Sound production in flue instruments: A review

Abstract

The introduction of computer implementation of numerical methods, 40 years ago, has opened the way towards quantitative modeling of the sound production in flue instruments. This has induced a first wave of new research initiated in the late 1960s by the precursor work of Bechert, Cremer, Ising and Coltman. The breakthrough of real-time sound synthesis in the last decade has allowed the judgment of models on the basis of the sound which they produce. With this breakthrough ‘‘verbal’’ modeling such as the controversy between Helmholtz and Rayleigh about the nature of the sound source at the labium (volume source or dipole) is now a historical curiosity. However, it has became clear that lumped models as used in sound synthesis will remain semi-empirical caricatures. It has appeared that direct numerical simulation of the details of the flow including the effect of turbulence is still impossible. One observes, therefore, a shift back towards experimental studies such as that of jet response to acoustical excitation, the effect of nicks, the effect of chamfers, the influence of materials, Coanda effect induced by turbulence, etc. A review of these recent studies will be presented.