Synthesis and perceptual manipulation of percussive sounds.

In this article we describe the design and the use of a hybrid synthesis model simulating most of percussive sounds. This model, based on a combination of physical and perceptual considerations, is implemented in real-time and mainly controlled by an electronic drum interface. Thanks to the relevance of the synthesis parameters obtained from the analysis of natural sounds, it is possible to simulate different geometric structures, materials and excitation types by varying control parameters related for instance to the inharmonicity, the spectral richness or the damping of vibrating modes. In addition, an original approach of the tuning of percussive sounds, based on chord generation theory, is proposed. Due to the high number of parameters, mapping strategies have to be developed to pilot this model. Some possible strategies are then discussed although we designed the user interface so that performers can choose their own mapping strategy.