SynthMaker

Turning algorithms into a physically modelled synth

Archive · 2008 1 old post

From the original SynthMaker forum (2004–2014), with its members’ names and dates.

Osseous ·

Hey all,

i've been trying to find a decent didjeridoo synth for a while and can't get my hands on one so i started hunting round the internet for formulas and algorithms which can explain how didj's produce the sound. I've come across a lot of articles which have a lot of algorithms and formulas for the pitch and tone of the sound as well as lots of frequency graphs etc.

Now, for the most part i understand the maths that people have put on the net explaining the production of sound from a didg which is effectively just a type of wind instrument, and i understand sound synthesis (although i'm no genius at it) but what i can't get my head round is turning mathematical formulas and algorithms into a practical method for physically modelling a particular real-world instrument.

I'm sure there must be some way to write some code which would provide an easy way to replicate all of the specific elements that go into creating a didjeridoo-style waveform. I'd like to make it as real as possible (if i can do it all) and simulate things that affect the sound which real didj players would encounter. e.g. increasing/decreasing airflow pressure, adjusting the shape of the mouth, increasing/decreasing the length of the didj, increasing/decreasing the flare at the end of the didj and the number of kinks it has, as well as the introduction of randomness which comes from the many small imperfections on the inside of the didj.

Is there anyone out there with more smarts than me who might be able to help point me in the right direction?

Cheers

Oss

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