The Creative Technology Lab supports the creative work of composition
majors at Towson University.
The Creative Technology Lab is made up of over forty devices.
Conceptually, these devices can be grouped into seven categories:
microphones, sound generators, signal processors, computers and
peripherals, mixing, routing, and control devices, recording decks, and
monitoring equipment.
The two Macintosh computers have several software programs to become
virtual musical instruments.
The two Macintosh computers serves as the central computers for the
Creative Technology Lab. Both computers are connected to two 21"
Apple digital video displays and to the PC digital input of the 42"
Plasma display. All three displays can be used simultaneously.
To assist in the throughput and processing of audio signals, one of the
Macintosh computers is equipped with a Digidesign Protools HD TDM
system connected to a Digidesign 192 i/o and a Digidesign legacy 888
i/o providing professional quality audio input and output using both
analog audio signals and digital audio data. The 192 and 888|24
i/o devices allow for sixteen-channel analog audio input and output
to/from the Protools system and sixteen-channel digital audio transfer
using the ASE/EBU digital audio protocol. Together these devices
also allow for four channels of digital audio i/o using the S/PDIF
digital audio protocol and 8 channels of digital optical i.o using the
ADAT lightpipe protocol.
The Macintosh computers have very large arrays of internal RAM which
allow for several very large programs (like Protools) to run
simultaneously. This memory also offers space for large data
tables for synthesis and audio editing (as in Supercollider or
Max/MSP/Jitter).
There are several sets of storage devices connected to the computers.
These devices belong to one of two "chains" using Firewire (400 and
800) and USB connections and cables. The main work drives are
three 500 GB Firewire drives. These volumes are the primary work
space for direct-to-disk sound recording and editing.
To archive large projects, there is a Sony AIT2 tape backup drive ias
part of the Firewire device chain. This tape backup device
allows users to save their work and take it with them on AIT2 tapes
which hold approximately 30 GB per tape as archived files using
Retrospect software.
The MacPro 8-core computer, with its peripherals, forms the auxiliary
computer for the Creative Technology Lab. This computer is
capable of
handling the demands of digital video and music software and is
connected to a MOTU 2408 i/o for audio input and output. It
serves as the main video editing station in the Creative Technology Lab
using Apple's Final Cut Studio pro software. The computer can inpurt
video or receive digital video input via firewire and can record out to
digital video using a firewire-capable digital video camcorder.
The MacPro is equipped with professional-level video and photo editing
software for student composers' creative multi-media projects.
Files can be transferred between the computers using the network
in the Creative Technology Lab.
To support interactive computer music projects, on-stage performances
of computer music, other computer needs outside the Creative Technology
Lab, there is a Macintosh Powerbook G4/1.67. This laptop computer runs
copies of many of the programs in the Creative Technology Lab including
SuperCollider, Max/MSP/Jitter, and others for live performance
applications of interactive computer music and video. There are several
ineractive control devices including MIDI controllers, a Lemur
programmable interface, and a kit of sensors and wired and wireless
sensor controller units for use with interactive applcations.
In order to use multi-channel audio i/o with the Powerbook it is
equipped with a RME Fireface 800 multichannel i/o. This supports
eight channels of analog i/o and 8 channels of ADAT optical digital
audio as well as Tascam digital i/o and stereo sp/dif i/o.
The Creative Technology Lab is equipped with a ten-channel monitoring
system as well as the standard stereo monitor set. The ten
channels can be setup as a standard LCR, 5.0, and 5.1 surround
environments, an 8-channel matched surround ring array, or as any
combination of ten speakers around the space.
The core software in the CTL currently includes:
- Apple Final Cut Pro Studio Universal
- Arturus MOOG Mod V plugin synth
- Csound
- Digital Performer
- Finale
- Max/MSP/Jitter
- MOTU Mach V Plugin Sampler
- pd
- Pluggo plug-in development
- Protools HD TDM with Reverb One, Waves Gold, Waves IR-1 TDM
plugIns
- Reason
- Retrospect
- Supercollider
