This question follows from: Synthesizing harmonic tones with Karplus Strong
I am attempting to generate a full soundbank of 88 notes.
As far as I can see my three options are:
- Using samples
- Using something like Karplus Strong (as linked above)
- Synthesising each harmonic and combining them
(1) does not give much flexibility and (2) is difficult: to gain any kind of control requires a sophisticated level of understanding of control systems, and I don't have any training. I've been looking through an online MIT lecture series, and I'm daunted. This would take me months or even years to understand.
One disadvantage of (3) is that it may not handle real-time composition as well as (2); it may be heavier to process. For me that's not a problem, I don't need real-time.
I think (3) should be much easier than (2). It should be possible to construct a formula for the amplitude A(t) of a particular harmonic. But I imagine there must be some science of shaping these harmonics; I'm sure many people have experimented with this, and there must be publicly available literature.
And I'm guessing there are some techniques for improving the quality of the sound, for example maybe giving some A * exp( kt ) sin( wt ) wobble to each harmonic, and maybe a note that is struck louder could have a correspondingly higher value for A.
etc.
So my question is: what is the parameter space? i.e. what are the best things to tweak?
Links to relevant resources are gratefully received!
π
PS please note that I'm not after any particular timbre, certainly I'm not try to emulate a piano, I'm simply after a harmonic tone that is pleasing to the ear.