Abstract:

This dissertation is about computational tools to aid in the design of musical instruments using arbitrary geometric models as a basis. In this work we develop numerical methods and software systems that simulate interacting with geometric shapes to synthesize sound.

We propose a method for rapidly estimating modal parameters of a shape by using the modal information from similar shapes. In this way, we can rapidly compute the updated modal parameters of a geometric model as the shape is changing--a phenomenon not currently modeled in other sound synthesis systems.

These techniques provide a new framework for interactive instrument design and create a platform for interacting with novel virtual instruments. We implement these techniques in an interactive software system to demonstrate the efficiency and compelling interactivity of this new mode of sound synthesis.