Is math useful to you in music production?

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:56 pm

How often do you find math useful whilst producing?

Obvious examples include working out delay times or tempo synchopation, but other applications exist.

How much math do you use whilst producing?

DZA · Post by **DZA** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:57 pm

Aye!?!

drokkr · Post by **drokkr** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:10 pm

i know of math in electronic music but ever been aware of myself using it - doesn't the software do the calculations behind the scenes?

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:18 pm

Not always, for instance, if you wanted to work out the 3rd harmonic of a note without using any analysis tools.

Another example would be timestretching samples to fit a projects BPM. Programs that stretch in percentages wouldn't necessarily inform the user of the output BPM.

In Digital Signal Processing, there are also plenty of applications. A simple example would be whilst designing a synth, the designer may wish to build waveshaping functions into the synth. This calls for mathmatics! Using the same synth building exmple, synthesising basic waveforms also requires maths...

I failed my Math GCSE, but audio production is starting to get me more interested in returning to college to study the basics.

mickledan · Post by **mickledan** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:27 pm

nope i'm homer simpson on it -

if its too hard don't bother

r · Post by r » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:29 pm

just do what the ears want to hear

POND LIFE · Post by **POND LIFE** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:33 pm

my maths skills have regressed to the standard they were at when i was about 6 from lack of use. i get the feeling it would help my automations if i was good at it, like if you could actually do maths at an adult level im sure you could get some sick results out of using certain equations for stuff...
but that's never gonna be me, i just naturally suck at it.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:46 pm

R wrote:just do what the ears want to hear

But what if by learning maths (scales) you could guarantee number 1 hits every time!!?

jedison · Post by **jedison** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:23 pm

I use math so I can count in 4s, 8s, 16s, 32s, and 64s

Pallms · Post by **Pallms** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:43 pm

There is no "formula" for making good music, so I stay away from using math.

bennyc · Post by **bennyc** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:57 pm

I don't think I'm naturally very musical, but the application of physics and mathS in electronic music is very interesting (to me). It does help if you can be a bit geeky about your music making. For example, (I think) Aphex Twin studied electronic engineering, same as I do.

You don't actually have to apply the maths, do any formulas etc. But the basic understandings of their use in your music making will go a long way to your comprehension of sound.

Alternatively just mash a bunch of buttons and twiddle knobs until it sounds good

. I do this too because my music theory knowledge is negligible....

r · Post by r » Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:08 pm

futures_untold wrote:
R wrote:just do what the ears want to hear
But what if by learning maths (scales) you could guarantee number 1 hits every time!!?

it still not about if you know math. Its about how u use it. I know the math of scales but i dont make hits. Just because thats just 5% of music. You still need to garantee the other 95%

osky · Post by **osky** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:36 pm

jsilver · Post by **jsilver** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:59 pm

most of my songs can be expressed as a single equation

JFK · Post by **JFK** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:27 pm

Jedison wrote:I use math so I can count in 4s, 8s, 16s, 32s, and 64s

This

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:31 pm

absolutely-- to quickly figure out rhythm calculations, delay timings, filter settings to match up w/ pitch & frequency (have it start at the root note and open up @ the octave, etc)...

and then, you know, writing in 8 and 16 bar phrases.

music is based in math, with root=4 and root-10; sorry y'all, that's an inarguable fact.

scooterjack · Post by **scooterjack** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:38 pm

foundation of equal temperament = math

use it (math) every single time i work

bennyc · Post by **bennyc** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:44 pm

Americans are allowed to say math, the british arent....

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:45 pm

bennyc wrote:Americans are allowed to say math, the british arent....

I am American, even though I live in Blighty!

(and have done all my life....)

(hence the farmer accent...)

But back on topic.......

Is math useful to you in music production?

Is math useful for you whilst producing?

Is math useful to you in music production?

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