Khatzotzra’ash

Khatzotzra’ash – an Augmented Trumpet

a hybrid electro-acoustic instrument design

by: Yuval Adler

The Name:

Khatzotra

    (Hebrew: חצוצרה – [χa-tso-tsʁa])
    noun

    1. trumpet
    2. fallopian tube

Ra’ash

    (Hebrew: רעש – [ʁa-ʔaʃ])
    noun

    1. noise
    2. uproar

Problem Statement:

The goal of this instrument design is to allow a trumpet player to use his expressive technique to drive virtual instruments in a live setting. This is done by sampling the buzz of the mouthpiece and using it to drive physical models of said instruments, thus re-introducing the essential “noise” disregarded by contemporary MIDI controllers for sound synthesis.

The most difficult technical part of this design would be to obtain a high quality signal from the mouthpiece buzz on as wide a dynamic range as possible.

The challenges involved are mostly (but not limited to):

  • obtaining a high quality signal of the lip-buzz
  • mounting virtual instrument controls on the trumpet in a non-cumbersome way
  • balancing flexibility and simplicity for virtual instrument control interface
  • programing the virtual instruments to work with the buzz signal’s unique characteristics

Idea Research:

  1. http://www.digitaltrumpet.com.au/
  2. http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/entertainment/lighted_key_fret_instruments/ez_series/ez-tp/
  3. – Existing “E-trumpets” – mostly wind controlled MIDI interfaces.

  4. http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/winds/silentbrass/silentbrass/sb7x-2/?mode=model
  5. – Trumpet pickup mute for suppressing acoustic sound, and using the muted sound input to generate an unmuted sounding audio output.

  6. http://www.ptrumpet.com/product/ptrumpet/
  7. – Plastic trumpet for lighter weight, to balance added instrumentation to final product and reduce signal feedback from trumpet body back to mouthpiece.

  8. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019I3J37A?th=1
  9. – Plastic flugelhorn, with variable lead pipe for easy addition of mouthpiece pick-up.

  10. http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/brassacoustics.html
  11. – Acoustics background for brass instruments.

  12. http://recherche.ircam.fr/pub/dafx11/Papers/20_e.pdf
  13. https://cycling74.com/2015/08/20/press-release-updated-percolate-objects-on-maxology/#.WA_Qkdw-5E4
  14. – Physical modelling software kits.

  15. http://www.dextermorrill.com/books.php
  16. – Trumpet player and music technology researcher, Dexter Morrill (more MIDI-centric ideas).

  17. https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~rmichon/bladeaxe/
  18. – Good use of audio-stream input signals to drive digital synthesis in similar hybrid electro-acoustic instrument.

  19. https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~cc/shtml/cellettoMusic.shtml
  20. – Good use of existing acquired skill utilized with familiar interface for electric musical instrument.

  21. http://www.electrumpet.nl/Site/Electrumpet.html
  22. http://www.sarahbellereid.com/#/migsi/
  23. – Two hybrid electro-acoustic trumpet designs, involving some form of audio effect addition to the trumpet’s acoustic sound, with each representing a different point on the spectrum of interface complexity/simplicity.


Instrument Sketch:

Instrument Sketch


Instrument Storyboard:

Instrument Storyboard 1
Instrument Storyboard 2


Pick-up Sketch:

Pick-up Sketch


Instrument Structural Sketch:

Structural Design


Pick-up Prototype:

3d-printing Pick-up Prototype
Fixing Sizes and Removing Print Artifacts
Mounted Piezo Disc With Audio Jack


Box Construction:

box_design
Printing With the Laser Cutter
pistons_design
Non Assembled Parts
Inside


Patch:

planning the wave guide resonator
the maxpatch


Mouthpiece Pick-up:

mouthpiece_pickup_design
piezo disc inside the pick-up