Download A Strategy for the Modular Implementation of Physics-Based Models For reasons of practical handling as well as optimization of the processes of development and implementation, it is desirable to realize realtime models of sound emitting physical processes in a modular fashion that reflects an intuitively understandable structure of the underlying scenario. At the same time, in discrete– time algorithms based on physical descriptions, the occurance of non–computable instantaneous feedback loops has to be avoided. The latter obstacle prohibits the naive cross-connection of input– output signal processing blocks. The following paper presents an approach to gain modularity in the implementation of physicsbased models, while preventing non–computable loops, that can be applied to a wide class of systems. The strategy has been realized pratically in the development of realtime sound models in the course of the Sounding Object [1] European research project.
Download Optimization techniques for a physical model of human vocalisation We present a non-supervised approach to optimize and evaluate the synthesis of non-speech audio effects from a speech production model. We use the Pink Trombone synthesizer as a case study of a simplified production model of the vocal tract to target nonspeech human audio signals –yawnings. We selected and optimized the control parameters of the synthesizer to minimize the difference between real and generated audio. We validated the most common optimization techniques reported in the literature and a specifically designed neural network. We evaluated several popular quality metrics as error functions. These include both objective quality metrics and subjective-equivalent metrics. We compared the results in terms of total error and computational demand. Results show that genetic and swarm optimizers outperform least squares algorithms at the cost of executing slower and that specific combinations of optimizers and audio representations offer significantly different results. The proposed methodology could be used in benchmarking other physical models and audio types.
Download Physical Model of the Chinese Yehu for Sound Synthesis The yehu is a Chinese bowed string instrument featuring a resonator carved from a coconut shell, a seashell-based bridge, and two silk strings. This paper proposes a physical model of the yehu and reports on simulations using a finite-difference scheme with measurement-based physical characterization. The proposed model consists of two stiff strings coupled at the bridge, a bow with elastic bow hairs, a stopping finger, and a modal model of the bridge. A non-iterative solver based on energy quadratization is used to model the finger–string contact force, while an iterative solver is used for elasto-plastic bow-string friction force. The bridge-body model is based on a modal characterization obtained from the measured bridge admittance. The measured radiation transfer function is represented as a bank of parallel second-order filters and is applied to the simulated bridge force to incorporate body radiation characteristics. Finally, computational performance tests are conducted, showing that the proposed model is capable of real-time computation.
Download A Physical String Model with Adjustable Boundary Conditions The vibration of strings in musical instruments depends not only on their geometry and material but also on their fixing at the ends of the string. In physical terms it is described by impedance boundary conditions. This contribution presents a functional transformation model for a vibrating string which is coupled to an external boundary circuit. Delay-free loops in the synthesis algorithm are avoided by a state-space formulation. The value of the boundary impedance can be adjusted without altering the core synthesis algorithm.
Download The Cpld As A General Physical Modeling Synthesis Engine In this paper we propose a system based on a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) as a physical modeling synthesis engine and a hardware description language (VHDL) to implement the physical modeling synthesis algorithms. An evaluation of VHDL and CPLD technologies for this application was performed. As an example we have programmed the Karplus-Strong plucked string algorithm using VHDL on an Altera CPLD.
Download Material Design in Physical Modeling Sound Synthesis This paper deals with designing material parameters for physical models. It is shown that the characteristic relation between modal frequencies and damping factors of a sound object is the acoustic invariant of the material from which the body is made. Thus, such characteristic relation can be used for designing damping models for a conservative physical model to represent a particular material.
Download A Physically-Constrained Source Model for FDTD Acoustic Simulation The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method is becoming increasingly popular for room acoustics simulation. Yet, the literature on grid excitation methods is relatively sparse, and source functions are traditionally implemented in a hard or additive form using arbitrarily-shaped functions which do not necessarily obey the physical laws of sound generation. In this paper we formulate a source function based on a small pulsating sphere model. A physically plausible method to inject a source signal into the grid is derived from first principles, resulting in a source with a nearflat spectrum that does not scatter incoming waves. In the final discrete-time formulation, the source signal is the result of passing a Gaussian pulse through a digital filter simulating the dynamics of the pulsating sphere, hence facilitating a physically correct means to design source functions that generate a prescribed sound field.
Download Real-Time Physical Modelling For Analog Tape Machines For decades, analog magnetic tape recording was the most popular method for recording music, but has been replaced over the past 30 years first by DAT tape, then by DAWs and audio interfaces. Despite being replaced by higher quality technology, many have sought to recreate a "tape" sound through digital effects, despite the distortion, tape "hiss", and other oddities analog tape produced. The following paper describes the general process of creating a physical model of an analog tape machine starting from basic physical principles, then discusses in-depth a real-time implementation of a physical model of a Sony TC-260 tape machine."Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable, and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature. CD distortion, the jitteriness of digital video, the crap sound of 8-bit - all of these will be cherished and emulated as soon as they can be avoided." -Brian Eno.
Download The voice of the dragon: A physical model of a rotating corrugated tube When an unsmooth flexible tube rotates, rich tones are produced. We propose a physical model that simulates this behavior. The tube is modeled as an open-ended organ pipe blown by an air stream pumped by a rotationally induced pressure which follows Bernoulli’s principle.
Download Digital Sound Synthesis of Brass Instruments by Physical Modeling The Functional Transformation Method (FTM) is an established method for sound synthesis by physical modeling, which has proven its feasibility so far by the application to strings and membranes. Based on integral transformations, it provides a discrete solution for continuous physical problems given in form of initialboundary-value problems. This paper extends the range of applications of the FTM to brass instruments. A full continuous physical model of the instrument, consisting of an air column, a mouthpiece and the player’s lips is introduced and solved in the discrete domain. It is shown, that the FTM is a suitable method also for sound synthesis of brass instruments.