Organized by the Dept. of Information and Communication Technologies of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona in collaboration with the Dept. of Sonology of the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya.

Introduction

Sound and Music Computing (SMC) is an interdisciplinary field that approaches the whole sound and music communication chain from a multidisciplinary point of view. By combining scientific, technological and artistic methodologies it aims at understanding, modeling and generating sound and music through computational approaches. Its core academic subjects relate to musicology, physics (acoustics), engineering (including computer science, signal processing and electronics), psychology (including psychoacoustics, experimental psychology and neurosciences) and music composition. Current areas of application include digital music instruments, music production, music information retrieval, digital music libraries, interactive multimedia systems, auditory interfaces and augmented action and perception (e.g. bionic ears, digital prosthesis and multi-modal extensions of the human body). The Master of the UPF focuses on the more technological aspects of this field.

Objectives

The mission of the SMC Master is to train the researchers and professionals that will push forward the sound and music technologies of the new information society. By combining practical and theoretical training in topics such as computational modeling, audio engineering, perception, cognition, and interactive systems, the program gives the scientific and technological background needed to start a professional career in a wide number of SMC research and professional directions. More specifically, the Master trains the students on the technologies for the analysis, description, synthesis, transformation and production of sound and music, and also on the technologies and processes that support sound and music creation.

The competences that are developed in this master are:

  • Capacities of planning and execution of production and/or research plans
  • Acquisition, management and transmission of methodological, technical and aesthetic knowledge
  • Capacities to carry out team work in academic and industrial contexts
  • Development of a critical view for taking technical, methodological, economical, aesthetic and deontological professional decisions.
  • Communicative and creative abilities

Academic structure

The Master offers both a professional and a research modality. The professional modality trains the students for the work in recording studios, media production companies, music software development, or companies dedicated to services related to sound and music contents. The research modality gives the students the possibility to enter a PhD program or to enter research teams in companies specialized in the development of services and applications related to music and sound technologies.

The student has to take 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) plus up to 60 credits from leveling courses depending on the previous education. The student follows courses corresponding to 35 ECTS credits, plus the needed leveling courses, and works on a research or professional project corresponding to 25 ECTS credits. The specific courses to take are decided between the tutor and the student in accordance with the student background and specialization desired.

Language

English (except for the leveling courses which are taught mainly in spanish or catalan).

Program coordinator

 Xavier Serra (MTG-UPF)

General Information

For general information about the official Master programs of the UPF consult here.

Location

Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Department of Information and Communication Technologies
Passeig de Circumval.lació, 8
08003 Barcelona
Spain

Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya
Edifici L’Auditori
Padilla, 155
08013 Barcelona
Spain


program supported by:Caixa Catalunya