Create a simple patch or several patches on the Buchla synthesizer. Write down what you did so that you could try to recreate the patch later on. If you want, you can think of this as an "etude." Or, if you would like to be more creative, you can try to make a short piece of just a few minutes in length. In order to do this, since it is very difficult (but possible) to "perform live," you can record segments directly to Audacity and then use a sound editor to shape this material into a short piece, but this is not required. In any case, record the final version to CD. If you want to "layer" different sounds from the Buchla, you can record material into Audacity (as many tracks or fragments as you like) and then layer them to create a more complex texture. When you are done, make a "patch diagram," describe your patch(es) in English, print it out, and hand it in with the audio CD.

HOW TO USE THE BUCHLA:

1. Turn volume to 0 on the amplifier (bottom of the rack, BOTH knobs)

2. Turn power on the rack (upper right-hand corner). This turns on the Buchla also, so you do not have to find the on/off switch of the Buchla.

3. Boot the computer.

4. Run Audacity (there is an alias on the desktop)

5. Click on the input level picture (top of screen).

6. Make a sound from the Buchla. Simplest way: one patch cord from an oscillator on the botom to an output on the top of the Buchla. YOU SHOULD SEE SOME LEVELS IN THE AUDACITY INPUT METER. If you don't, keep trying simple patches until you do.

7. Once you see some levels, you can turn up the amplifier to about half-way. There's no point in turning up the volume on the amp until you see some levels in the Audacity meter!

8. Have fun with the Buchla.

9. To record sounds that you like, just click on the record button in Audacity. You will see a track appear in Audacity. Hit <space> to stop recording. To record another snippet, just click the record button again in Audacity and it will automatically create another track and start recording again. You can do this as many times as you like.

10. To save the files so that you can carry them elsewhere, select "export" as .wav in the File menu. Once you've written out the file, you can burn a CD to take home, or you can save on a USB stick if you have one. This computer is NOT networked, so you can't move the files via the internet.

Once you've got the material you want, you can edit and assemble a short piece using Pro Tools or Audacity or any editor you like.

(NOTE: It is possible to control the Buchla from a computer using the PAIA MIDI-to-voltage device. This also allows you to control the Buchla from Max if you so desire, which of course opens many doors. We will leave this as an option for the Final Project)