Presentations and demo-performances by students of the Electronic Instrument Engineering, Xinghai Conservatory of Music

Zheng Yizhong
Kontakt flute sound samples

This sound sampling source originates from a traditional Chinese musical instrument, which falls under the category of wind instruments. Its playing techniques are quite extensive and are rarely found in the market for sampled sound sources.

During the production process, a total of four types of playing techniques were sampled, including articulation, percussion, vibratory sound, and vibrato, with the latter being further divided into two techniques.

The Waves plug-in was used for post-processing during post-production, and the final result was integrated into the Kontakt software to be utilized as a Kontakt soft sound source. For a more specific experience, one can try it out on-site!

Xiao Xiongwen
Human Beatbox

What I am demonstrating is something known as Beatbox Human Beatbox, which originated in the United States and is a new element of Hip Hop that emerged in the 1980s, a music culture that thrived in the early 2000s. I will incorporate Bbox into our song so that everyone can experience the unique charm of Beatbox.

I utilized a cardioid moving-coil microphone, which performed slightly better in the mid-range and provided a more balanced sound across the frequencies, making it ideal for use in various settings. It allows me to effectively showcase the charm of Beatbox.

Bin Yuan (Tyler）
FMB Sequencer

Synth Bass & FM Percussion With Sequencer 16 steps and Effects taken by the idea FBM Sequence Tool。

1.FM sequencer part which uses pitch multiplication, and then connected to the triangle waveform of the FM waveform, while connected to the capture module, through the different pitch threshold set up to capture, so as to realize the real-time adjustment of the FM drum machine.

1. The Bassline section is first set up with a panel control module, which facilitates direct visual control of all the connected functions. The settings for pitch and pitch grab are similar to the FM sequencer, but the waveform settings are different. I set up three waveforms: sawtooth, pulse, and triangle, which can be used separately or together for synthesized sound effects.

2. The sound effects created by the FM sequencer and Bassline are finally integrated with the mixer and then connected to the three effect modules to add richness to the sound. The three sound effects are Delay, Phaser and Reverb.

3. In the panel design, in order to increase the visual effect, I added a two-position spectrum module, according to the sound or effect triggering adjustments and change the waveform or lighting cue changes, so that the sound and rhythm of the changes in the panel directly show, and at the same time, increase the user’s direct senses.

Wang Zichong
RADARR Semi-automatic playing system
Metal-E series synthesizers

I am an enthusiast of electronic music with a passion for various aspects within the field. These include designing independent audio plugins, sampling sounds, producing virtual instruments, sequencing MIDI software synthesizers, and designing sound interaction. Some of my notable works include the Metal-E series synthesizer and sequencer plugins as well as the RADARR Semi-automatic playing system.

The RADARR Semi-automatic playing system is a plugin created using Max/MSP for editing purposes. It consists of drum machines, synthesizers, and track sections. This plugin enables quick switching and modulation of audio tracks, ensuring smooth and stable live performances. Additionally, it allows for the arrangement and performance of various forms of electronic music.

The Metal-E series synthesizers are created using FM audio synthesis technology that emulates the tones of three different instruments. They also support integration into DAW software for audio composition and modulation.

Presentation coordinator: Marco Bidin

Marco Bidin is a composer, organist and artistic director.

After graduating in Organ, he studied Early Music in Trossingen and Contemporary Music performance in Stuttgart, where he completed the Concert Exam in Composition and the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Computer Music under the guidance of Prof. Marco Stroppa.

He lectured, gave courses and performed as a soloist in Europe and Asia, and his compositions have been performed in Germany, France, Portugal, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Japan and China.

Marco Bidin is Associate Professor for Electronic Instrument Engineering at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, China.

The Electronic Instrument Engineering Department was established in 2016, and it is the youngest department of the Department of Musical Instrument Engineering of Xinghai Conservatory of Music, and the department began its activities in the same year. In the context of most of the electronic musical instrument manufacturing enterprises in the country located in Guangdong, the birth of electronic musical instrument design and research and development is inevitable.

After unremitting efforts in recent years, the teaching and scientific research of the Electronic Instrument Engineering Departmen has gradually embarked on a standardized, systematic and scientific development stage.

At present, the main courses carried out by the professional teaching and research department include: virtual synthesizer/effect design and production, virtual sampling sound source design and production, MIDI controller/sequencer design and production, hardware electronic musical instrument design and production, interactive APP and art installation/program design, conceptual instrument prototype design

There are 4 teachers, mainly young and middle-aged teachers, all of whom have a master’s degree or above, and are a teaching team with reasonable age and academic structure and diverse professional directions.

On the basis of learning traditional electronic music composition, cultivate innovative compound talents in the design and development of electronic musical instruments. According to the training objectives of the course, build a oriented learning mode consistent with students’ professional learning interests and subject content, flexible professional course learning content and professional deep learning according to the direction of national large-scale enrollment, tap students’ certain strengths and combine practical learning modules, and better cultivate top-notch talents with innovative ability and strong practical ability or theoretical research ability for the society.

The specific talent training direction of the course is as follows: enter the audio music company/studio to become a virtual sound plug-in designer; Entered the Internet company to become a music APP designer; Entered the hardware electronic musical instrument factory to become a sound development and debugging engineer; Establish individual studios to develop soft sound sources/synthesizers/effects/interactive installations for individuals or professional groups; Become a sound measurement sampling analyst at institutions such as the Sound Research Institute.

The Xinghai Conservatory of Music is a higher music education institution in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. It is named after the famous composer Xian Xinghai (Chinese: 冼星海), and was established in 1932 by the composer Ma Sicong as the Guangzhou Conservatory of Music.