Parameter Manipulation for Composing with Physical Models

Juan Reyes (juanig@ccrma.stanford.edu)
Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics(CCRMA)
Department of Music, Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305

Abstract:

The problem with Physical Models and their appeal to composers is not merely perceptual or aesthetic. Furthermore is not a question of understanding the physics and parameters of the actual instrument. It is a question of achieving musical textures, realistic articulations and extending the qualities of a family of sounds given by a single characteristic timbre in a Physical Model of an instrument. This can be achieved modeling and manipulating expression parameters for musical gesture. This paper describes some composition techniques for rendering a Computer Music piece using Physical Models as the primary source technique for sound synthesis in non real time environments and parameter manipulation by means of envelopes, randomness and chaotic signals for expressiveness.