Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Alex Mesker
Contact via alex.mesker@mq.edu.au
193K Y3A
Email for appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is unit designed for students and digital artists interested in computer-based audiovisual performance. The unit aims at extending production skills gained in music and media production streams, and attempts to build an adaptable skill set for creating customised digital performance and interactive works.
This unit will cover a range of hybrid new media contemporary technologies including MIDI, audio and synthesis, graphics and video, 3D, and gestural and tactile control. It covers programming fundamentals with Max, a graphical programming environment for new media artists. The core of the unit will be the creation of new media production and performance works, including computer-mediated music and visual art projects. Skills gained in this unit have relevance to areas including sonic and visual design, interaction design, game sound, and broad areas of computer-based production and performance. This unit assumes no prior knowledge in Max. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
With the exception of written work, all work must be digitally submitted to the Music Server as outlined during class time.
While media files can be sourced from others' work, patches created in Max/MSP/Jitter should be original works, and any 'borrowed code' should be referenced as you would in a formal written assignment. Submission of work that is primarily copied from resources outside of content provided in the unit is subject to the same Academic Honesty Policy as written works.
MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914
Information is correct at the time of publication
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Image Manipulation System | 30% | Week 8 Class |
Creative Brief | 10% | Week 9 Class |
Interactive Multimedia Work | 30% | Week 13 Class |
Class Participation | 10% | Ongoing |
Workshop Fundamentals | 20% | Weeks 2–5 |
Due: Week 8 Class
Weighting: 30%
Students will create a basic Max/Jitter patch that allows a performer (ie. you) to load images or video, and manipulate live (eg. 'cut' between parts, change visual effects etc.). An interface of your choice should be mapped to act as a controller for your system.
A brief demonstration of your patch's functionality and usage will occur in Week 8 tutorial. A pass mark for this assessment will be granted for a demonstration of technical proficiency, and intention behind and understanding of the function of your patch.
Students are encouraged to incorporate other forms of visual modification and control in their patches.
After demonstration, submit your patch to the assignments' dropbox on the server in a folder containing all your patches and media files, named LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_Assessment2.
Marks will be awarded for:
Due: Week 9 Class
Weighting: 10%
Students must write a 500-word brief outlining their intended construction of a performable presentation/installation using Max. By now, students should have a firm understanding of the creative possibilities of Max, and should address technical concepts such as what the performance will entail, how the patch will function, how it will create/control visual/aural media, and how/whether special control interfaces will be used. Students will reflect on this written creative brief when demonstrating their completed work in Week 13.
The creative brief can be given straight to me in class time.
Marks will be awarded for:
Due: Week 13 Class
Weighting: 30%
Students must design and create an interactive sound/music/image/video based installation/performance work that employs elements of new media performance and demonstrates knowledge learnt throughout the course. The installation will be performed in Week 13 during 302 class time and should be accompanied by a brief technical presentation outlining aims and outcomes.
This is a summative assessment that should build on the Creative Brief and incorporate techniques and concepts practiced and discussed throughout the course. A pass mark for this assessment will be granted for a demonstration of technical proficiency and the ability to successfully realise a creative work in a multimedia form, integrating image and sound.
Group work (of two students) is welcomed in this assignment, and individual contribution to the final product will be monitored in the weeks preceding the final performance.
Note: If this patch is based on a previously submitted Image Modification System, it should show a distinct progression from and marked difference between previously demonstrated work.
As well as presenting your work, please submit a copy to the assignments' dropbox on the server as a folder containing all of your patches and media files entitled LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_FinalWork.
Marks will be awarded for:
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
At the end of the unit, marks will be awarded for tutorial participation and how students engaged with course material in classes.
Asking questions and demonstrating critical thinking through engagement with class discussions are great ways to participate in tutorials.
Marks will be awarded for:
Due: Weeks 2–5
Weighting: 20%
Students are required to complete tutorial 'worksheets' in Max, and create micro-projects that demonstrate their understanding of fundamental Max/MSP/Jitter concepts. These worksheets will give students the skillset to develop their own creative works in Max.
While a number of these might deal with musical concepts, your demonstrated familiarity with Max and analytical approach is what is the main focus of these worksheets. Students' engagement with the worksheets will be formatively assessed during each tutorial. Feedback will consist of discussion with the tutor.
Worksheets will be submitted to assignments' dropbox the server, and should be placed in a folder named LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_MUS302_Worksheet1.
Marks will be awarded for:
Please note: Lectures attendance is compulsory as tutorial time is heavily dependent on lecture content.
As MUS 302 is a practical unit, students are expected to attend both lectures and practical tutorial workshops. Workshops are designed to give students time to develop practice-based learning with instructional support. Prior knowledge of Max is not a requirement, however general computer literacy skills are assumed (creating files/folders, copying files etc).
Students are required to bring headphones to class each week, and to source/create their own media (music, sound, images, film) for assignments, assessments, and performances. Each student has access to the music server, but can also bring thumb drives or portable drives (not formatted as NTFS) to class.
Non-attendance to more than two lectures/tutorials without medical certification will result in a zero grade for participation in the unit.
Readings and extra curricular tasks will be disseminated via iLearn.
Core-readings and interactive exercises:
As this course is computer-focussed and practical in nature, a number of interactive readings and examples will be available in the Max 6 Help and Documentation and the in-built Max/MSP/Jitter tutorials within Max.
Optional Readings:
Manzo, VJ (2011) Max/MSP/Jitter for Music: A Practical Guide to Developing Interactive Music Systems for Education and More
Colosanto, F (2012) Max 6: Interface
… both available via http://cycling74.com/wiki/index.php?title=Max_Documentation_and_Resources (please discuss any areas you wish to read about in more detail with me first)
Note: Late assignments without medical certification will incur a 10% penalty per day.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Date | Description |
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28/02/2014 | The Description was updated. |