or sampler
(sequencer optional but desirable)
amp with speakers
Options: additional MIDI sound modules
alternate MIDI controllers such as "Dauz" Electronic Drum Pads and Yamaha
WX7 or "Akai" EWI electronic wind controller.
Multi-track tape deck
audio mixer
CD-ROM disk drive
Extremely Low Budget Multi-Media Workstation slide projector
tape deck
Low Budget Multi-Media Workstation camcorder
VCR
mixer
microphone
High End Multi-Media Workstation Multi-media capable computer (video and audio input and output) color monitor, large (1 or more gigabyte) hard disk, 16 meg of RAM (or higher), CD-ROM disk drive, removable disk or data tape backup device, .
Camcorder (High-8 or S-VHS)
VCR(with high-fi sound)
one or more TV monitors
audio mixer
effects processor(s)
Multi-timbral MIDI synth
digital audio card
DAT recorder
Multi-Media editing software, MIDI sequencing/notation software, flat-bed scanner
(and plenty of free time to read manuals)
Manufacturers List Apple Computer - computer manufacturer - 20525 Mariani Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014
Macromind - Multi-media software - 600 Towmsend St., San Fransisco, CA 94103
Opcode- music software and MIDI interfaces - 3950 Fabian Way, Suite 100,Palo Alto, CA 94303
Passport Designs - music and Multi-media software - 100 Stone Pine Rd., Hlf Moon Bay, CA 94109
PG Music -music software 111-226 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 -
Musical Instrument Manufacturers Akai Digital - P.O. Box 2344, Ft. Worth, TX 76102
Dauz Electronic Percussion -338 W 130th St. Los Angeles, CA 90061
Korg USA- 89 Frost St, Westbury, NY 11590
Roland Corp. USA - 7200 Dominion Circle, Los Angeles, CA 90040
Yamaha Corp. of America - P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, Ca 90622

For those of you who have no idea what language I am speaking I have compiled the following glossary. Computer terms are nothing more than a collection of acronyms, jargon and short hand for simple concepts.
Glossary: BBS - Bulletin Board Service - a computer that can be accessed by many people over phone lines using a modem.
byte - a single character (letter or digit) of computer data.
CD-ROM - computer disk, which resembles audio CD's, that hold a great deal of data (in the form of audio, video, still images and text) These disks be read from but not written to or recorded on.
CPU - Central Processing Unit. (main computer component)
data - information
effects processor - a device that can add special effects to an audio signal such as reverb, delay, chorusing etc. Many effects processors can add more than one effect to the an audio signal.
gigabit or "gig" - one billion bytes
Hard Disk - a computer data storage device. These disks can be internal (in the computer box) or external (housed in a separate box) Hard disks can be read from, written to, and erased. They retain their information when the system is turned off.
kilobyte or k - one thousand bytes
megabyte or meg - one million bytes
MIDI - a computer language that lets electronic musical instruments and computers talk to and control one another.
MIDI interface - a device that lets a computer send data back and forth to one or more musical instruments.
modem - a device that allows computer data to be sent and received over ordinary phone lines.
Multi-Media - simultaneous playing, recording and or editing of audio, video and still images.
Multi-timbral synthesizer - a keyboard or sound module that is capable of producing more than one timbre simultaneously, for example: piano, strings, bass, percussion etc.
RAM - Random Access Memory - the active working memory that a computer uses to hold active programs and data. These memory chips lose their data when the computer's power is turned off.
sampler - an electronic device that can record, playback, edit and store sound in computer data format.
Sequencer- a computer program or keyboard option that records, permits editing and plays back musical events. Notes, volume and controller events such as damper pedals, sliders and program changes are recorded in a "sequence" file. Most sequencers have a variety of editing features such as quantizing, transposing, tempo mapping, cut copy and paste etc. Some can also print standard music notation. Still others record, edit and play back audio.
SCSI or (scuzzy) - Small Computer Serial Interface. System of cables which transfer data between computers and periferal devices. e.g. hard disks, scanners, tape back-up systems.
Terry Nigrelli is instrumental music teacher in Bay Shore, NY. He also works as a freelance trombone player. Terry holds a B.S. from Manhattan School of Music and a M.S. from The Juilliard School.