Wind instrument sound design with centroid-controlled spectral template synthesis

Abstract

Most previous sound synthesis research has been oriented to instrument imitation and data reduction, whereas perceptual control has received little attention. In other words, the parameters in traditional sound synthesis are not perceptually meaningful. Using common synthesis techniques such as multiple wavetable synthesis and additive synthesis, we have no obvious way to imitate acoustic tones while allowing perceptual control. An important perceptual parameter is spectral centroid, which strongly correlates with a sound's brightness. Spectral centroid and attack time are two universally-recognized timbral features that strongly influence discrimination and identification of musical instruments. This paper investigates the generality and effectiveness of spectral template synthesis, a perceptually-based technique for synthesizing wind instrument tones. Synthesis from spectral envelope templates is driven by spectral centroid or other control functions. Control by spectral centroid has the advantage of direct manipulation of a perceptually-salient feature. Unlike other synthesis techniques, spectral template synthesis is designed to track changes in spectral centroid and mimic acoustic tones at the same time. This work has application in the synthesis of natural realistic sounds that go beyond the normal timbral boundaries of acoustic instruments. [This work was supported by RGC grants 613510 and 613111.]