Download Estimation and Modeling of Pinna-Related Transfer Functions This paper considers the problem of modeling pinna-related transfer functions (PRTFs) for 3-D sound rendering. Following a structural modus operandi, we present an algorithm for the decomposition of PRTFs into ear resonances and frequency notches due to reflections over pinna cavities. Such an approach allows to control the evolution of each physical phenomenon separately through the design of two distinct filter blocks during PRTF synthesis. The resulting model is suitable for future integration into a structural head-related transfer function model, and for parametrization over anthropometrical measurements of a wide range of subjects.
Download Physically Based Sound Synthesis and Control of Footsteps Sounds We describe a system to synthesize in real-time footsteps sounds. The sound engine is based on physical models and physically inspired models reproducing the act of walking on several surfaces. To control the real-time engine, three solutions are proposed. The first two solutions are based on floor microphones, while the third one is based on shoes enhanced with sensors. The different solutions proposed are discussed in the paper.
Download A Method of Generic Programming for High Performance DSP This paper presents some key concepts for a new just in time programming language designed for high performance DSP. The language is primarily intended to implement an updated version of PWGLSynth, the synthesis extension to the visual musical programming environment PWGL. However, the system is suitable for use as a backend for any DSP platform. A flow control mechanism based on generic programming, polymorphism and functional programming practices is presented, which we believe is much better suited for visual programming than traditional loop constructs found in textual languages.
Download Adjusting the Spectral Envelope Evolution of Transposed Sounds with Gabor Mask Prototypes Audio-samplers often require to modify the pitch of recorded sounds in order to generate scales or chords. This article tackles the use of Gabor masks and their capacity to improve the perceptual realism of transposed notes obtained through the classical phasevocoder algorithm. Gabor masks can be seen as operators that allows the modification of time-dependent spectral content of sounds by modifying their time-frequency representation. The goal here is to restore a distribution of energy that is more in line with the physics of the structure that generated the original sound. The Gabor mask is elaborated using an estimation of the spectral envelope evolution in the time-frequency plane, and then applied to the modified Gabor transform. This operation turns the modified Gabor transform into another one which respects the estimated spectral envelope evolution, and therefore leads to a note that is more perceptually convincing.
Download Independent Manipulation of High-Level Spectral Envelope Shape Features for Sound Morphing by Means of Evolutionary Computation The aim of sound morphing is to obtain a sound that falls perceptually between two (or more) sounds. Ideally, we want to morph perceptually relevant features of sounds and be able to independently manipulate them. In this work we present a method to obtain perceptually intermediate spectral envelopes guided by highlevel spectral shape descriptors and a technique that employs evolutionary computation to independently manipulate the timbral features captured by the descriptors. High-level descriptors are measures of the acoustic correlates of salient timbre dimensions derived from perceptual studies, such that the manipulation of the descriptors corresponds to potentially interesting timbral variations.