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Show 12 Signpost Tuesday, June 3, 1986 Synthesizer wizardry creates music sounds tomorrow by Leona Vandre Arts and Entertainment Editor Electronic technology has blasted into hyperspace and uncovered a whole new world of possibilities in music. New sounds, more coloration, and better tonal quality are now possible through the use of electronic instruments. You've got to hear it to believe it! Hear it "live" Wednesday, June 4 in the Austad Auditorium. Tom Carruth, an electronic music specialist from Guitar City in Centerville will transport the audience into the future of sound. Carruth will present an electronic music seminar at 8:30 a.m. and then again at 9:30 a.m., and everyone is invited to attend. The Novabeam projector will be used to project a 9 X 12 foot image of the demonstration to enable everyone to see all the particulars. "Synthesizers, "said Carruth, "are the electronic instruments that allow the user to change the parameters of sounds to create new sounds." There are three categories of synthesizers that he will demonstrate and discuss: the analogue which is a subtractive synthesizer and uses preset wave forms; the FM digital which permits the user to create his own harmonic content; and digital sampling, a system which samples the audio input at intervals of the wave form and puts it into memory. "The only way to understand this is to hear it as it is being explained to you," said Carruth. He likened just talking about it to just talking about an elephant you miss the impact. The second part of the demonstration 'will concern the MIDI or musical instrument digital interface. It is the standard of the industry for the musical world, explained Carruth. All electronic instruments link through the interface. This piece of hardware will permit a musician to send musical information from a sythesizer into a computer. The computer will memorize it then play it back on another synthesizer while the musician is in-puting another part. The ultimate sound is the sound of the full orchestra. Not only does the system record and play back, it also allows corrections, displays the notation and prints out the full musical score. "This is a very exciting time," said Don Threlkeld, music faculty member at WSC, "Research and ad- vancements are moving so rapidly." Threlkeld invited Carruth to present the demonstration as part of the survey of music explored in his introduction to music class. "In our society today, one of the leading endeavors is electronic music. It is changing the face of music," he said. A professional musician with whom Threlkeld spoke recently confessed, "It's scary. They can almost duplicate our sounds." Electronic music has an impact on musical performance, teaching and composition technique. "It's kind of fun to watch the evolution process take shape," said Threlkeld, who feels that the WSC music program is headed in that direction. , . t. . "We have to . . . all schools are. There are classes offered in electronic music throughout the country," he said. Recent developments have an impact on education. "Electronic instruments can teach us music, sight singing, rhythm, and part writing. Everything in theory can be taught and practiced on a computer," said Carruth. Carruth, a former music major in piano performance at WSC who plans to return in the fall, said he was trained in electronic music through the generosity of Donna and Clair Olsen, the owners of Guitar City. They sent him all over the country to study with the Weber State Theatre y I presents the advanced j director series June 3,4,5,6 8:00 pm Monson Theatre ACT PLAY I I FESTIVAL An exciting collection of one-act plays produced by the advanced directing students of Weber state Theatre. $3.00 General Admission Call 626-6618 $2.50 StudentsSenior Citizens $1.00 WSC students all performances vLiWJ WEBtBSHUntATRE designers and testers of synthesizers. "You still have to be a musician to create," he said. "The computer cannot figure out the music for you. (However), those who feel they will only play a trumpet will be left behind." Carruth feels that electronic instruments are the future of music both commercially and educationally. They are cost-effective and an efficient way to teach and create music. He said they are and will continue to be used in recordings and in live performances. Musicians will, always perform, he predicted, but possibly on electronic instruments. He contends that many musicians are still unfamiliar with the possibilities of new sound generation made possible by electronic components. "It's pure and controllable," he said. "Before, it was on or off. Now, you can be expressive with it." All aspects of music are covered in some way by electronic instruments. Rock, country, jazz and "legitimate" music are all involved. Today, 75 percent of the business at Guitar City is in electronic music, said Carruth. Clients include professional musicians, schools and individuals who just have a desire to make music. This past year, the University of Utah presented two productions accompanied by electronic instruments. In the first production, a tape recording of a synthesizer score was used. The second production featured the instruments "live" and gave program credits to the computer and the instruments. Events on Sale III lic Browning Center Box Office MIMMI Cherry Coke 50's Festival Jun 20,21,22 Snow Park LodgeDeer Valley Corps Encore Jul 22 Wildcat Stadium Light of Liberty wOsmonds Jul 4 Cougar Stadium BYU Crystal Crest Awards With Doc Sev-rinsen Jun 7 Browning Center Willey Nelsen & Emmilou Harris Jun 6 Park west School's Out Party krokus May 31 Park west King and I May 29 to Jun 21 Triad Center 42nd Street ( Broadway Play ) Jul 1-6 Capitol Theatre Palladium Available at the Val A. Browning Center |