Download A Robust and Multi‐Scale Modal Analysis This paper presents a new approach to modal synthesis for rendering sounds of virtual objects. We propose a generic method for modal analysis that preserves sound variety across the surface of an object, at different scales of resolution and for a variety of complex geometries. The technique performs automatic voxelization of a surface model and automatic tuning of the parameters of hexahedral finite elements, based on the distribution of material in each cell. The voxelization is performed using a sparse regular grid embedding of the object, which easily permits the construction of plausible lower resolution approximations of the modal model. With our approach, we can compute the audible impulse response of a variety of objects. Our solution is robust and can handle non-manifold geometries that include both volumetric and surface parts, such as those used in games, training simulations, and other interactive virtual environment.
Download Acoustic rendering of particle‐based simulation of liquids in motion This paper presents an approach to the synthesis of acoustic emission due to liquids in motion. First, the models for the liquid motion description, based on a particle-based fluid dynamics representation, and for the acoustic emission are described, along with the criteria for the control of the audio algorithms through the parameters of the particles system. Then, the experimental results are discussed for a configuration representing the falling of a liquid volume into an underlying rigid container.
Download Low-order allpass Interpolated Delay Loops This paper presents empirical and theoretical results for a delay line cascaded with a second-order allpass filter in a feedback loop. Though such a structure has been used for years to model stiff vibrating strings, the complete range of behavior of such a structure has not been fully described and analyzed. As shown in this paper, in addition to the desired behavior of providing a frequencydependent delay line length, other phenomena may occur, such as “beating” or “mode splitting.” Associated analysis simulation results are presented.
Download Spring Reverberation: A Physical Perspective Spring-based artificial reverberation was one of the earliest attempts at compact replication of room-like reverberation for studio use. The popularity and unique sound of this effect have given it a status and desirability apart from its original use. Standard methods for modeling analog audio effects are not well suited to modeling spring reverberation, due to the complex and dispersive nature of its mechanical vibration. Therefore, new methods must be examined. A typical impulse responses of a spring used for reverberation is examined, and important perceptual parameters identified. Mathematical models of spring vibration are considered, with the purpose of drawing conclusions relevant to their application in an audio environment. These models are used to produce new results relevant to the design of digital systems for the emulation of spring reverberation units. The numerical solution of these models via the finite difference method is considered. A set of measurements of two typical spring reverberation units are presented.
Download Energy-based synthesis of tension modulation in strings Above a certain amplitude, the string vibration becomes nonlinear due to the variation of tension. An important special case is when the tension varies with time but spatially uniform along the string. The most important effect of this tension modulation is the exponential decay of the pitch (pitch glide). In the case of nonrigid string termination, the generation of double frequency terms and the excitation of missing modes also occurs, but this is perceptually less relevant for most of the cases. Several modeling strategies have been developed for tension modulated strings. However, their computational complexity is significantly higher compared to linear string models. This paper proposes efficient techniques for modeling the quasistatic part (short-time average) of the tension variation that gives rise to the most relevant pitch glide effect. The modeling is based on the linear relationship between the energy of the string and quasistatic tension variation. When this feature is added to linear string models, the computational complexity is increased by a negligible amount, leading to significant savings compared to earlier tension modulated string models.
Download Modal Representation of the Resonant Body within a Finite Difference Framework for Simulation of String Instruments This paper investigates numerical simulation of a string coupled transversely to a resonant body. Starting from a complete nite difference formulation, a second model is derived in which the body is represented in modal form. The main advantage of this hybrid form is that the body model is scalable, i.e. the computational complexity can be adjusted to the available processing power. Numerical results are calculated and discussed for simplied models in the form of string-string coupling and string-plate coupling.
Download A Frequency Domain Adaptive Algorithm for Wave Separation We propose a frequency domain adaptive algorithm for wave separation in wind instruments. Forward and backward travelling waves are obtained from the signals acquired by two microphones placed along the tube, while the separation filter is adapted from the information given by a third microphone. Working in the frequency domain has a series of advantages, among which are the ease of design of the propagation filter and its differentiation with respect to its parameters. Although the adaptive algorithm was developed as a first step for the estimation of playing parameters in wind instruments it can also be used, without any modifications, for other applications such as in-air direction of arrival (DOA) estimation. Preliminary results on these applications will also be presented.
Download A VST Reverberation Effect Plugin Based on Synthetic Room Impulse Responses In this paper we present a newly developed VST reverberation effect plugin (“HybridReverb”) based on synthetic room impulse responses (RIRs). We detail how we choose proper parameters for the synthesis of RIRs as presets for our convolution-based reverberation effect. The implemented stereo/surround plugin provides natural sounding reverberation based on physical principles. The newly developed convolution engine features signal processing with low latency and uniform processing load.
Download State-Space Representation for Digital Waveguide Networks of Lossy Flared Acoustic Pipes This paper deals with digital waveguide modeling of wind instruments. It presents the application of state-space representations to the acoustic model of Webster-Lokshin. This acoustic model describes the propagation of longitudinal waves in axisymmetric acoustic pipes with a varying cross-section, visco-thermal losses at the walls, and without assuming planar or spherical waves. Moreover, three types of discontinuities of the shape can be taken into account (radius, slope and curvature), which can lead to a good fit of the original shape of pipe. The purpose of this work is to build low-cost digital simulations in the time domain, based on the Webster-Lokshin model. First, decomposing a resonator into independent elementary parts and isolating delay operators lead to a network of input/output systems and delays, of KellyLochbaum network type. Second, for a systematic assembling of elements, their state-space representations are derived in discrete time. Then, standard tools of automatic control are used to reduce the complexity of digital simulations in time domain. In order to validate the method, simulations are presented and compared with measurements.
Download Recent CCRMA research in Digital Audio Synthesis, Processing and Effects This extended abstract summarizes DAFx-related developments at CCRMA over the past year or so.