Intimate control for physical modeling synthesis.
Date
2009-04-28T20:51:17Z
Authors
Jones, Randall Evan
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Abstract
Physical modeling synthesis has proven to be a successful method of synthesizing realistic
sounds, but providing expressive controls for performance remains a major challenge.
This thesis presents a new approach to playing physical models, based on multidimensional
signals. Its focus is on the long-term research question, “How can we make a computermediated
instrument with control intimacy equal to the most expressive acoustic instruments?”
In the material world, the control and sounding properties of an instrument or
other object are intimately linked by the object’s construction. Multidimensional signals,
used as connections between a gestural controller and a physical model, can in principle
provide the same intimacy. This work presents a new, low-cost sensor design capable of
generating a 2D force signal, a new implementation of the 2D digital waveguide mesh,
and two experimental computer music instruments that combine these components using
di erent metaphors. The new instruments are evaluated in terms of intimacy, playability
and plausibility. Multidimensional connections between sensors and a physical model are
found to facilitate a high degree of control intimacy, and to reproduce as emergent behavior
some important phenomena associated with acoustic instruments.
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Keywords
sound, computers, musical instruments, acoustic