Musical Sound Synthesizing Apparatus String Vibration Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for electronically reproducing the sound of natural stringed instruments, such as pianos, struggle to accurately simulate the resonance and vibration interactions between strings and soundboards, requiring complex models and extensive sampling efforts to capture the unique tones of various instruments.
Innovation Solution
A musical sound synthesizing apparatus that uses a loop part with a delay element, a waveform memory storing resonance-containing data, and a waveform processing unit to remove low-level frequency components, generating an excitation signal for a string model by separating and damping frequency bands or analyzing frequency characteristics to produce second waveform data for input into the loop part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a physical model sound source is used to simulate hammer-string interaction, then the accuracy of string vibration simulation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the complex model required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses waveform memory sound source that stores pre-recorded hammer strike waveforms instead of modeling the physical hammer-string interaction. This copying approach captures the essential characteristics of string vibration through direct waveform storage, avoiding the need for complex physical models while maintaining simulation accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If waveform memory sound source is used to reproduce specific instrument tones, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates because it requires extraordinary sampling effort with sound deadeners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary string vibration waveform data from recorded instrument sounds, separating it from other sounds like soundboard resonance and string-to-string coupling. This extraction is achieved through signal processing that isolates the fundamental string vibration components, enabling accurate tone reproduction without requiring complex sampling setups with sound deadeners.
3Device complexity
If conventional waveform memory sound source is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information increases because resonance and propagation sounds cannot be reproduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sound board model as an intermediary component that processes the string vibration signals. This sound board model simulates the propagation of vibrations from strings through the sound board, generating the characteristic resonance and coupling effects naturally. This mediator approach allows the system to reproduce complete instrument tones while maintaining relative simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the generation of an excitation signal that accurately simulates the vibration of a stringed instrument, reducing the complexity of modeling interactions and the effort required for sampling, enabling efficient reproduction of musical tones from various instruments with improved sound quality.
Implementation Method 1
a loop part including at least a delay element, the loop part being configured to receive an excitation signal in response to a sound generation instruction so as to synthesize a musical sound signal by looping the excitation signal therein
Implementation Method 2
a waveform processing unit that removes, from the first waveform data, one or more frequency component having a level that does not reach a predetermined level, to generate second waveform data
Implementation Method 3
a string model configured to generate a signal indicating a sound caused by vibration of the string according to an excitation signal supplied from the waveform processing unit
Implementation Method 4
a resonant sound generation channel set for a string corresponding to each pitch
Data Source
AI summary
In a musical sound synthesizing apparatus, a loop part including at least a delay element is configured to receive an excitation signal in response to a sound generation instruction so as to synthesize a musical sound signal by looping the excitation signal therein. A waveform memory stores first waveform data representing sound which is generated by a natural musical instrument and which contains resonance, the first waveform data containing a plurality of frequency components having various levels. A waveform processing unit removes, from the first waveform data, one or more frequency component having a level that does not reach a predetermined level, to generate second waveform data. The second waveform data generated by the waveform processing unit is input as the excitation signal to the loop part.