Electronic Simulation of the Mridangam and the Jalatarangam
Srinivasan Nagarajan, R Krishnan, K. Radhakrishna Rao · IETE Technical Review · 1989
The mridangam sounds were reproduced by outputting the digitised samples of the basic sounds stored in EPROMS and D/A converting it. A microprocessor was used to process the information entered by the user regarding the sequence of beats to be played and to activate the hardware. Time division multiplexing of the beat samples was used to provide for two channels corresponding to the two sides of the mridangam. Volume control of individual beats was also provided for. This scheme can be extended to other percussion instruments like the tabla, ghatam, and ganjira as well. The jalatarangam, also being a purcussive instrument was simulated using analogue circuitry and similar control circuitry as in the mridangam.