Scanned synthesis
Bill Verplank, M. V. Mathews, R. J. Shaw · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2001
‘‘Scanned synthesis’’ is done by scanning the slowly varying shape of an object and converting this shape to samples of a sound wave. The shape of the object is determined by the dynamic reactions of the object to forces applied by the performer. These forces vary at ‘‘haptic’’ rates (0–20 Hz). If the scanning path is closed, the sound wave is quasiperiodic and a fundamental pitch is perceived at the cycling frequency (20 Hz–20 kHz). Scanned synthesis provides direct dynamic control by the performer over the timbre of sounds as they are produced. The object can be real or simulated. With finite-element models, we have simulated the one-dimensional wave equation for a generalized slowly vibrating string. Timbres generated by manipulating the string at haptic rates are perceived as having a very pleasing live quality caused by the continually changing spectrum. To achieve additional richness, the performer can change the properties of the string in time and over the length of the string. [Work supported by Interval Research and CCRMA.]