Virginia Center for Computer Music

Overview

The Virginia Center for Computer Music (VCCM) is a unique facility that offers a wide range of possibilities for both composer and developer. The Center has recently seen major renovations and upgrades. Having evolved from a primarily Next / Mac platform , the VCCM now offers state of the art Linux and G4 based systems that support various types of instruction, research and composition. Current areas of development include multichannel digital audio, real time open source sound synthesis, interactive computer music, and multimedia. The Center promotes a creative atmosphere, providing a wide variety of tools to aid the engineer, programmer and composer.

Judith Shatin, Director
Matthew Burtner, Associate Director
David Topper, Technical Director

VCCM Lab

The VCCM currently offers one large "VCCM Lab" / classroom facility and three single user studios for a wide variety of research. The VCCM Lab is home to four G4 Macintosh and six PC Linux workstations. All machines are linked to a central file server to enable easy file transfer and storage between a wide variety of applications. Macintosh computers run a variety of applications ranging from Digital Performer, MAX/ MSP and Supercollider, and a variety of other applications including Mac OS X. All Macintosh computers also have a wide variety of outboard MIDI hardware including alternate controllers such as a Max Matthews radio baton and an array of commercial controllers.

Slackware Linux based machines run RTcmix, Snd, Audacity, Csound, MXV, Pd, and CLM. Audio in the VCCM Lab is routed through Mackie (1604vlz and 1202vlz) mixers into Yamaha amplifiers and JBL monitor speakers. The space also has built in projection capability to aid in multimedia and classroom presentations.

The VCCM also offers three single user studio spaces for individual work and development.

Studio A: Multichannel Studio

A cross platform Linux/Mac based multichannel studio, ³Studio A², is home to the first Portable Audio Worstation (PAWN) system based on a multichannel Pentium III computer, RME Digi96 audio card and Alesis ADAT all routed through a Spirit 328 digital mixer which sends audio to Haffler amplifiers into eight Tannoy Reveal monitor speakers. The studio is also home to a G4 Macintosh system that can be digitally routed through the 8-channel system as well as communicating multichannel audio with the Linux workstation.

Studio B: Composition Studio

A Macintosh based studio, ³Studio B² houses an 800mhz G4 linked to a Mackie 1604vlz mixer. The studio is also home to a rare vintage ARP 2500 analog synthesizer. Audio is output via Haffler amplifier and Tannoy Series I professional monitor speakers.

MinMax Lab

The MinMax Lab is the latest addition to VCCM facilities. Set up by Burtner, it was recently designed to facilitate the development of new hardware controllers to meet the needs of a growing focus in interactive computer music development. It is a space where users can build digital and analog circuits, and link them all to digital and audio hardware.