Keynote | James Andy Moorer: History of Computer Music from Mathews to “Man in the Mangroves”
The origins of computer music promised unlimited freedom for composers to make music using sounds that no acoustic instrument could make. This freedom comes with a price. Composing a computer-synthesized piece involves an extra step. You do not just choose the instruments in your ensemble, but you must also build the orchestra. Over the last 70 years, we have evolved a wide range of techniques for music synthesis. We have reduced the burden of building the orchestra creation but have not eliminated it.
The creation of “The Man in the Mangroves Counts to Sleep” illustrates this process. About half of the work went to building the computer-based tools for the specialized form of voice synthesis needed for orchestration of the poem. After all these years, it is clear that there is more to be done to reduce the effort required ofthe composer in bringing the sounds from our imagination into reality. This talk will illustrate some of the problems that had to be solved in the realization of the piece.
James Andy Moorer
James A. Moorer is an internationally-known figure in digital audio and computer music, with over 40 technical publications and many patents to his credit. In 1991, he won the Audio Engineering Society Silver award for lifetime achievement.
In 1996, he won an Emmy Award for Technical Achievement with his partners, Robert J. Doris and Mary C. Sauer for Sonic Solutions/NoNOISE for Noise Reduction on Television Broadcast Sound Tracks.
In 1999, he won an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Scientific and Engineering Award (oscar) – for his pioneering work in the design of digital signal processing and its application to audio editing for film.
He is currently retired.
From 1987-2001, Dr. Moorer has served as Senior Vice President for Advanced Development at Sonic Solutions, and is responsible for the NoNOISE package for restoration of vintage recordings.
From 1986 to 1987, Dr. Moorer consulted for NeXT, Inc., on DSP software architecture for audio processing.
From 1985 to 1986, he was the chief technical officer at the Lucasfilm Droid Works.
From 1980 to 1985, he was the digital audio project leader at Lucasfilm, Ltd. From 1977-1980, he was the Reponsable Scientifique (technical advisor) at IRCAM in Paris.
From 1975 to 1977, he was a founder and co-director of the Stanford Computer Center for Research in Music and Acoustics.
From 1968 to 1972, he was a professional programmer at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
Dr. Moorer holds a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, granted in 1975. Prior to that, Dr. Moorer earned an S.B. in Applied Mathematics from MIT in 1968, and an S.B. in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1967.