Electronic Digital Instrument (EDI)

Updated on January 13th, 2023

If you are interested in declaring Electronic Digital Instrument (EDI) as your primary instrument, it is important to understand that you are identifying yourself as an electronic musician who creates and performs digital music live in real-time. EDI instrumentalists will develop proficiency in specific areas during their program, depending on their choice and configuration of a performance system.

What Is an Electronic Digital Instrument (EDI)?

If you are attending the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive and are planning on declaring EDI as your primary instrument, you should be prepared to perform live throughout the program. Please note that selecting EDI as your primary instrument is not the same as studying music production. 

If you are interested in learning more about music production we recommend the Electronic Music Production and Sound Design Workshop or the Music Production Workshop.

The electronic digital instrument (EDI) is a system based on three components:

  1. A computer
  2. User-configured software: EDI instruction is done using Ableton Live software, and students are required to own the current version of Ableton Live Suite.
  3. Any combination of the following controller capabilities:
    1. Grid control (e.g., Ableton Push 2 or Novation Launchpad) 
    2. Keyboard control (e.g., Novation Launchkey, Arturia KeyStep Pro), or 
    3. Mix control (e.g., Novation Launch Control, AKAI APC40 mkII)

Combined, these act as a single instrument capable of a wide range of musical expression.

Below is a video demonstrating a prospective undergraduate student auditioning for the College with EDI as their primary instrument.