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To:  Al Cohen
From: J. Chowning
Subject: Center for Computer Research in Acoustics and Music (CCRAM)

Max Mathew's visit was very encouraging, I think.  Although he is familiar
with the work that Leland and I have done, he had not had the opportunity
previously to see the work being done by Loren Rush, John Grey, and Andy
Moorer.  We gave him a presentation which resulted in some very positive
feedback.  I will enumerate some of his thoughts and suggestions in regard to
continuing the computer-based acoustical and compositional work at Stanford.

	1.  The idea of the Music Department creating a center is a good
one and very much enhanced by its inter-disciplinary nature  as defined
by both the proposed staff and research.

	2.  Our ideas are sound for a small computer system controling a powerful special
purpose acoustical processor provisionally attached to the A.I. Lab. PDP-10
system.

	3.  NSF should be approached for support and Mathews is willing to help.
He thinks that the foundations may be equally appropriate or better and, again,
he is willing to help.  The foundations should be asked for something on the
order of $500,000, certainly no less, and he feels that he is not being optimistic
in thinking that we can get it.  Now, I would feel that he was being optimistic
except for the fact that a commitment from Max to help is by no means an empty one
and he is the principal authority in computers and music.

	4.  Once the appropriate foundation contacts are made through him
and/or Stanford, I should make the 'pitch' in person.  We have in the royalty
income budget from my spatial processing invention some $1500. from which we
could pay the travel expenses, in all probability to the east coast.

Time Schedule-

As I understand the protocol, we can submit a proposal to NSF with department
approval whereas for foundations we must have approval from some higher level.
In addition, we would apply to NSF for research support only, but to the
foundations for support of a 'center'.
     
     It seems of some priority, then, to gain university approval for the center
     so that we can proceed with the search for support.

In the meantime we will have the NSF proposal prepared in no more than two
weeks.  This same proposal will form the research section of a foundation
proposal to which we will add a section on the relation of music to all
of this.

My feeling is that we should not delay in pursuing the idea of a center.
We have the research momentum together with the right people.  Computer
music facilities are proliferating at a fairly high rate which means that
there will be a proportional increase in the number seeking support and it
would be unfortunate should Stanford, the first independent facility and
one of the most productive, not be an early beneficiary.  I will keep you up
to date on our progress.