A black background showing ORCA's graphic user interface. Small turquoise, grey, and white characters are cascading vertically

Making Music with Live Coding

July 4 - 18, 2024

6 PM - 9 PM EST

Overview

Take a deep dive as we ebb and flow through the creation of abstract rhythms, melodies, and musical compositions using procedural sequencing in one of the most innovative coding languages ever created, ORCA.

ORCA is a powerful, limitless, and real-time live coding environment where we can control audio software and instruments to manifest and explore our own sonic landscapes.

This workshop is open to anyone interested in exploring alternative and inspiring ways to interact with digital music and sound. Prior experience with music production or coding is not required.

“Orca is an esoteric programming language, designed to create procedural sequencers in which each letter of the alphabet is an operation, where lowercase letters operate on bang, uppercase letters operate each frame. The application is not a synthesizer, but a flexible live coding environment capable of sending MIDI, OSC & UDP to your audio interface, like Ableton, Renoise, VCV Rack or SuperCollider.” – Hundredrabbits

Objective

This workshop serves as an introduction to live coding for generative music and sound. With a focus on electronic music composition, participants will learn to work with synthesis, samples, and MIDI to create musical harmonies, rhythms, and sound.

Five Things Participants Will Learn

1. “What is live coding?” (Various options and explorations)

2. Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and MIDI control

3. Trackers and sequencers

4. Generative and algorithmic music production

5. Recording, mixing, and mastering your sonic creations and explorations

Registration

Session 1: Thursday, July 4, 6pm-9pm

Session 2: Thursday, July 11, 6pm-9pm

Session 3: Thursday, July 18, 6pm-9pm

Participants will need access to:

Laptop or computer with ORCA installed

Headphones (optional)

Any additional materials will be sent in advance via email

Instructor: Ashford Sabastien Callender

Ashford Sabastien Callender is an Ottawa-based experimental digital artist, as well as a community educator and organizer. Inspired by psychedelic futurism, he uses his background in audio and video post-production within creative mediums such as web, film, and video to explore and create thoughtful, immersive, cross-cultural audio/visual experiences — one of his primary goals is to encourage people to see art, primarily, as a participatory space where we all have the power to alter our capacity for connection and understanding… and also encouraging people to peer into the technology side of art, to help inspire and create new visions.

Workshop Pricing

This workshop is $115 for Members and $165 for Non-Members. Access to a desktop computer and ORCA software is included with this registration option. You may bring your own laptop to receive a discounted workshop rate if you prefer (promo code: Laptop). To access our member pricing, join our membership at https://digitalartsresourcecentre.ca/joinus/. Fees for this workshop can be waived if access to funds is a barrier to participation. For more information please email education@digitalartsresourcecentre.ca.

Accessibility

All doors at DARC have accessibility buttons to press for automatic entry. DARC is located on the main floor (one story above ground) of the Arts Court building. DARC’s main entrance is located at 67 Nicholas Street which is fully wheelchair accessible. Alternate wheelchair-accessible entry is available through 2 Daly Ave at the Arts Court main entrance or the Ottawa Art Gallery. Elevator access is available from 9AM – 11PM.

DARC staff are available and happy to assist with all inquiries and requests regarding physical access. We also welcome inquiry, feedback, and resources regarding accessibility and accessibility improvement by phone (613.238.7648 x. 6) or by email at access@digitalartsresourcecentre.ca.

Cancellation Policy

DARC is unable to provide course attendee refunds for cancellations. DARC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule courses if necessary.

About DARC's Workshops

Digital Arts Resource Centre (DARC) provides training in a varied range of disciplines related to filmmaking and media art while making a dedicated effort to create a pathway to an intersectional education. We aspire to be a platform for creative support and community building through active participation and exchange of knowledge. Our workshops and courses explore the ways in which technical and conceptual frameworks can be used as tools to improve your creative practice. DARC’s educational offerings are open to members and the general public engaged in the creation of non-commercial, independent productions and work.

Workshop Pricing

DARC’s single-session online workshops are offered on a sliding scale, meaning individuals determine their own fee based on what they can afford.

We understand that everyone’s situation is different. When registering for workshops, we ask that you honestly examine your privilege (i.e. education, generational wealth, parental or community support, partnership status, and other circumstances that may provide a safety net when financial setbacks occur).

DARC also offers a no cost ticket option if access to funds is a barrier to participation. For more information please email us.

Who Is Eligible to Register for Workshops?

Workshops are open to Digital Arts Resource Centre members and the general public engaged in the creation of non-commercial, independent productions and work (Non-commercial, independent productions are productions for which the director retains copyright and artistic control, and for which the production is neither being produced for a client nor for the purpose of advertising or promotion).

Who Is Ineligible for Workshops?

Digital Arts Resource centre does not offer our workshops to persons employed by any government body or any major corporation if the resources are being used to facilitate benefit for one’s employer or for corporate professional development within one of these kinds of organizations. Our workshops are heavily subsidized as they are available only for independent artists/learners who cannot typically afford to take corporate rate workshops. You can find non-subsidized workshops from our friends at SPAO or Henry’s.

Cancellation

DARC is unable to provide course attendee refunds for cancellations. DARC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule courses if necessary.