The Creative Technology Lab supports the creative work of composition
majors at Towson University.
The Creative Technology Lab is made up of dozens of devices integrated
into a single-user facility.
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 central MacPro computers are the core of the studio creating a
diital audio workstation running a suite of creative software and
virtual musical instruments. Both computers are connected to two
Apple digital video monitors and to the 42"
Plasma display. All three displays can be used simultaneously.
To assist in the throughput and processing of audio signals, the main
MacPro 8-core computer 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. This computer also serves as the main
video editing station in the Creative Technology Lab
using Apple's Final Cut Pro suite.
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 Firewire HDD units and a Glyph chassis for compatibility with
other Department of music recording venues.
The second MacPro 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.
Files can be transferred between the computers using multiple data and
audio networks
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 MacBook Pro laptop computer. This laptop runs
copies of many of the programs in the Creative Technology Lab including
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 for wired and wireless
sensor controller units for use with interactive applcations.
In order to use multi-channel audio i/o with the MacBook Pro it is
equipped with an 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 Genelec
monitoring
system as well as the standard stereo monitor set for AB comparison of
mixes. 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:
- Ableton Live
- Apple Final Cut Pro Studio
- Apple Logic
- Arturius MOOG Mod V plugin synthesizer
- Avid Protools HD 9 TDM with Waves Gold, Waves IR-Surround, Waves
mastering, Audio Ease Altiverb XL
plugIns
- Csound
- Finale
- iZotope RX Advanced
- Max/MSP/Jitter
- MOTU Digital Performer
- MOTU Mach V 2 plugin sampler
- Native Instruments FM8 plugin synthesizer
- pd
- ProjectSAM Symphobia library
- Reason
- Supercollider
- Vienna Symphonic Library Ensemble Pro
