Plucked String Digital Waveguide Model

Edgar J. Berdahl and Julius O. Smith III

REALSIMPLE Project¹

Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA)
Department of Music
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305

REALSIMPLE Project²

Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), and the
Department of Electrical Engineering
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Abstract:

This laboratory assignment should teach the student how to model the physics of a plucked vibrating string using a digital waveguide. Along the way, examples and animations provide the student with intuition into advanced topics such as sampling and filtering. These not only help the student understand the basic theory and intuition behind digital waveguide modeling, but they also motivate him or her to study further. The prerequisite assignments are the monochord laboratory assignment, the weighted monochord laboratory assignment, the harmonics laboratory assignment, and the traveling waves laboratory assignment.

Detailed Contents (and Navigation)

• Introduction
• Summary Of Objectives
• Physical Modeling
• Traveling Waves In A Vibrating String
• Sampled Traveling Waves
• Delay Lines And Gain Blocks
  • Incorporating Damping Into The Model
  • Visualizing The Effects Of g
  • Incorporating A String Displacement Sensor
  
  
• Adding A Lowpass Filter
• Part 1: Exploration In pd
• Part 2: Understanding The Underlying Parameters
• Bibliography
• About this document ...