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That strange phenomenon where air molecules bounce against each other in a way that somehow comforts you, makes you cry, or makes you dance all night: music. Since the advent of recorded audio, a musician doesn't even need to be present anymore for this to happen (which makes putting "I will always love you" on repeat a little less awkward). Sound engineers have found many ways of making music sound good when played from a record. Some of their methods have become industry staples used on every recording released today. Let's look at what they do and reproduce some of their methods in Ruby!
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The video titled "How music works, using Ruby" presented by Thijs Cadier at RailsConf 2022 explores the intricacies of music production and the evolution of audio technologies through the lens of programming in Ruby. Cadier begins with an explanation of music as a phenomenon perceived by the brain, shaped by sound waves that oscillate in the air. He highlights that music is not only sound, but also an emotional experience that remains partially unexplained by neuroscience. Key Points Discussed: - **History of Music Recording Technologies**: Cadier traces the development of music recording from mechanical devices and wax layers to magnetic tape and digital audio. - He explains the transition from live music to recorded music with the advent of early recording devices, showcasing how technology has transformed music accessibility. - **Understanding Digital Audio**: The presentation covers the concept of digital audio, highlighting how sound can be sampled and manipulated digitally. Cadier emphasizes the importance of waveform representation in music. - He introduces the use of Ruby code to manipulate audio samples, demonstrating the basics of audio processing like amplification and noise generation. - **Practical Example with Ruby**: He demonstrates how to generate different types of sound waves (sine, square, and noise) through Ruby code, illustrating fundamental sound synthesis concepts. - **Mixing and Audio Effects**: Cadier discusses the process of mixing audio, explaining how multiple waveforms can be combined to create a complex signal. He touches on audio compression techniques and their significance in achieving a consistent sound level in music. - The effects of clipping and distortion are mentioned as common elements in music production, particularly in rock styles. - **Technical Programming Demonstration**: Throughout, Cadier provides examples of coding in Ruby related to creating and manipulating sound, making technical concepts accessible through programming analogies. - **Conclusion with a Musical Performance**: In conclusion, Cadier showcases his music creation skills by playing a cover of a well-known song, thus underlining the practical application of the concepts discussed throughout the presentation. The key takeaway from Thijs Cadier's presentation is the interconnection between music production and programming, emphasizing how coding can be an integral part of understanding and creating music. The insightful exploration of digital audio along with hands-on coding examples illustrates the potential for developers to engage with music technology creatively.
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