Sound synthesis of drums based on modal representation of transfer functions

Abstract

In recent years, software-based music composition is becoming common among composers. In this study, we propose a sound synthesis method that simulates the sound radiation from drums using vibration transmission and acoustic characteristics of the structure of the drums, which enables one to virtually produce the radiated sound due to excitation forces accurately. First, the acoustic experimental modal analysis was conducted, where the radiated sound from a drum due to impulsive force was measured, and transfer functions between the excitation point and the points where the sound need be synthesized were obtained. The normal modes were then identified by a curve-fit methodology, and the obtained transfer functions were projected onto a subset of normal modes with the frequencies that lie within the frequency range of interest. It is shown that the synthesized sound spectra and those of the corresponding time histories are in excellent agreement with the measurements.