FM Synthesis Modulators for Independent Formant and Inharmonicity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current frequency modulation synthesis technologies lack independent control over formant position and inharmonicity, leading to unwanted inharmonic spectral content when sweeping formants across frequencies.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple modulators applied to a carrier signal through a weighted sum, with a window function to control formant position and inharmonicity, allowing for independent adjustment of these parameters without changing the other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single modulator is used in FM synthesis to sweep a formant through frequencies, then the formant position can be changed, but inharmonic spectral content is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single modulator into multiple modulators (at least two), each contributing to different aspects of the spectral content. This segmentation allows one modulator to control formant position while another controls inharmonicity, resolving the contradiction by separating these previously coupled functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by adding multiple modulators with different frequency ratios. This transforms the single-degree-of-freedom system into a multi-degree-of-freedom system, enabling independent control of formant position and inharmonicity through the weighted combination of multiple modulator outputs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the modulator frequency is continuously changed to sweep a formant, then the formant position shifts, but the inharmonicity varies uncontrollably
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the modulation function across multiple modulators, the patent enables formant sweeping through one modulator while maintaining constant inharmonicity through another. This segmentation allows precise control of inharmonicity as a separate parameter during formant sweeps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the system parameters by introducing multiple modulators with specific frequency ratios and applying a window function to their weighted sum. This parameter expansion enables formant sweeping while maintaining controlled inharmonicity, as the window function and weighting coefficients can be adjusted to preserve spectral characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple modulators are used to control formant position, then formant shifting capability improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modulation function into multiple modulators, which increases control capability but also system complexity. However, this segmentation is necessary to achieve independent control of formant position and inharmonicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple modulator outputs through a weighted sum with a window function, combining their individual contributions into a unified spectral output. This merging approach manages the complexity by providing a systematic method to integrate multiple modulators while maintaining control over the final spectral characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for allowing independent control of a formant position and inharmonic content in sound synthesis. In one aspect, this allows continuous shifting of the formant across a spectrum without producing any inharmonic spectral content. In a second aspect, this also makes it possible to generate sound with a defined inharmonic content amount and still move a formant position without changing the inharmonic content amount or to continuously change the amount of inharmonic content without significantly changing the formant position. The disclosed technology uses multiple modulators that are applied to a carrier signal by a weighted sum of their outputs.