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Introduction to Acoustics

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Computer<br />

17. Computer<br />

Mu<br />

Music<br />

This chapter covers algorithms, technologies, computer<br />

languages, and systems for computer music.<br />

Computer music involves the application of computers<br />

and other digital/electronic technologies<br />

<strong>to</strong> music composition, performance, theory, his<strong>to</strong>ry,<br />

and perception. The field combines digital<br />

signal processing, computational algorithms, computer<br />

languages, hardware and software systems,<br />

acoustics, psychoacoustics (low-level perception<br />

of sounds from the raw acoustic signal), and music<br />

cognition (higher-level perception of musical<br />

style,form,emotion,etc.).Althoughmostpeople<br />

would think that analog synthesizers and<br />

electronic music substantially predate the use<br />

of computers in music, many experiments and<br />

complete computer music systems were being<br />

constructed and used as early as the 1950s.<br />

Because of this rich legacy, and the large<br />

number of researchers working on digital audio<br />

(primarily in speech research labora<strong>to</strong>ries), there<br />

are a large number of algorithms for synthesizing<br />

sound using computers. Thus, a significant<br />

emphasis in this chapter will be placed on digital<br />

sound synthesis and processing, first providing<br />

Pulse code modulation (PCM) isthemeansforsampling<br />

and retrieval of audio in computers, and PCM<br />

synthesis uses combinations of prerecorded waveforms<br />

<strong>to</strong> reconstruct speech, sound effects, and music instrument<br />

sounds, based largely on the work of Joseph<br />

Fourier, who gave us a technique for formulating any<br />

waveform from sine waves. Additive synthesis uses<br />

fundamental waveforms (often sine waves), <strong>to</strong> construct<br />

more complicated waves. PCM and sinusoidal<br />

(Fourier) additive synthesis are often called nonparametric<br />

techniques. The word parametric in this context<br />

means that an algorithm with a few (but hopefully expressive)<br />

parameters can be used <strong>to</strong> generate a large<br />

variety of waveforms and spectral properties by varying<br />

the parameters.<br />

Since PCM involves recording and playing back<br />

waveforms, no actual expressive parameters are avail-<br />

17.1 Computer Audio Basics ......................... 714<br />

17.2 Pulse Code Modulation Synthesis .......... 717<br />

17.3 Additive (Fourier, Sinusoidal) Synthesis . 719<br />

17.4 Modal (Damped Sinusoidal) Synthesis .... 722<br />

17.5 Subtractive (Source-Filter) Synthesis...... 724<br />

17.6 Frequency Modulation (FM) Synthesis .... 727<br />

17.7 FOFs, Wavelets, and Grains................... 728<br />

17.8 Physical Modeling (The Wave Equation) . 730<br />

17.9 Music Description and Control............... 735<br />

17.10 Composition........................................ 737<br />

17.11 Controllers and Performance Systems .... 737<br />

17.12 Music Understanding<br />

and Modeling by Computer .................. 738<br />

17.13 Conclusions, and the Future ................. 740<br />

References .................................................. 740<br />

an overview of the representation of audio in<br />

digital systems, then covering most of the popular<br />

algorithms for digital analysis and synthesis of<br />

sound.<br />

able in PCM systems. Similarly, Fourier’s theorem says<br />

that we can represent any waveform with a sum of sine<br />

waves, but in fact it might take a huge number of sine<br />

waves <strong>to</strong> represent a particular waveform accurately. So,<br />

without further work <strong>to</strong> parameterize PCM samples or<br />

large groups of additive sine waves, these techniques are<br />

nonparametric.<br />

Modal synthesis recognizes the fact that many vibrating<br />

systems exhibit a relatively few strong sinusoidal<br />

modes (natural frequencies) of vibration. Rigid bars<br />

and plates, plucked strings, and other structures are<br />

good candidates for modal synthesis, where after being<br />

excited (struck, plucked, etc.) the vibration/sound<br />

generation is restricted <strong>to</strong> a limited set of exponentially<br />

decaying sine waves. Modal synthesis is considered by<br />

some <strong>to</strong> be parametric, since the number of sine waves<br />

needed is often quite limited. Others claim that modal<br />

713<br />

Part E 17

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