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EarSketch

Computer Science Taught Through Music

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Outline�

  • What is EarSketch?
  • What are examples of what I can do with EarSketch?
  • Who made the sound samples in EarSketch?
  • How do I get started in EarSketch?

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What is EarSketch?

  • Learning environment + curriculum
  • Make music through code
  • Developed at Georgia Tech since 2011 by Professors Jason Freeman & Brian Magerko

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What is EarSketch?

  • Mix music through either Python or JavaScript code (no prior CS or music background required)
  • 4000+ loop sound library
  • Can record or upload your own sound samples
  • Multi-track digital audio workstation
  • Allows you to export your music to SoundCloud, as an mp3, wav or as a multi-track file for other music mixing software like ProTools or AbletonLive
  • Free and runs in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox (no downloads required)

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Examples of Music Made with EarSketch

  • 20 Music genres including trap, hip hop, funk, house, dubstep, EDM,…
    • You own the copyright to the music you make

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  • National EarSketch Competition Award Winner Examples

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EarSketch Sound Samples

In the beginning, sound samples from two award winners

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Richard Devine

  • Remix Technology Award winning electronic sound designer

Young Guru

  • Jay Z’s Producer and Tour DJ

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New Artists Added

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How Do I Get To EarSketch?

Type earsketch.gatech.edu and then click

on Start Coding

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Create an Account (watch quick tour first)

Enter a username and password (write it down)

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First Script

Click on the plus sign in the Code Editor, name your script, select JavaScript.

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EarSketch Interface

Content Manager: Sounds, Scripts, API

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Digital Audio Workstation: Shows tracks and plays music

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Code Editor: Code mixing

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Console: Tells about errors

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Curriculum: Instruction manual

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EarSketch Interface

Choose your language

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Keyboard shortcuts

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Choose your text size

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Choose light or dark color theme

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Quick tour, what’s new

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Notification of a shared script

Toggle between blocks mode and text mode

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Save Favorite Sounds

You must be logged in to save sounds to your favorites.

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Use Controls to Complete

  • Make the curriculum book on the right go away
  • Switch the background from black to white
  • Change the size of the text

(Hint: Two of these controls are toward the top right of the interface and we will have a quiz in a few minutes)

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Tempo

  • This function determines how fast or slow you want the song to be play.
  • In modern music, tempo is usually measured in beats per minute (BPM) 
    • Higher BPMs mean faster music:
    • Electronic Dance Music (EDM) 120 - 160 BPM (exciting)
    • Pop is generally around 90-120 BPM (alert)
    • R&B music is generally around 50 – 90 BPM (relaxing)

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EarSketch Uses Measures and Time�

How long is this musical introduction?

  • In seconds?
  • In beats?
  • In measures (1 measure = 4 beats)?
  • What three musical instruments did you hear?

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Beats, Measures, Time

Tempo is 120

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Time Changes, Not The Measure

This tempo is 60 for demonstration only

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Using Variables

  • Once you find a sound you like, start typing var “instrument” = and then use the paste can to fill in the sound.

Sounds from the same genre folder

are designed to flow together

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Playing Sound Variables

Type in Track Number

Type in Start Number

Type in End Number

Data Types

Type in Variable Name

Function Inputs

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Autocomplete

  • Autocomplete in EarSketch is a feature that predicts and suggests code completions as you type. It helps you write code faster and with fewer errors by offering suggestions based on the context of what you're typing.
  • As you start typing a command or function, EarSketch's autocomplete will show a dropdown list of possible completions. You can select one of these suggestions to quickly complete your code.

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Creating Sound Variables

  • Starting at Measure 1 and Ending at Measure 5
  • Plays for 4 Measures

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Play the Song Using the Digital Audio Workstation

Time

Measures

Tracks

Click on Run

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What Would the DAW Look Like�For This Script?

Time

Measures

Tracks

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Digital Audio Workstation

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What Would the DAW Look Like�For This New Script?

Tracks

Time

Measures

Tracks

Tracks

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Digital Audio Workstation

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Follow along with me�Then explore for 10 minutes

Watch Then Do

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Questions

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Let’s Play Kahoot